![]() On May 22 the Lincolns left the White House. A newspaper reported, "Master Tad Lincoln was among the spectators at the conspiracy trial this afternoon." Tad had probably grown restless in the White House prior to departure and was looking to do something with his time. During the play information about the president's shooting was whispered in Donn's ear.Īuthor Ruth Painter Randall writes that Tad made the news on May 18, 1865. When John Wilkes Booth shot his father at Ford's Theatre, Tad was at Grover's Theatre watching "Aladdin or The Wonderful Lamp." He was accompanied by Alphonso Donn, one of the group of Metropolitan Washington police officers assigned to the White House. He personally appeared in at least two plays when his dad was in the audience. He became quite a hit with the stage workmen. ![]() At Grover's Theatre Tad often went to rehearsals and became a familiar figure backstage. Like Abraham and Mary, young Tad loved the theater. Regarding Tad the president's secretary, John Hay, wrote, "He had a very bad opinion of books and no opinion of discipline." The attitude of the parents was basically "let the children have a good time." Lincoln hired tutors for the boys, but only Willie took education seriously. (The National Archives photo to the left shows Tad in the Union uniform that Stanton allowed him to wear.) Mrs. He received a pretend military commission from Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Because of the times, some of Tad's games were war-related. Tad seemed to enjoy the idea of throwing the White House and its staff into a dither. ![]() Abraham generally laughed at his sons' tricks, and any kind of discipline was generally lacking. In the White House Tad sprayed dignitaries with the fire hose, broke mirrors, locked doors, interrupted Cabinet meetings, constructed wagons and sleds out of chairs, set up a food shop in the lobby, rang the call bells, and drilled the servants, as if they were soldiers. The photo is from the Columbia Historical Society.) Although Tad was more rambunctious than his brother, Willie, both boys enjoyed playing pranks around the Executive Mansion. This is where the president took Tad to buy toys. (The photo to the right is Stuntz's Fancy Store, 1207 New York Avenue, Northwest, in Washington. Tad was eight when the Lincoln family moved into the White House in 1861. Tad's behavior and manners were often unpredictable and sometimes difficult to deal with. He was imaginative, sensitive, exasperating, loving, and highly emotional. It is probable that Tad had at least a partial cleft palate, and he spoke with a lisp. Tad was quick in his movements, talked rapidly, and had a marked speech impediment. Abraham, viewing the contrast between the large head and tiny baby figure, thought he resembled a tadpole which was the origin of a nickname that stuck for the rest of Tad's life.Īs a young lad growing up, Tad had an appealing boyish face with dark hair like his dad's. Tad was named after Thomas Lincoln, Abraham's father who had died in 1851. * Campaign items from the presidential bids of Adlai Stevenson II.Thomas Lincoln ("Tad") was the fourth and last child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. * A medal of honor awarded posthumously to Andrew Jackson Smith, a Black man serving in the Civil War * A bust of Frank “Free Frank” McWorter, first Black man to plat and register a town in America * Tools that thieves used in a failed attempt to steal Lincoln’s body from his tomb in Springfield *A bust of Lincoln that was a gift to the Lincolns from the sculptor * The desk where Lincoln wrote much of the speech he would deliver after being sworn in as president Highlights of the virtual gallery include: ![]() The collection’s owners have removed the items, but digital versions remain available through the ALPLM for anyone who wants to study them. The 3-D gallery includes many objects that were part of the Taper Collection, a huge collection of Lincoln material that was housed at the ALPLM for many years. “We’re excited to give people around the world a chance to explore these historic treasures.” They add concrete details as we imagine Abraham Lincoln writing a speech, a soldier risking everything in war, or a lonely boy playing in the White House,” said Lisa Horsley, the ALPLM’s director of library services. “Nothing connects us to the past quite like artifacts. Department of Education awarded grants to governors for the purpose of providing local educational agencies, institutions of higher education and other education-related entities with emergency assistance during the coronavirus pandemic. The 3-D scanning was made possible by grant funds the ALPLM received as part of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |