Thank You, Joan Chaconas!

[wpbinzel]

I was tracking down an article when I came across the November-December 1982, Volume 1, Number 2, issue of The Lincolnian, published by the Lincoln Group of Washington, D.C. There on the front page was an article written by Joan Chaconas entitled "The Oldroyd Collection." The article provides a brief overview of Osborn H. Oldroyd's efforts to collect Lincolniana; the purchase of the collection in 1926 by the federal government; and the collection's relocation to Ford's Theater in 1932 where it was displayed until 1964, when Ford's underwent restoration. Only a portion of the collection went back on display in 1968 and the remainder went into the "vault" of the National Park Service at Union Station. At the time the article was written, Union Station was in disrepair and the building was considered unsafe. The NPS moved out of the building, but left the remainder of the Oldroyd Collection behind.

Joan wrote:

"Why is the NPS allowing this collection to fall by the wayside, perhaps to rot away? This is a case where 'ashes to ashes and dust to dust' should not apply! Alas, we are faced with the age old problem of 'no money' and bureaucratic priorities. However, there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel. As a result of the on-going investigation and public interest in the Oldroyd Collection, the NPS has given serious thought once again to the future of these relics. They hope that by the end of this year, 1982, these bits and pieces of Lincolniana will have been placed in the NPS facility in Greenbelt, Maryland. They plan to make everything accessible to serious Lincoln researchers. Plans are also being considered that will alter the present Lincoln Museum at Ford's to accommodate a larger representation of the Oldroyd Collection.

"It is hoped that the plans, as set forth by the NPS, will come to fruition. Unfortunately, only time will tell, and the passage of time is indeed the cruelest and most ruinous enemy to the Oldroyd Collection. Paper crumbles, fabric molds and disintegrates, paintings crack and warp and photographs fade. To the NPS we can only convey our belief 'that History is the ship carrying living memories to the future.' May you, sail on, Oldroyd!"

In addition to so ably expressing a sentiment that we all share, Joan's article serves as a reminder of the considerable time and effort that she and others have spent over the years to keep "the ship" afloat and moving forward. Thank you for your dedication to the history of Lincoln. We owe you a great debt of gratitude.