Ford's Theatre Playbill for the April 14, 1865 Performance of "Our American Cousin"
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This playbill announces the April 14, 1865, performance of Laura Keene in Our American Cousin. The play premiered in New York seven years earlier, and it remained popular throughout the Civil War. On this night, President Abraham Lincoln attended the production at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. While enjoying the play, President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
This playbill announces the April 14, 1865, performance of Laura Keene in Our American Cousin. The play premiered in New York seven years earlier, and it remained popular throughout the Civil War. On this night, President Abraham Lincoln attended the production at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. While enjoying the play, President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
Artifact
Playbill
Date Made
14 April 1865
Subject Date
14 April 1865
Creators
Place of Creation
United States, District of Columbia, Washington
Creator Notes
Printed by H. Polkinhorn & Son, Washington, D.C.
On Exhibit
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
69.144.1269
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Printing (Process)
Color
Black (Color)
White (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 19.25 in (there are 3 of these--all slightly different sizes)
Width: 6.875 in
Inscriptions
Printed on front: FORD'S THEATRE.../ FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 14TH, 1865.../ BENEFIT! / THE / LAST NIGHT / OF MISS / LAURA KEENE.../ OUR AMERICAN / COUSIN...