After delivering his now famous antislavery address on February 27, 1860, at the Cooper Union in New York City, Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) became a national celebrity. He followed the address with a 12-day speaking tour of New England starting the next day. New Hampshire became the centerpiece of the tour, as the future president delivered speeches in Concord, Manchester, Dover, and Exeter. His speeches helped galvanize the growing state Republican Party behind his candidacy for president, and gave Lincoln an opportunity to visit his son, Robert, who was attending Phillips Exeter Academy. During the whirlwind visit, "Honest Abe" won new friends with his talents as a public speaker, storyteller, and political leader, and made a lasting impression on the people he met.

The Lincoln Family  Currier & Ives, New York, New York  1867; Lithograph  New Hampshire Historical Society Collection

While researching the exhibition Abraham Lincoln and New Hampshire, the Society uncovered some fascinating stories of New Hampshire people and events that intersected with the life of one of the nation’s greatest presidents. These memorable stories are told through the Society’s collection of Lincoln-related documents, photographs, and objects.

Fragment of Abraham Lincoln's coat 1865 Gift of Sarah M. Brown

One of the many items in the exhibition is a fragment of the coat Lincoln was wearing when he was assassinated on April 14, 1865. Dr. Ezra W. Abbott of Concord was one of six men who carried the wounded president from Ford’s Theatre. He preserved a section of the sleeve from Lincoln’s coat, cut away in search of the fatal bullet wound. Years later, Abbott recalled the event. "During the entire night I kept the record, and the only one, of the president’s respiration and pulsation, noting them every half hour. At 3 a.m. I went to the office of the National Intelligencer and left a copy of my memoranda up to that time. I resumed my position at the foot of the sufferer’s bed, and remained there until he breathed his last, at 7:22 a.m. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton immediately exclaimed, ′He now belongs to the ages.′"

Remarkably, this was not Abbott′s first experience with presidential sorrow. He was also present at the death of Benjamin Pierce, the son of Franklin and Jane Pierce, who was killed in a train accident just days before his father’s inauguration. Abbott’s moving personal accounts of both tragedies are included in the exhibition.

Abraham Lincoln's Penknife, c. 1865 Gift of William E. Chandler View more images

Charles Forbes' Affidavit June 9, 1866 New Hampshire Historical Society Collection Read transcript

Also on display is a penknife Lincoln was carrying the night of his assassination. Charles Forbes, Lincoln’s footman and messenger, who had accompanied the president to Ford’s Theatre the night he was assassinated, was witness to the gruesome event. Shortly after Lincoln’s death, when Mrs. Lincoln was packing to leave the White House, she gave Forbes some clothing and personal belongings of the martyred president. According to a sworn affidavit, on June 9, 1866, Forbes presented "the Pen Knife used by the late President of the U. States, Abraham Lincoln, and which he had in his possession the night of his assassination," to C. E. Creecy, a United States Treasury Department staff member. William E. Chandler of New Hampshire acquired the penknife from Creecy the same day. Chandler had been appointed Solicitor and Judge Advocate General of the Navy Department by Lincoln in early 1865. Later that year, he was appointed First Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. In 1880, long after returning to Concord, Chandler presented the penknife to the New Hampshire Historical Society.

The exhibition Abraham Lincoln and New Hampshire is presented in cooperation with the state and national Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commissions, and is sponsored by Lincoln Financial Foundation and Rath, Young and Pignatelli. The exhibition will remain on view at the Society’s library through December 31, 2009. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Society's store is a great source for presidential books — and your purchase supports the Society! Members receive a 15% discount on all purchases!!

Dear Mr. President: Letters to the Oval Office	Dear First Lady: Letters to the White House	Franklin Pierce:  New Hampshire's  Favorite Son	Franklin Pierce:  Martyr for the Union

The Society’s November 5, 2008, E-Newsletter featured an article about how two prominent authors featured Jacqueline Kennedy correspondence preserved at the New Hampshire Historical Society in their new book Dear First Lady: Letters to the White House. The letters are part of the Bernard L. Boutin Papers.

Boutin, a former mayor of Laconia and two-time Democratic candidate for governor, served as head of the General Services Administration (GSA) under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Unfortunately, the newsletter article referred to Mr. Boutin as deceased when in reality he is alive and well, lives in Meredith, and is an active member of the Society. Friends of Boutin reported the error to the Society, and Library Director Peter Wallner immediately phoned Boutin to apologize. Boutin was not only gracious in accepting the apology, but reported that he and his wife had gotten a good laugh from the article.

Bernard Boutin

Library Director Peter Wallner presents Bernie Boutin with an autographed copy of his biography of U.S. President Franklin Pierce, and with an apology for an error published in the Society’s November 2008 E-Newsletter.

Wallner, who teaches a graduate course on presidential leadership at Franklin Pierce University, seized the opportunity to meet and talk with someone who had been close to the Kennedys. Boutin agreed to speak to the class, and shared many interesting stories, including these two:

In November 1960, the day after Kennedy was elected president and Boutin was defeated for Governor of New Hampshire, Boutin was back at his insurance agency in Laconia when a call came in from Kennedy. Boutin’s secretary was all flustered by the call, sputtering "it’s the president calling." Boutin reports that Kennedy said, "Bernie sell the business and come to Washington with me." Boutin did, without even knowing what job he was going to get in the Kennedy administration.

When Boutin became head of the GSA he inherited a Republican plan for building a new Executive Office Building at Lafayette Square. The plans included demolishing many historic structures including Ford’s Theater! Jackie Kennedy was appalled and asked Boutin to find an architect to redesign the plan to preserve the historic nature of the square. Boutin found an architect in Philadelphia and called Jackie Kennedy at the White House the day the new plans arrived. She insisted that he come right over. He did, carrying the plans under his arm. Jackie ushered him into the Blue Room where she had him spread the plans out on the floor. Boutin’s favorite memory of Jackie Kennedy was the two of them kneeling on the floor of the Blue Room looking over the new plans for Lafayette Square.

Everyone in the class thoroughly enjoyed Boutin’s personal reminiscences of past presidents, and of his long career in public service.

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The mission of the New Hampshire Historical Society is to educate a diverse public about the significance of New Hampshire's past and its relationship to our lives today. In support of this mission, the Society collects, preserves, and interprets materials pertaining to New Hampshire history.

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