State Box

[Linda Anderson]

I haven't seen that photo either. Great find, Joe!

[RJNorton]

Linda, I agree. I thought I had seen them all, but I am pretty certain I've never seen that one before.

[L Verge]

This is similar to one in Twenty Days (where the soldier almost looks like a spirit), but from a different angle. I bet they were both shot on the same day.

[LincolnToddFan]

Does anyone know how soon these photos were taken after the shooting? Thanks-

[J. Beckert]

I've heard two days later and that Brady had to recreate the scene.

[BettyO]

RE: State Box
This is similar to one in Twenty Days (where the soldier almost looks like a spirit), but from a different angle. I bet they were both shot on the same day.

I agree, Laurie, This is a terrific find, Joe! Totally different perspective.

[J. Beckert]

The one in Twenty Days, where the soldier is visible, seems to have been shot from the stage. I can't see where this was shot from - it almost looks like somewhere in-between the Dress Circle and the Family Circle.

[RobertLC]

We know that at least three Doctors were in the State Box attending President Lincoln after the shot by Booth…Dr. Leale, Dr. Taft, and Dr. King. I have read Dr. Taft’s notes from the Century Magazine, (Feb 1893). However, I have never seen an original copy of his handwritten notes from 1865. Does one exist and is it accessible?

And I have read a signed, true copy of Dr. Leale’s notes that were discovered, by researchers, in May 2012. Researchers also report that his original handwritten notes are lost.

Both Leale and Taft mention Dr. King in their notes. However, I have never seen a copy of Dr. King’s notes. Did he keep notes of the event? If he did, are they accessible in the public domain?

[Cliff Roberts]

I've heard two days later and that Brady had to recreate the scene.

The view of the box from the stage shows the American flag, draped from the balustrade across the front of the President's box, in some disarray, as though it had been pushed out of the way by someone climbing into the box from the stage. Another view, taken from the front of the theater, shows the flag in the same crumpled condition. These are almost certainly the earliest photos of the box and tend to substantiate reports that persons were assisted into the box from the stage. Later views show the flag perfectly draped as it was before the assassination, obviously recreating the scene for the photographer.