Who is this lady?

[Steve Whitlock]

Many thanks to both Anita and Steve for all the efforts in looking into this matter. Provenance is of vital importance in a situation such as this. From the beginning this situation reminded me of the difficulties the ALPLM had with the provenance of Lincoln's hat in its possession.

We have discussed W. Emerson Reck's book before on this forum. I do not think it's an exaggeration to say it's the gold standard for determining who was at Lincoln's deathbed and who wasn't. There is no mention of Tuckerman in that book.

I once read somewhere (cannot remember where) that Willie Clark was not known to change his sheets very often, so it's likely the sheet was not clean when Lincoln was placed on the bed.

Roger,

Does your Reck book mention a Rudolph Bunner (U.S. Rep from NY, whose son married to Ruth (Tuckerman) Bunner) present at Lincoln's deathbed?

Roger,

Congressman Bunner died ca 1837, so forget him at Lincoln's deathbed; however, if there is a Bunner or Heath (another sister) present I'd like to know. You said there was no Tuckerman in your Reck book, so that eliminates Henry Tuckerman, brother of Charles K. Tuckerman, and I'm just trying to think of someone C.K.T. would trust to get the real piece of sheet. That was an unintended possible play on words, but it seems appropriate.