By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – The latest embarrassment surrounding the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum: a Chicago Public Radio report that the library foundation commissioned studies which could not prove a stovepipe hat belonged to Lincoln, then kept the reports secret.
The newly-revealed story is a follow-up to questions about the hat’s provenance years ago, first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation commissioned investigations which, essentially, prove nothing. Then it kept it all secret with the help of curator James Cornelius, who reportedly asked FBI agents to come in costume when the retrieved the hat for DNA tests.
State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) says the foundation’s antics are making this community and state asset – the museum – look bad.
“People need to understand that the foundation – a private foundation with no oversight from the state whatsoever – raises money for a public institution,” Butler said. “The museum is a wonderful institution with people who do a tremendous job.”
The foundation, by the way, is trying to help the state bail it out of a multi-million-dollar mess, having bought the hat and other items from one of the foundation’s own members, Louise Taper.
Museum chief Alan Lowe, reportedly kept in the dark until recently, issued the following statement:
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum needs a strong partnership with a private foundation to fully pursue our mission, so it is troubling to see difficulties in our relationship with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation. The Foundation should always provide prompt, complete information to the presidential library. It should work with us to seek the best ways of preserving Abraham Lincoln’s legacy for future generations.
Over the past months, we have learned the Foundation commissioned DNA testing on the Abraham Lincoln stovepipe hat in our collection and solicited a report from two respected historians.
It is important to understand that neither of these initiatives produced new evidence about the hat’s origins. The DNA testing was inconclusive, as expected with an item that has been handled by many people over 180 years. The review by Russell Lewis and Harry Rubenstein provides two new viewpoints on the same evidence that other historians have studied already.
Still, we understand the renewed curiosity about the hat and its relationship to President Lincoln. Therefore, the presidential library has already begun a new review of the facts and a new search for any additional evidence. What we learn, no matter what it says about the hat’s origins, will be shared with the public.
The hat is a fascinating symbol of America’s greatest president, but it is just one part of the Taper Collection, the amazing trove of Lincoln material purchased by the Foundation for use by the presidential library. It is vital that this collection remain at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where it can be studied by scholars and seen by visitors. Losing it to private collectors is unacceptable.
State leaders understand the importance of Abraham Lincoln’s legacy. We are confident they will continue exploring ways to preserve the Taper Collection. We urge the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation to work with them, to share all information, to discuss all options for achieving our shared goal.
As President Lincoln said in 1864, “Of all things, avoid if possible, a dividing into cliques among the friends of the common object.”
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a vibrant institution with glowing reviews from visitors, an array of public programs and special events, improved services for scholars and a talented staff dedicated to serving the public. Our common object should be taking the library and museum to even higher levels of success.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
