auction

[Steve]

(04-06-2025 04:03 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Does anyone know the provenance of the gloves? To my eyes they look quite bloody. I thought at least one person in the box said Lincoln's wound bled very little.

They were supposedly sold by Mary Lincoln to a Capt. Benjamin Richardson. I don't know if this provenance story has any documentation behind it. But I was able to find a June 1868 letter from Mary Lincoln to Richardson where she mentions giving him "some of the specialties promised" which might include the gloves. I'll paste a transcription of the whole letter at the end of this post. I was also able to find a mention of apparently the same gloves being on display in a New York church in 1929, where the gloves had been loaned out by Richardson's granddaughter.

With all that said, I am almost certain that these gloves did not belong to Abraham Lincoln. It was Dr Leale who reported there was no blood coming from Lincoln's wound until he removed the blockage while examining the President. There was also blood on the left shoulder of Lincoln's Great Coat from the initial shot. So I don't understand how it's possible that gloves in Lincoln's pockets could even get that much blood on them (even from Rathbone bleeding).

If the gloves provenance can be verified, the best explanation I can think of is that perhaps they belonged to one of the doctors who treated Lincoln. A doctor could've gotten Lincoln's blood on their gloves if they were rooting around their pocket. Or maybe holding them along with a bloody towel or something with some blood transferring onto the gloves. Lincoln's clothes were left in the room at Petersen House and Willie Clark sent the clothes to Robert Lincoln days afterward. Since Clark hadn't been there during the events of that night, if the gloves had been accidentally left in the room it would be a natural assumption on his part that they were Lincoln's and included them with Lincoln's clothes to be sent to Robert. Mary probably wouldn't think to question if they were her husband's if the bloody gloves were returned with the rest of clothes from that night.


Private

Clifton House

Chicago June 15 [1868?]

Captain Benjamin Richardson

My dear sir:

Professor and Mrs. Sawyer, have just paid me a call and handed me your letter, which I am very much gratified to receive. I hasten to reply to it, fearing you may think, I have been negligent regarding my promises. And yet I am sure, you will be tantalized to know, that some of the specialties promised have been in my room & only awaiting their being sent to Mr. Sawyer. Tomorrow, my little Taddie will carry them down to the University and it may be the rest I will bring on to you myself.

After this explanation of the delay, you will feel relieved. My health still continues very delicate & each week I am hoping, my affairs can be arranged, so that I can get off to Europe. Alas! Alas! Unhappily some of us have fallen upon evil times and all that is left, is to endure patiently and resignedly the sad decrees of fate. It is very hard for me to combat with fate, after having for so many years the most devoted & indulgent husband. It appears that my immediate departure must depend upon the disposal of a small piece of property, out of which my expenses must be defrayed abroad, as well as dear little Taddies.

Feeling the need of a change of air, and indeed of everything to restore me to health you can well imagine, how restless I am feeling, awaiting the movements of a slow & I sometimes fear an indifferent agent. I should be now abroad, if these circumstances did not exist. And the summer is passing away so rapidly and each day finds me sadder in mind & weaker in body. Taddie & myself frequently speak of you and remember you so pleasantly. We have promised Professor Sawyer to visit the University very soon & what a great pleasure it would be to have you with us. If the dark clouds disappeared & I can soon arrange my troubled business, I shall soon have the pleasure of seeing you en route to Europe. Hoping you will excuse my frank and long letter, I remain with great respect

Very truly yours

Mary Lincoln

Article where the letter was originally published:

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jala/262986...w=fulltext

(Note, I corrected the bracketed year guess from the error in the original article; Mary and Tad left for Europe in 1868, not 1865. Also the article says the original letter was in the Taper collection, so it should probably be authenticated as well.)