State Box

[Rsmyth]

There is a flag in Springfield but the provenance is weak:
George Preston Clark of Massachusetts penned a handwritten 20-page letter to his family recounting the history of his "Lincoln flag.” George states that this is the flag assassin John Wilkes Booth tripped on and tore as he leaped to the stage of the Ford Theater moments after shooting President Abraham Lincoln.
This 35-star flag is on display at the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum in Springfield, Illinois, donated by Clark's Great, Great Granddaughter of Fallbrook, California.
In the letter, George recounts how he helped decorate both Ford’s and Grover’s Theaters. On April 14th 1865 he was at Grover’s when he heard the President had been shot. He ran over to Ford’s and entered the box. Taking a pocket knife out of his jacket he cut the flag down, folded it up and put it under his coat. He then went back to Grover’s.
The GAR sent me a pic of the flag. It has a note at the bottom of the case that states:
This “35” star flag taken from the Ford Theater by George Preston Clark on April 14, 1865, the night President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Presented to the W.R.C. – G.A.R. Museum by, The grandchildren of George Preston Clark.

Note tear by John W. Booth’s boot
Letter of authenticity on file.

Known provenance - George Preston Clark, family of George Preston Clark to GAR Museum.