Rare Letter in Washington’s Own Handwriting; Lincoln Letter Written Two Months Before Assassination
The Library of Congress has recently acquired two letters written by former first ladies Martha Washington and Mary Todd Lincoln. These letters provide researchers and the public with a rare glimpse into the private lives of remarkable women who each stood beside formidable men: America’s first president and its Civil War commander-in-chief.
“What is already the world’s richest and most expansive collection of materials related to American history is constantly growing – sometimes one letter at a time,” said Kevin Butterfield, acting chief of the Manuscript Division. “These two documents help us to tell fascinating stories that we simply couldn’t tell before.”
Mary Todd Lincoln Letter
On Feb. 15, 1865, a mere two months before the assassination of her husband, Mary Todd Lincoln corresponded with Mrs. Caroline R. Wright, wife of the former governor of Indiana. In her letter, Lincoln mentions a “beautiful wreath of hair,” which historians believe to be the “Hairy Eagle,” a framed woven figure of an eagle sitting on a globe, made entirely of hair contributed by notable politicians and s...