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Mary Lincoln's Mourning Watch

National Museum of American History

This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
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    Object Details

    associated person
    Lincoln, Mary Todd
    Description
    Mary Lincoln used this black onyx lapel watch as her personal timepiece for the remainder of her life.
    Mary Lincoln never overcame the tragedies she endured. She came out of mourning on only one occasion, at the request of her son Tad for one of his birthdays. The two were almost inseparable until his death, possibly from tuberculosis, in 1871 at age 18. In 1882, at age 63, Mary died in Springfield, Illinois, at the home of her sister.
    Gift of Lincoln Isham, great-grandson of Abraham Lincoln, 1958
    Credit Line
    Lincoln Isham
    ID Number
    PL.225754.02
    catalog number
    225754.02
    accession number
    225754
    Object Name
    lapel watch
    watch chain
    Physical Description
    black (overall color)
    onyx (overall material)
    Measurements
    overall: 4 1/2 in x 1 1/2 in; 11.43 cm x 3.81 cm
    Related Publication
    Rubenstein, Harry R.. Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life
    See more items in
    Political History: Political History, White House/First Ladies Collection
    Government, Politics, and Reform
    Clothing & Accessories
    Selections from the Abraham Lincoln Collection
    Data Source
    National Museum of American History
    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-3672-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
    nmah_515321
    NMAH
    MARY LINCOLN'S MOURNING WATCH
    National Museum of American History
    CC0
    Metadata Usage
    CC0
    GUID (Link to Original Record)
    https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-3672-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
    Record ID
    nmah_515321

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