Kunhardt and the deathbed photo

[Lincoln Wonk]

I have in my notes that an Ulke family member in Britain trying to raise money for her church sold the deathbed photo to Dorothy Kunhardt in 1961 for $3,700, but I'm still looking for the paper copy of my source. Does anyone know if that figure is correct?

[Thomas Kearney]

I looked and there is no record as to that event happening. I will continue to dig as deep as I can.

[Dave Taylor]

Kathy,

Though this source doesn't give the price, here is Dorothy Kunhardt's 1961 Life magazine article verifying the story: http://books.google.com/books?id=9lEEAAA...&q&f=false

Dave

[LincolnMan]

There was a deathbed photo- with Lincoln in it?

[RJNorton]

There was a deathbed photo- with Lincoln in it?

Hi Bill. They are talking about the Julius Ulke photo taken after Lincoln was carried out of the Petersen House. The photo is in the link Dave posted.

[LincolnMan]

The one with the bloody pillow?

[RJNorton]

The one with the bloody pillow?

Yes, that's it.

[Lincoln Wonk]

I asked that question and left for the office and just returned. Thanks to everyone who tried to help.
This is what I have in my 2009 notes, but I don't have the supporting documentation and can't recall what the "Lincoln newsletter" was:
According to the Lincoln newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 3, October 1981, the photo was taken by Julius Ulke, a Washington photographer boarding in the Petersen house at the time. In light of the fact that Secretary of War Stanton was confiscating prints and negatives of assassination-related scenes, Ulke kept his photograph secret, passing it down through his family. It was sold to Mrs. Dorothy Kunhardt in 1961 by a 93-year- old Ulke descendant, who parted with it in order to raise money for her church in England. Cost $ 3750.
I later found the descendant was a Mrs. Easter.

[Dave Taylor]

This is what I have in my 2009 notes, but I don't have the supporting documentation and can't recall what the "Lincoln newsletter" was:
According to the Lincoln newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 3, October 1981...

Kathy,

This is most likely your source. Unfortunately this digitized version doesn't contain the whole newsletter with the information you seek. I'm going to try to contact the Lincoln Hertiage Museum over Twitter and see if they have back issues in their collection. Hopefully they can help.

Dave

Update: Tweet sent

[Lincoln Wonk]

Dave, That's an amazing idea. Thank you. It's a great fact, but, six years after the fact, it's difficult to source it. Kathy

[Dave Taylor]

Dave, That's an amazing idea. Thank you. It's a great fact, but, six years after the fact, it's difficult to source it. Kathy

Happy to help, Kathy. If I don't hear back from them, I would recommend you send them (or the college library) an email with your inquiry.

[STS Lincolnite]

Kathy,

Per Dave's suggestion if no Twitter response (if needed), here is the contact page for the Lincoln Heritage Museum.

http://museum.lincolncollege.edu/contact/

I was unfamiliar with this place before and now I hope to make a visit in the future.

[Gene C]

We are planning on visiting the Lincoln Heritage Museum in Lincoln, IL this year as part of the Springfield Tour, in October. Come join us!

[L Verge]

Lincoln College and its Lincoln collections were very well-known when I first entered the "real" Lincoln world (not just assassination). If I am not mistaken, they granted an honorary doctorate degree to James O. Hall back in the 1980s or early 90s.

[Lincoln Wonk]

Thanks, Laurie.
I did contact the museum, and a wonderful professor on sabbatical is going to search for it on Sunday.
I have another question for you all. Remember Joseph Hazleton's piece, "The Assassination of President Lincoln." Mine, reproduced from NPS, has no date, and I couldn't find a date on any copy online or on auction. I know it was self-published when Hazleton was quite advanced in age, but I thought it'd be great to have a date or year if anyone has one, although I know the odds are slim.
Kathy