The contents of Abraham Lincoln's pockets on the evening of his assassination. The items consist of one pair of gold-rimmed spectacles with sliding 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. Newpaper clipping captions: Emancipation in Missouri -- The disaffection among the Southern soldiers -- John Bright on the presidency -- President Lincoln -- The message of the Governor of Missouri -- A conscript's epistle to Jeff. Davis -- Sherman's orders for his march, special field order no. 120 -- The two platforms, Lincoln and Johnson.

Last modified

• 10/11/2022

Creator

• Rare Book and Special Collections Division
• Library of Congress

Contributors

• Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana (Library of Congress)
• Library of Congress. Rare Book and Special Collections Division
• Isham, Mary Lincoln

Subject

• Lincoln, Abraham,--1809-1865--Assassination
• Lincoln, Abraham,--1809-1865

Identifier

• ALPC000

Other identifiers

• 2014655007
• https://lccn.loc.gov/2014655007
• https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/Stern.1049

Keyword

• Lincoln, Abraham
• Assassination

Date modified

• 10/11/2022

Date created

• [not after 1865]

Related url

•  https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/Stern.1049

Resource type

• Image
• Other

Extent

• 19 objects

Source

• Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA dcu

Rights statement

• No Known Copyright

Rights notes

• Exact number of items to be confirmed by RBSCD.
• 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, and were susequently incorporated into the Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana.
• Title devised by Library staff.