More than 150 years after his death on April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln remains one of the most significant political figures in history, and one of the most collectible U.S. presidents.

A public fascination with collecting items relating to Lincoln began during his lifetime, but intensified in the wake of his assassination, with people hunting down anything related to the event, from theater playbills and newspaper accounts, to relics such as strands of his hair or the bandages that dressed his wound.

In subsequent years, collecting Lincoln books, documents and memorabilia has continued with a fervor.

One of the founding members of the Lincoln Club of Delaware, Frank G. Tallman (1860-1938), was one of the most important Lincoln collectors of his time. He amassed a significant collection of books, documents, original manuscripts, memorabilia and artwork which is now housed and available for use in the Special Collections of the University of Delaware Library.

Over the years, other collectors have generously donated material relating to America's 16th president and the Lincoln Collection continues to grow.

The new exhibition “Art and Artifact from the Lincoln Collection” will present a section of artwork, memorabilia and artifacts. Some of the more notable or unique items on display include a reward poster issued by the War Department shortly after Lincoln’s assassination, a Ford's Theatre playbill, a piece of the bandage placed on Lincoln after he was shot, and a small bow taken from the hat worn by Lincoln on the night he was shot.

The exhibition will be on view in the Lincoln Exhibit Case adjacent to the Special Collections Gallery on the second floor of the Morris Library from Feb. 10-June 9. The exhibition is curated by Timothy Murray, Head of the Special Collections Department.

Special Collections and Museums

Subject strengths of Special Collections of the University of Delaware include history and Delawareana, political papers, science and technology, art, and literature, represented in books, manuscripts, archival collections, electronic materials, maps, prints and photographs from the 15th century to the present. Political papers, family papers to ships’ logs are among the primary source material.

The recently gifted Mark Samuels Lasner Collection greatly enhances the collection’s strengths in British literature of the 19th and early 20th century. For an introduction to the range of holdings, browse the exhibitions and the finding aids for unpublished materials.

The recent merger of Special Collections with the University Museums brought into the collection works of American art of the 20th century (especially prints, photographs and work by African American artists), European prints, Inuit art, Pre-Columbian art and minerals.

Exhibitions are offered in the Special Collections Gallery in Morris Library, in the Old College Gallery, in the Mechanical Hall Gallery and in the Mineralogical Museum in Penny Hall. All exhibitions and accompanying programs are offered to the UD community and general public without charge.

Collaborative initiatives and programming with students, faculty and departments across campus foster diversity and enhance interdisciplinary research and teaching.

For information about Special Collections and Museums as well as current and past exhibitions, see the websites.