Lincoln's embalmment

[LincolnMan]

I was there at the Henry Ford Museum to view the chair out in the open. It was placed on a round platform so that spectators could see it from different vantage points. The platform was also roped off and guarded by individuals in Union Soldier period dress.

[SockdologizingMantrap]

(05-06-2013 05:20 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 06:09 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  I believe I asked this question on the old Form site, but am not sure: Was anything from Lincoln's body saved? Is there a jar stored on a shelf somewhere in a dusty warehouse (long lost and forgotten) containing Lincoln's brain?

According to the sage of the Smithsonian, Herb Collins, Curator emeritus, Lincoln's blood was saved. He swears to it.

Hello. Your assertion that Herb Collins Nader this statement is of great curiosity to me. May I please be directed to where I can learn further about this?Thank you very much.
SockdologizingMantrap

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(12-02-2014 03:38 PM)loetar44 Wrote:  From a Dodge Chemical Co. publication entitled “New Light on the Embalming of President Lincoln” by Seabury Quinn (1910 ?): “In collaboration with Frank T. Sands, "undertaker", the Messrs. M. E. & J. W. Harvey, (also undertakers"), were busy designing and making a coffin while Harry P. Cattell was engaged in his professional work”

Cattell was Lincoln’s actual embalmer. The embalment took place at / after noon April 15, 1865 immediately after the cranial autopsy. Now I wonder, when was Lincoln’s coffin ready? I suspect that there was some time needed to make the coffin and it make sense to me that the coffin was not earlier ready than April 16 or April 17. In the evening of April 17 Lincon’s coffin was placed in the East Room.

Does someone know when the coffin was ready? And where was the body of Lincoln between embalment and coffin? I suspect in the Prince of Wales Room ?

Hello,
Do you have a copy of this Dodge publication still? I am an embalmer myself and my main area of interest in Lincoln revolves around his death and care of the body thereafter. I actually called the Dodge company seeking info on the publication you mention and they don’t have anything to offer although they were very helpful.
SockdologizingMantrap

[Steve]

(05-25-2019 05:17 PM)SockdologizingMantrap Wrote:  

(12-02-2014 03:38 PM)loetar44 Wrote:  From a Dodge Chemical Co. publication entitled “New Light on the Embalming of President Lincoln” by Seabury Quinn (1910 ?): “In collaboration with Frank T. Sands, "undertaker", the Messrs. M. E. & J. W. Harvey, (also undertakers"), were busy designing and making a coffin while Harry P. Cattell was engaged in his professional work”

Cattell was Lincoln’s actual embalmer. The embalment took place at / after noon April 15, 1865 immediately after the cranial autopsy. Now I wonder, when was Lincoln’s coffin ready? I suspect that there was some time needed to make the coffin and it make sense to me that the coffin was not earlier ready than April 16 or April 17. In the evening of April 17 Lincon’s coffin was placed in the East Room.

Does someone know when the coffin was ready? And where was the body of Lincoln between embalment and coffin? I suspect in the Prince of Wales Room ?

Hello,
Do you have a copy of this Dodge publication still? I am an embalmer myself and my main area of interest in Lincoln revolves around his death and care of the body thereafter. I actually called the Dodge company seeking info on the publication you mention and they don’t have anything to offer although they were very helpful.
SockdologizingMantrap

Hi, I found a copy of the Quinn article online here:

https://archive.org/details/assassxxxxxx...c/page/n13

It's actually from 1943, not c.1910.

Since you're interested in Lincoln's death and body's care, I should point out that the link above with the Quinn story is part of the larger Lincoln Financial Foundation's embalming articles file digitized on the Internet Archive. The Quinn article is only 2 pages, but if you scroll forwards and backwards there may also be other articles of similar vein that may interest you.

[cjcinmd]

The firm of Brown and Alexander to which the body of Lincoln had been entrusted for embalming were Freemasons from New York whose establishment in the District had been made possible "through the solicitations of many prominent masons (sic) of the State of New York...for the purposes of embalming and preserving the bodies of such brother masons (sic) citizens or soldiers who may be so unfortunate as to die or be killed while at the seat of war and away from their families and friends." The quote is from a letter received by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia that was ordered to be read at in all of the Lodges in their jurisdiction, and goes on to say "...any brother mason (sic) whose body they may wish to preserve by embalment and such bodies we pledge ourselves to embalm and preserve free of cost and without other charge or professional fees when recommended by any Lodge of the District." The letter was signed by Drs. Brown & Alexander, endorsed by the Grand Lodge, and read in its entirety in Naval Lodge No. 4 F.A.A.M. on February 1, 1862. In July 1865, the firm was dissolved "by mutual consent," and presumably Dr. Charles DeCosta Brown and Joseph B. Alexander returned to New York.