Item 1 of 1
The Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana
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Item Title
The contents of Abraham Lincoln's pockets on the evening of his assassination.
Created/Published
n. d.
Notes
The items consist of one pair of gold-rimmed spectacles with sliging temples and with one of the bows mended with string; one pair of folding spectacles in a silver case; an ivory pocket knife with silver mounting; a watch fob of gold-bearing quartz, mounted in gold; an oversize white Irish linen handkerchief with "A. Lincoln" embroidered in red cross-stitch; a sleeve button with a gold initial "L" on dark blue enamel; and a brown leather wallet, including a pencil, lined in purple silk with compartments for notes, U.S. currency, and railroad tickets. The wallet held a Confederate five-dollar bill and eight newspaper clippings. The clippings were from papers printed immediately before Lincoln's death, containing complimentary remarks about him written during his campaign for reelection to the Presidency. The Confederate five-dollar bill may have been acquired as a souvenir when Lincoln visited Petersburg and Richmond earlier in the month. In order of image presentation: 1.) Watch fob 2.) Button 3.) Pocket knife 4.) Handkerchief 5.) Wallet 6.) Confederate $5 dollar bill 7.) Glass lense cleaner and buffer 8.) Glasses case 9.) Lincoln's eyeglasses with name on inner stem.
1. Watch fob, 2. Button, 3. Pocket knife, 4. Handkerchief, 5. Wallet, 6. Confederate currency, 7. Glass cleaner, 8. Glasses, 9. Close up of glasses, 10. Glass case.
When Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865, he was carrying two pairs of spectacles and a lens polisher, a pocketknife, a watch fob, a linen handkerchief, and a brown leather wallet containing a five-dollar Confederate note and nine newspaper clippings, including several favorable to the president and his policies. Given to his son Robert Todd upon Lincoln's death, these everyday items, which through association with tragedy had become like relics, were kept in the Lincoln family for more than seventy years. They came to the Library in 1937 as part of the gift from Lincoln's granddaughter, Mary Lincoln Isham,.
Subjects
United States--District of Columbia--Washington
Lincoln's assassination
Lincoln's possessions
Ford's Theatre
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
realia
Physical Objects
Object Type
Part of
The Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana
Repository
Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Digital ID
lprbscsm scsm1049
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/lprbscsm.scsm1049