Lincoln Lincoln's top hat

[frontrank2]

Posted today on Facebook by the Civil War Trust:

When President Lincoln was shot, the War Department sealed off Ford's Theater as a crime scene. Abraham Lincoln's top hat, left in the box when he was carried out, was retained by the War Department until it was given to the Smithsonian Institution in 1867, where it resides to this day. See the hat today and learn more about Lincoln's Last Days here: http://www.civilwar.org/education/war-department/lincolns-last-days.html

 

[HardeeBoy]

It's funny how inanimate objects draw us into the story. Was JWB a "famous" actor before this? Or is merely "infamous" as a result? I am asking as I have no idea now well regarded he was an an actual actor....(trivial matter in the big scheme but the reporter's use of the word "famous" caught my attention.)

 

[tdftdf]

It's funny how inanimate objects draw us into the story. Was JWB a "famous" actor before this? Or is merely "infamous" as a result? I am asking as I have no idea now well regarded he was an an actual actor....(trivial matter in the big scheme but the reporter's use of the word "famous" caught my attention.)

Booth was a famous actor. Many who witnessed the event identified him, from the many plays he performed. Lincoln in fact had seen him perform. His older brother Edwin was even more famous, and had actually saved Lincoln's son's life, after he had fallen in front of an on-coming train.

 

[Private Watkins]

It's funny how inanimate objects draw us into the story. Was JWB a "famous" actor before this? Or is merely "infamous" as a result? I am asking as I have no idea now well regarded he was an an actual actor....(trivial matter in the big scheme but the reporter's use of the word "famous" caught my attention.)

I think he was quite famous before the assassination... think along the lines of how a Brad Pitt is relative to our own times.

 

[tdftdf]

Posted today on Facebook by the Civil War Trust:

When President Lincoln was shot, the War Department sealed off Ford's Theater as a crime scene. Abraham Lincoln's top hat, left in the box when he was carried out, was retained by the War Department until it was given to the Smithsonian Institution in 1867, where it resides to this day. See the hat today and learn more about Lincoln's Last Days here: http://www.civilwar.org/education/war-department/lincolns-last-days.html

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His hat was on display at the Peterson house, as part of the 150th of his assassination. The black band around the base of the stovetop was a mourning band - mourning the death of his young son.

 

[chellers]

Posted today on Facebook by the Civil War Trust:

When President Lincoln was shot, the War Department sealed off Ford's Theater as a crime scene. Abraham Lincoln's top hat, left in the box when he was carried out, was retained by the War Department until it was given to the Smithsonian Institution in 1867, where it resides to this day. See the hat today and learn more about Lincoln's Last Days here: http://www.civilwar.org/education/war-department/lincolns-last-days.html

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Great link, FR2. Thanks for posting.

 

[chellers]

It's funny how inanimate objects draw us into the story. Was JWB a "famous" actor before this? Or is merely "infamous" as a result? I am asking as I have no idea now well regarded he was an an actual actor....(trivial matter in the big scheme but the reporter's use of the word "famous" caught my attention.)

Yes, Booth was famous before he became infamous. He came from a very well known theatrical family.

 

[LoyaltyOfDogs]

Posted today on Facebook by the Civil War Trust:

When President Lincoln was shot, the War Department sealed off Ford's Theater as a crime scene. Abraham Lincoln's top hat, left in the box when he was carried out, was retained by the War Department until it was given to the Smithsonian Institution in 1867, where it resides to this day. See the hat today and learn more about Lincoln's Last Days here: http://www.civilwar.org/education/war-department/lincolns-last-days.html

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Thanks for sharing this. The commentary by the museum conservators is enlightening and fascinating. It really shows the power of objects to connect us to people of the past.

 

[jackt62]

It may be of interest to note that another one of Lincoln's stovepipe hats is on display at Hildene, the summer home of Robert Lincoln, which is located in Manchester, Vermont. I visited the estate a number of years ago, and it is well worth a visit for those traveling to the area.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Booth was not the most famous of the acting family, but was a famous and esteemed actor. It was a media event when the Booths all took the stage together in Julius Caesar (I believe). It would have been like the Barrymore family all appearing together. I can't think of a contemporary acting family which would be the equivalent. I'd venture "the Kardashians," but that would be a sign of the impending apocalypse.

 

[ole]

I would use the words "well known" rather than "famous."