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historynow@gilderlehrman.org
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From:
Herb Swingle
Question:
Ms. Kline,
Is there any evidence,that anyone comforted Lincoln's head with
an American flag from the box at Ford's Theatre? There is a historical
society in Pennsylvania that is charging $2500 to send this flag,
"glass enclosed," around the country to other historical
societies. As a retired History Teacher and author I find this
to be very strange!
Thanks,
Herb Swingle
Answer: If this one had surfaced twenty years
ago, when I was still Sotheby's "Americana" expert,
I'm sure I'd have heard a lot about it.
Here's a link to a Wikipedia entry on the flag that I think you're
referring to. Despite all of the claims for endorsements of the
flag's authenticity, I remain sceptical. I wish the Pike County
Historical Society luck in getting prospective exhibitors to pony
up $2,500 for showings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Assassination_Flags
I'm fascinated by the image of Laura Keene running backstage
and upstairs to the Lincoln's box seat to cradle Lincoln's bleeding
head in her lap.
Keep me posted if you hear more.
Mary-Jo Kline
From:
Will Lowery
Question: Dear Dr. Kline,
I am working on a paper on Robert E. Lee. Can you suggest some
places I might look for information about his life?
Thank you,
Will Lowery
Answer: Mr. Lowery,
Where do you live? What libraries do you use? What grade or year
of high school are you in?
These facts will help me a lot in recommending sources.
These are the obvious things, but they may not be the best for
you.
In books, the best biographies are:
Dowdey, Clifford. Lee. With maps by Samuel H. Bryant.
London, Gollancz, 1970.
Freeman, Douglas Southall. Lee. New York, Scribner,
1961.
Thomas, Emory M. Robert E. Lee: A Biography. New York
: W.W. Norton, 1995.
For printed sources, go to The Wartime Papers of R.E. Lee.
Clifford Dowdey, editor; Louis H. Manarin, associate editor. With
connective narratives by Clifford Dowdey and maps by Samuel H.
Bryant. Boston: Little, Brown, 1961. Fully annotated edition of
Lee’s letters and other writings during the Civil War. Your
best bet, hands down.
For original documents, you can also use this online presentation
of Gen. Lee’s son’s Recollections and Letters of General
Robert E. Lee. Remember, though, it isn’t nearly as reliable
as the Dowdey-Manarin edition – you won’t find helpful
notes or explanations here. You won’t find nearly as many
documents. Do your best to get those volumes edited by Dowdey
and Manarin. I know it’s convenient to get it on the web,
but it’s not the best:
http://www.quillspirit.org/ebooks/Letters_of_General_R_E_Lee/index.php
Mary-Jo Kline
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