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Popular Research Topic

The Lincoln Chair

President Abraham Lincoln was sitting in this chair when he was assassinated in 1865.

What is the significance of the Lincoln Chair?

President Abraham Lincoln was sitting in this rocking chair during a production of the play Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC, when he was assassinated on April 14, 1865.

Who was the original manufacturer of the Lincoln Chair?

The rocking chair was part of a larger parlor set purchased by Harry Ford (no relation to Henry Ford), manager of Ford’s Theatre when the Theatre opened in 1863. The parlor set was used in a lounge area of the Theater. We do not know who originally manufactured the Lincoln Chair.

Why was President Lincoln seated in a rocking chair, as opposed to a regular chair? Was this common at the time, or was it a special request by President Lincoln?

The chair was usually placed in a lounge in Ford’s Theatre, and it was offered to President Lincoln when he first started frequenting the Theatre in 1863. He found the rocker comfortable, and whenever he attended a play, it was specially brought out for him.

Lincoln RockerFord's Theatre Presidential Box the Morning after Lincoln was Shot, April 15, 1865/THF121254


How many of that style of chair were made, and how many may still be around?

The rocking chair is known, not ironically, as a “Lincoln Rocker.” Thousands of these were mass produced, beginning in the 1850s and continuing into the 1870s. The Henry Ford owns several more of these rockers used by the Lincoln family at their home in Springfield, Illinois. Many of this type of rocker are still around.


Was the Lincoln Chair in police evidence storage for a while?

Following Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, the Lincoln Chair was seized as evidence by the federal government and remained in Secretary of War Edwin Stanton’s office for at least two years. Our best period images of the chair come from its time in Stanton’s office. In 1867, it was transferred to the Department of the Interior, where it remained in storage. It was catalogued into the Smithsonian Institution’s collection in 1902.


How did The Henry Ford acquire the Lincoln Chair?

The Henry Ford acquired the Lincoln Chair through an auction in 1929. Blanche Chapman Ford, the widow of Ford’s Theatre manager Harry Ford, appealed to the federal government to return her husband’s property, seized at the end of the Civil War. She used a precedent set in 1913, when the heirs of Jefferson Davis sued the federal government for return of his property. Once Blanche Ford took possession of the chair in 1929, she put it up for auction. It was purchased by famed antiques dealer Israel Sack, who immediately offered it to Henry Ford. Henry Ford bought the chair and installed it in the Logan County Courthouse in Greenfield Village. He even filmed the move, unpacking, and installation.

Logan County CourthouseLogan County Courthouse in March 1935, Showing the Abraham Lincoln Chair Then on Exhibit in Greenfield Village / THF121377


When was the Lincoln Chair first preserved in the glass case in Logan County Courthouse?

Photographic evidence tells us that the Lincoln Chair was always preserved in a glass case in the Logan County Courthouse, from its arrival in 1930 to its move to Henry Ford Museum 50 years later.


Why was the Lincoln Chair moved from the Logan County Courthouse?

The Lincoln Chair was always intended by Henry Ford to be displayed in Greenfield Village in the Logan County Courthouse, where Lincoln practiced law as a circuit rider in the 1840s. It was moved into Henry Ford Museum in 1979 as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of The Henry Ford. The Lincoln Chair is now a permanent and integral part of the With Liberty and Justice for All exhibition in Henry Ford Museum, which examines the history of American democracy.

Has the Lincoln Chair ever returned to Ford’s Theatre for special occasions?

No. The Lincoln Chair is on permanent display in With Liberty and Justice for All in Henry Ford Museum.

Watch The Henry Ford’s Curator of Decorative Arts Charles Sable and Chief Conservator Mary Fahey answer some frequently asked questions about the Lincoln Chair.

What are the stains on the Lincoln Chair?

Before the Lincoln Chair was conserved in 1996, small samples were analyzed. Most of the stains on the headrest were determined to be hair oil.


Is there blood on the Lincoln Chair?

Samples from the Lincoln Chair were analyzed prior to our 1996 conservation work. The preliminary presumptive test for blood using the chemical benzidine gave a positive result for two locations on the chair—one on the back, and the other on the front of the seat. More conclusive testing, such as DNA testing, would have required us to have a second known sample of DNA from the president or one of his decedents.

Lincoln Chair
THF159539


Why is the Lincoln Chair in this condition? And why wasn't it reupholstered?

The fabric on the Lincoln Chair is the same fabric that was on the chair on the evening of President Lincoln’s assassination. As a museum, it is our responsibility to preserve as much original material as possible, including fragile fibers and stains. This is particularly important if the artifact is linked to a significant historical event—as this one is.


How do you keep the fabric on the Lincoln Chair stable?

In 1996, the upholstery on the Lincoln Chair was cleaned to remove dust; the springs in the seat cushion were secured from below to reduce stress on the fragile upholstery; and the upholstery was covered with a custom-dyed sheer fabric to hold the fragile upholstery in place. The sheer fabric also provides some protection from light exposure.

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Artifacts Related to The Lincoln Chair

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865
Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865
Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865
Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865
Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865
Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865
Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865
Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865
Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

The Henry Ford   Details

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Rocking chair

Date Made

1855-1865

Summary

President Abraham Lincoln was sitting in this rocking chair during a production of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., when he was assassinated on April 14, 1865. Henry Ford purchased the chair in 1929 for the Museum, where it remains one of the most revered objects associated with the "man who saved the Union."

Place of Creation

United States 

Keywords

United States, District of Columbia, Washington 

Chairs (Furniture forms) 

Furniture 

Rocking chairs 

Assassinations 

Theaters (Buildings) 

United States presidents 

Civil wars 

American Civil War, 1861-1865 

Booth, John Wilkes, 1838-1865 

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 

Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882 

Rathbone, Henry Reed, 1837-1911 

Ford's Theatre (Washington, D.C.) 

Renaissance Revival 

Rococo Revival 

Object ID

29.1451.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

With Liberty & Justice For All
 On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in With Liberty & Justice for All

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Details
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Being Uncrated in Greenfield Village, January 1930
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Being Uncrated in Greenfield Village, January 1930
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Being Uncrated in Greenfield Village, January 1930 (back)

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Still in Crate after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

The Henry Ford   Details

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Still in Crate after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

06 January 1930

Summary

Henry Ford identified with self-made men who came from humble origins -- traits personified by Abraham Lincoln. In the late 1920s Ford began to acquire significant Lincoln-related artifacts including the chair in which President Lincoln had been sitting when he was shot. Ford clearly understood the chair's importance -- this rocker became a symbol of Lincoln's vision and personal sacrifice. Ford had the chair's arrival and unpacking filmed and photographed.

Creators

Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Department 

Keywords

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Photographic prints 

Photographs 

Collections management 

Collecting 

Loading and unloading 

Museums 

Henry Ford (Organization). Greenfield Village 

Logan County Courthouse 

Object ID

64.167.188.P.1610

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Still in Crate after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

 
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email

  • Embed

  • Copy Short URL

Details
Interior View of Logan County Courthouse in Greenfield Village, March 1935
Interior View of Logan County Courthouse in Greenfield Village, March 1935
Interior View of Logan County Courthouse in Greenfield Village, March 1935

Interior of Logan County Courthouse in Greenfield Village, March 1935

The Henry Ford   Details

Interior of Logan County Courthouse in Greenfield Village, March 1935

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

25 March 1935

Summary

Henry Ford admired President Lincoln's humble, down-to-earth character and his embodiment of the ideals of the "self-made man." Ford collected many Lincoln-related artifacts, including the Logan County, Illinois, courthouse in which Lincoln had first practiced law and the chair in which Lincoln was assassinated. He housed his Lincoln collection inside the courthouse when it was re-erected in Greenfield Village.

Creators

Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Department 

Keywords

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Photographic prints 

Photographs 

Interior views 

Chairs (Furniture forms) 

Courthouses 

Furniture 

Buildings (Structures) 

Museum exhibits 

Open-air museums 

United States presidents 

Relocated buildings and structures 

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 

Henry Ford (Organization). Greenfield Village 

Logan County Courthouse 

Object ID

EI.1929.876

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

 On Exhibit

Not on exhibit to the public.

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Logan County Courthouse

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Interior of Logan County Courthouse in Greenfield Village, March 1935

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

 
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email

  • Embed

  • Copy Short URL

Details
"Mrs. Ford to Auction Famous Lincoln Chair," Newspaper Article from November 16, 1929

"Mrs. Ford to Auction Famous Lincoln Chair," Newspaper Article from November 16, 1929

The Henry Ford   Details

"Mrs. Ford to Auction Famous Lincoln Chair," Newspaper Article from November 16, 1929

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Negative (Photograph)

Keywords

United States, District of Columbia, Washington 

Negatives (Photographs) 

Photographs 

Assassinations 

Rocking chairs 

Theaters (Buildings) 

United States presidents 

Auctions 

Ford, Blanche Chapman, 1851-1941 

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 

Ford's Theatre (Washington, D.C.) 

Object ID

N.B.39331

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

"Mrs. Ford to Auction Famous Lincoln Chair," Newspaper Article from November 16, 1929

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

 
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email

  • Embed

  • Copy Short URL

Details
Abraham Lincoln Chair, Uncrated after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930
Abraham Lincoln Chair, Uncrated after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930
Abraham Lincoln Chair, Uncrated after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930 (back)

The Abraham Lincoln Chair after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

The Henry Ford   Details

The Abraham Lincoln Chair after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

06 January 1930

Summary

Henry Ford identified with self-made men who came from humble origins -- traits personified by Abraham Lincoln. In the late 1920s Ford began to acquire significant Lincoln-related artifacts including the chair in which President Lincoln had been sitting when he was shot. Ford clearly understood the chair's importance -- this rocker became a symbol of Lincoln's vision and personal sacrifice. Ford had the chair's arrival and unpacking filmed and photographed.

Creators

Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Department 

Keywords

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Photographic prints 

Photographs 

Collections management 

Collecting 

Loading and unloading 

Museums 

Henry Ford (Organization). Greenfield Village 

Logan County Courthouse 

Object ID

64.167.188.P.1612

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The Abraham Lincoln Chair after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

 
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email

  • Embed

  • Copy Short URL

Details
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Arriving in Greenfield Village, January 1930
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Arriving in Greenfield Village, January 1930
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Arriving in Greenfield Village, January 1930 (back)

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Arriving in Greenfield Village, January 1930

The Henry Ford   Details

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Arriving in Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

06 January 1930

Summary

Henry Ford identified with self-made men who came from humble origins -- traits personified by Abraham Lincoln. In the late 1920s Ford began to acquire significant Lincoln-related artifacts including the chair in which President Lincoln had been sitting when he was shot. Ford clearly understood the chair's importance -- this rocker became a symbol of Lincoln's vision and personal sacrifice. Ford had the chair's arrival and unpacking filmed and photographed.

Creators

Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Department 

Keywords

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Photographic prints 

Photographs 

Collections management 

Collecting 

Loading and unloading 

Museums 

Workers 

Henry Ford (Organization). Greenfield Village 

Object ID

64.167.188.P.1608

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Arriving in Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

 
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email

  • Embed

  • Copy Short URL

Details
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Being Uncrated in Greenfield Village, January 1930
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Being Uncrated in Greenfield Village, January 1930
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Being Uncrated in Greenfield Village, January 1930 (back)

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Still in Crate after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

The Henry Ford   Details

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Still in Crate after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

06 January 1930

Summary

Henry Ford identified with self-made men who came from humble origins -- traits personified by Abraham Lincoln. In the late 1920s Ford began to acquire significant Lincoln-related artifacts including the chair in which President Lincoln had been sitting when he was shot. Ford clearly understood the chair's importance -- this rocker became a symbol of Lincoln's vision and personal sacrifice. Ford had the chair's arrival and unpacking filmed and photographed.

Creators

Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Department 

Keywords

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Photographic prints 

Photographs 

Collections management 

Collecting 

Loading and unloading 

Museums 

Henry Ford (Organization). Greenfield Village 

Logan County Courthouse 

Object ID

64.167.188.P.1609

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Still in Crate after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

 
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email

  • Embed

  • Copy Short URL

Details
The Abraham Lincoln Chair as Photographed in April 1865, "The Chair Lincoln Sat in When He Was Shot"

The Abraham Lincoln Chair as Photographed in April 1865, "The Chair Lincoln Sat in When He Was Shot"

The Henry Ford   Details

The Abraham Lincoln Chair as Photographed in April 1865, "The Chair Lincoln Sat in When He Was Shot"

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Stereograph

Date Made

1885-1892

Creators

Taylor & Huntington 

Place of Creation

United States, Connecticut, Hartford 

Keywords

United States, District of Columbia, Washington 

Card photographs (Photographs) 

Photographs 

Stereographs 

Assassinations 

United States presidents 

Rocking chairs 

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 

Ford's Theatre (Washington, D.C.) 

Object ID

67.171.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The Abraham Lincoln Chair as Photographed in April 1865, "The Chair Lincoln Sat in When He Was Shot"

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

 
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email

  • Embed

  • Copy Short URL

Details
"The Chair that President Lincoln Occupied at the Time of His Assassination," Photographed 1865-1866

"The Chair that President Lincoln Occupied at the Time of His Assassination," 1865-1866

The Henry Ford   Details

"The Chair that President Lincoln Occupied at the Time of His Assassination," 1865-1866

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Stereograph

Summary

President Abraham Lincoln happened to be sitting in this rocking chair when he was mortally wounded at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on the evening of April 14, 1865. Mathew B. Brady made the photograph for his Brady's National Portrait Gallery. At a time before television and internet news, this stereograph view helped people visualize events surrounding President Lincoln's death.

Creators

Brady & Co. (Washington, D.C.) 

E. & H.T. Anthony (Firm) 

Place of Creation

United States, District of Columbia, Washington 

United States, New York, New York 

Keywords

United States, District of Columbia, Washington 

Stereographs 

Photographs 

Card photographs (Photographs) 

Assassinations 

United States presidents 

Rocking chairs 

Civil wars 

American Civil War, 1861-1865 

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 

Ford's Theatre (Washington, D.C.) 

Object ID

79.26.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

"The Chair that President Lincoln Occupied at the Time of His Assassination," 1865-1866

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

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Details
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Being Unpacked upon Arrival in Greenfield Village, January 1930
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Being Unpacked upon Arrival in Greenfield Village, January 1930
Chair in Which Abraham Lincoln was Assassinated Being Unpacked upon Arrival in Greenfield Village, January 1930 (back)

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Being Uncrated after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

The Henry Ford   Details

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Being Uncrated after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Photographic print

Summary

President Abraham Lincoln was sitting in this rocking chair during a production of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., when he was assassinated on April 14, 1865. Henry Ford purchased the chair in 1929 for the Museum, where it remains one of the most revered objects associated with the "man who saved the Union."

Creators

Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Department 

Place of Creation

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Keywords

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Photographic prints 

Photographs 

Open-air museums 

Rocking chairs 

Shipping 

Shipping crates 

United States presidents 

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 

Ford's Theatre (Washington, D.C.) 

Henry Ford (Organization) 

Logan County Courthouse 

Object ID

64.167.188.P.1611

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

The Abraham Lincoln Chair Being Uncrated after Shipment to Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Abraham Lincoln Chair in Shipping Crate after Arrival in Greenfield Village, January 1930
Abraham Lincoln Chair in Shipping Crate after Arrival in Greenfield Village, January 1930
Abraham Lincoln Chair in Shipping Crate after Arrival in Greenfield Village, January 1930

Abraham Lincoln Chair Still in Shipping Crate after Arrival in Greenfield Village, January 1930

The Henry Ford   Details

Abraham Lincoln Chair Still in Shipping Crate after Arrival in Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

06 January 1930

Summary

Henry Ford identified with self-made men who came from humble origins -- traits personified by Abraham Lincoln. In the late 1920s Ford began to acquire significant Lincoln-related artifacts including the chair in which President Lincoln had been sitting when he was shot. Ford clearly understood the chair's importance -- this rocker became a symbol of Lincoln's vision and personal sacrifice. Ford had the chair's arrival and unpacking filmed and photographed.

Creators

Ford Motor Company. Engineering Photographic Department 

Keywords

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Photographic prints 

Photographs 

Collections management 

Collecting 

Loading and unloading 

Museums 

Henry Ford (Organization). Greenfield Village 

Logan County Courthouse 

Object ID

64.167.188.P.1614

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Abraham Lincoln Chair Still in Shipping Crate after Arrival in Greenfield Village, January 1930

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Details
Logan County Courthouse
Logan County Courthouse
Logan County Courthouse
Logan County Courthouse

Logan County Courthouse

The Henry Ford   Details

Logan County Courthouse

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Courthouse

Date Made

1840

Summary

Between 1840 and 1847, Abraham Lincoln tried cases here as a traveling lawyer. Visiting once or twice a year, he worked mostly on cases resolving neighbors' disagreements over land, contracts, and debts. As Lincoln traveled, people got to know him because he always took time to talk to them. This helped him earn votes later when he went into politics.

Creators

Cowardin, Peter G., 1790-1849 

Tinsley, Seth M. 

Place of Creation

United States, Illinois, Postville 

Keywords

United States, Illinois, Postville 

Courthouses 

Buildings (Structures) 

Lawyers 

United States presidents 

Relocated buildings and structures 

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 

Logan County Courthouse 

Object ID

29.3046.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Greenfield Village
 On Exhibit

at Greenfield Village in Main Street District

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Logan County Courthouse

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

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Details
New York Evening Post Article from June 18, 1929, "Lincoln Box Chair Goes to Mrs. Ford"

New York Evening Post Article from June 18, 1929, "Lincoln Box Chair Goes to Mrs. Ford"

The Henry Ford   Details

New York Evening Post Article from June 18, 1929, "Lincoln Box Chair Goes to Mrs. Ford"

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Negative (Photograph)

Keywords

United States, District of Columbia, Washington 

Negatives (Photographs) 

Photographs 

Assassinations 

Museums 

Rocking chairs 

Theaters (Buildings) 

United States presidents 

Ford, Blanche Chapman, 1851-1941 

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 

Smithsonian Institution 

Ford's Theatre (Washington, D.C.) 

Object ID

N.B.39330

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Rocking Chair Used by Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater the Night of His Assassination, April 14, 1865

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

New York Evening Post Article from June 18, 1929, "Lincoln Box Chair Goes to Mrs. Ford"

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Details
Ford's Theatre Presidential Box the Morning after Lincoln was Shot, April 15, 1865

Ford's Theatre Presidential Box the Morning after Lincoln was Shot, April 15, 1865

The Henry Ford   Details

Ford's Theatre Presidential Box the Morning after Lincoln was Shot, April 15, 1865

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Negative (Photograph)

Date Made

08 December 1960

Creators

Henry Ford (Organization). Photographic Department 

Brady, Mathew B., approximately 1823-1896 

Keywords

United States, District of Columbia, Washington 

Negatives (Photographs) 

Photographs 

Assassinations 

Boxes (Theaters, auditoriums, etc.) 

Theaters (Buildings) 

United States presidents 

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 

Ford's Theatre (Washington, D.C.) 

Object ID

N.B.27108

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Ford's Theatre Presidential Box the Morning after Lincoln was Shot, April 15, 1865

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

 
  • Tweet
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Details
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20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, MI 48124‑5029

Contact Center: 313-982-6001
Contact Center Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, MI 48124-5029

Contact Center: 313-982-6001
Contact Center Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
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