Two Extra Crypts!!!

[RJNorton]

Toia, I sure agree with everything you said. Here is the text of a letter Robert Lincoln wrote that explains his wishes:

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London, September 10, 1890

Hon. O. M. Hatch
My Dear Sir:

I beg to thank you for your letter communicating to me the resolution of the Lincoln Monument Association, inviting a correspondence with me as to the propriety of depositing the remains of my son in a crypt in the Monument erected in memory or his Grandfather.

In reply, I beg to say to you that when, upon the death of my son, I foresaw the extinction or my descendants bearing his name, the desire came upon me that, if it met the views of every member of the Monument Association, arrangements might be made for the burial in the Monument of my son, and thereafter of myself and my wife and of my two daughters unless they should marry - It is the arrangement I would make, under the peculiar circumstances, if the tomb of my father were, as would usually be the case, in my care, but I trust that it may be understood that I know that the Monument was not erected or arranged for such a purpose and that I would abandon my desire if it does not seem proper to each member or the Association that the arrangements should be entered upon. I need not say that any expense caused by such an arrangement would be borne by myself. I will be highly gratified by the kind consideration of my wishes.

BELIEVE ME
VERY SINCERELY YOURS
ROBERT T. LINCOLN

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As Toia said, Mary Harlan Lincoln changed these plans. Here is an image of her letter to Katherine Helm explaining why she felt Robert should have his own place 'in the sun'!" The letter was discovered by forum members Donna McCreary and Gerald Swick. The image is from the Summer 1998 edition of Lincoln Lore.