Genetic Lincoln

[Steve Whitlock]

(03-30-2020 02:00 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Steve, on the website it says:

“This is a piece of the chair and piece of curtain President Lincoln was leaning against in Ford’s Theatre when he was shot.”

Do you know which chair in the State Box at Ford's this piece came from?

Roger,

All I have in my notes is what you quoted. I would expect it to be from the chair where Mr. Lincoln was sitting, since that's likely where Henry Rathbone and John Wilkes Booth struggled; however, it might have even been Rathbone's chair. The way the statement reads I would expect it to be Lincoln's chair, since he is mentioned.

I checked with Suzanne, who has checked with the owner of the relic, and there is no further information.

I have a photo of the rocking chair that Lincoln sat in, but I can't say with any conviction that the very small piece in question came from his chair.