Mr. Lincoln's Photographer

[RJNorton]

(11-13-2018 07:06 PM)Christopher Handy Wrote:  And somewhat pursuant to the above, the manager of Ford's Theatre on the night Lincoln was shot was Edward Henry Handy

Hi Christopher. With regards to Ford's Theatre, this was a new name to me. I do not recall seeing Edward Henry Handy mentioned in any Lincoln assassination book I own including Tom Bogar's Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination. Do you recall where you found this information? Thanks.

[Christopher Handy]

(11-14-2018 06:02 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(11-13-2018 07:06 PM)Christopher Handy Wrote:  And somewhat pursuant to the above, the manager of Ford's Theatre on the night Lincoln was shot was Edward Henry Handy

Hi Christopher. With regards to Ford's Theatre, this was a new name to me. I do not recall seeing Edward Henry Handy mentioned in any Lincoln assassination book I own including Tom Bogar's Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination. Do you recall where you found this information? Thanks.

It was mentioned in contemporary news accounts (his connection to the Lincoln assassination was apparently noteworthy enough at the time that news of his death appeared in papers all over the country, see for instance this from Dodge City): https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/...nge&page=1

Edward Handy was John T. Ford's uncle by marriage; his wife Margaret Grainier was the sister of Ford's mother.

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Christopher. I must admit that this is very different from the books I have. They say that Ford's doorkeeper was John E. Buckingham, and no one named Edward H. Handy was first to reach the stricken President Lincoln.

[Christopher Handy]

(11-14-2018 07:00 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Thanks, Christopher. I must admit that this is very different from the books I have. They say that Ford's doorkeeper was John E. Buckingham, and no one named Edward H. Handy was first to reach the stricken President Lincoln.

It's my understanding that Edward Handy was the manager (or one of the managers) and not the doorkeeper; he was in Washington for some time working at Ford's Theatre, and returned to Baltimore sometime after 1865. He was certainly employed there, but it's also possible that he or his family members inflated his role somewhat.

[RJNorton]

(11-14-2018 07:34 AM)Christopher Handy Wrote:  but it's also possible that he or his family members inflated his role somewhat.

Yes, that is very possible, Christopher. There are numerous accounts related to Ford's Theatre and the Lincoln assassination in which family lore differs from what's in the history books. It's not unusual for this to happen.

[Steve]

I've recently been trying to find as many witness accounts/claims of being there of that night. Thanks for bringing Edward H. Handy to my attention!

According to the 1865 Washington DC directory, Handy was definitely living in the city then:
   

I also found the 15 March 1877 article from page 1 of the Baltimore Sun which mentions him at Ford's Theatre:
   
Note the difference in wording from the wire service version of the story. The Sun says Handy was "among the first" instead of "the first".

I also found this story from page 1 of the 28 April 1860 Baltimore Sun that might also be of interest if you're related to the family:
   

Welcome to the forum, Christopher!

[Christopher Handy]

(11-14-2018 03:21 PM)Steve Wrote:  I've recently been trying to find as many witness accounts/claims of being there of that night. Thanks for bringing Edward H. Handy to my attention!

According to the 1865 Washington DC directory, Handy was definitely living in the city then:


I also found the 15 March 1877 article from page 1 of the Baltimore Sun which mentions him at Ford's Theatre:

Note the difference in wording from the wire service version of the story. The Sun says Handy was "among the first" instead of "the first".

I also found this story from page 1 of the 28 April 1860 Baltimore Sun that might also be of interest if you're related to the family:


Welcome to the forum, Christopher!

My relationship is fairly distant; Edward H. Handy is my third cousin 6x removed. (He was apparently a Southern sympathiser, as well, as were many members of the Maryland Handy family, including Alexander Hamilton Handy, who moved to Mississippi and was secession commissioner to Maryland, and Rev. Isaac W.K. Handy, who was arrested for "disloyalty" while visiting his wife's family in Delaware and imprisoned at Fort Delaware for a year).

[RJNorton]

(11-14-2018 11:37 PM)Christopher Handy Wrote:  He was apparently a Southern sympathiser, as well,

Christopher, if I am remembering Tom Bogar's book correctly, this would fit right in with the feelings of many Ford's Theatre employees.