Our archives are located in a number of rooms that aren’t open for general public viewing and that are used to store and care for our collection. Five of these rooms were originally the maids’ quarters on the second floor of the home. Two other rooms were originally a guest room and Robert’s original bedroom. These last two are used as an exhibit staging room and an exhibit prep room respectively.
For research requests, please contact our collections care staff here.
This Bible belonging to President Abraham Lincoln was gifted to him by Amos S. King on the occasion of his inauguration in 1861. Mr. King was so moved by the President-elect’s farewell speech in Springfield, that he purchased this bible and had it delivered to him. There is a handwritten inscription from Mr. King to the President on one of the front pages of the Bible. We also have documentation of a letter written by the President’s secretary, John Nicolay, acknowledging the receipt of the Bible by President Lincoln and his “… thanks for the present.”
This Martin guitar was in the collection of items found in the home when Friends of Hildene took over the ownership of the estate. It is a Model 00-45 that was made in January of 1908. Martin records indicate it was purchased from the C. H. Ditson Company in New York, NY on May 14, 1908. It is not known who purchased the guitar or for whom it was purchased. It was restored by the Martin Company in 2006.
Housed in our archive library, our collection of books is a mix of contemporary research books that focus on the Lincoln family and books owned by President and Mrs. Lincoln and their descendants.
Our collection includes a number of toys owned by various Lincoln children. Some by Willie and Tad, many by Robert and Mary’s children, Mamie, Jack and Jessie. These include toy soldiers made of tin and ceramic that have been dated to the time the grandchildren would have been visiting Robert and Mary here at Hildene. There are several stuffed animals, a set of five biplanes and period board games.
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