Questions abound about which knife John Wilkes Booth used to stab Major Henry Rathbone after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. Read on to see what evidence exists in the curatorial files and what our conclusion is.
Tagged: primary sources
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10 American Orators Who Aren’t Abraham Lincoln
Throughout history many Americans have used oratory as a way to drive civic change. Read on to discover 10 change-makers whom you might not know about yet.
Teaching and Learning Reconstruction
In our modern political climate, how should a program about Reconstruction and Civil War Memory adapt to meet the needs of teachers and museum educators? Explore what we've learned by running The Seat of War and Peace, a Ford’s Theatre summer program for teachers.
I've Got a Secret: Evaluating Historic Truth
In 1956, Samuel J. Seymour appeared on the hit T.V. show “I’ve Got A Secret,” claiming to be the last living witness to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. But, how true is his story?
An African-American Hero Emerges from the Tragic Ford’s Theatre Collapse of 1893
The first person you likely associate with Ford’s Theatre is Abraham Lincoln or John Wilkes Booth. Depending on your level of history nerdiness, you might also know Major Rathbone, Clara Harris, Ned Spangler or John T. Ford. But, one name you probably do not associate with our hallowed theatre is Basil Lockwood. I know I didn’t, until I did some research.
My 10 Favorite Lincoln Quotes
As Membership Manager, Diane Barber gets to see first-hand how Ford's Theatre donors connect with President Lincoln's legacy. She has found that these 10 Lincoln quotes speak to folks from across the United States.
Following a Historical Figure, Again: Prototyping Sprint 3
In our third and final prototyping sprint on the Ford’s campus, we twice built on a previous concept: character cards representing historical figures whose stories patrons follow through the exhibit. Since the cards were highly successful in terms of engagement, the D.R.A.F.T. team is now looking at how to implement this idea.
Working in War-Time Washington
Jake Flack, Associate Director of Museum Education, reflects on how the Civil War affected the economy of his hometown of Washington, D.C.
Big Dresses and Wilder Crowds: Theatregoing in Lincoln’s Time
Fashion and audience manners have changed quite a bit since the Ford’s Theatre of Lincoln’s time. Discover what’s different.
Three Years Later: Reflecting on our Remembering Lincoln Digital Collection
Three years after launching our Remembering Lincoln digital collection, we share lessons learned and continuing questions about collection-building, building a refined end-product versus citizen history project, defining audiences, challenges of scale, and how this project has refined our storytelling approach.
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