ToProtectandPreserve
Toprotectandpreservesuchvaluableitemsisabigresponsibility.Curatorsunderstandtheriskstoitems,suchastheflagfromthepresidentialbox.Ultravioletlightcanfadeitsdarkbluedyedsilk.Itsfiberscanbreak down.
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flag
That’swhycuratorspreservetheflagunderspecialglassthatblocksultravioletlight.Framingtheflagalsoensuresthatitwillbekeptflat.Foldingtheflagcouldcreatelastingcreases.Historicfabricsareoftenrolleduptopreventsuch damage.
Otherdangerscomefromtheenvironment.Dirt,dust,bodyoils,andotherpollutantscanharmobjects.That’swhycuratorsusewhitecottonglovestohandleanyartifact.Curatorsalsohavetoworryaboutpests.Rodentsorbugsmightnibbleonartifacts.Theymightevenusethemtobuild nests.
Changesintemperatureandhumiditycanalsocausedamagelikeshrinkage,mold,mildew,orrust.So,allartifactsarekeptinaclimate‑controlledenvironment.Thecenteralsohasanadvancedfireprotection system.
NationalParkServicemuseumcuratorKamalA. McClarinwearscottongloveswhenhehandlesartifactsliketheflagfromthepresident's box.
tear
ThePathtoPreservation
Insomecases,artifactscomeintoamuseum’scollectionquickly.Inothercases,manyyearscan pass.
AfterPresidentLincolnhadbeenshot,hewascarriedacrossthestreettothehomeofWilliamandAnnaPetersen.There,hewaslaidacrossatinybedinoneofthebackbedrooms.ItwastheroomofayoungarmyclerknamedWillie Clark.
Soldierswerepostedatthedoorsofthehousewhiledoctorsattendedtothewoundedpresident.At7:22a.m.onApril15,AbrahamLincolndiedfromhiswound.WhenClarkreturnedthenextmorning,hisroomwasinshambles,andthepresidentwas gone.
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bedroomatPetersonHouse,
locatedacrossthestreetfromFord’s Theatre
WillieClark'slettertohissisterhasbeencarefully preserved.
Fourdayslater,Clarkwrotealettertohissister,Ida.Hewrote:“Sincethedeathofourpresidenthundredsdailycallatthehousetogainadmissionintomyroom….Everybodyhasagreatdesiretoobtainsomemementofrommyroomsothatwhoevercomesinhastobecloselywatchedforfearthattheywillsteal something.”
Clarkhimselfsenthissistersomethingofgreatvalue.Hewrote:“EnclosedyouwillfindapieceoflacethatMrs.Lincolnworeonherheadduringtheevening. . . Itisworthkeepingforitshistorical value.”
Thelacedisappeared,buttheletterremained.Morethan100yearslater,itwasgiventotheFord’sTheatre Museum.
AbrahamLincolnworethiscoat,vest,andtrousersashisofficesuitwhilehewas president.
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ThisexhibitshowsthecoatAbrahamLincolnworethenighthewas shot.
Clark’sletterisafirst‑handaccountofwhathappenedrightaftertheassassination.Itiswhatisknownasaprimarysource.Aprimarysourceisanartifact,document,diary,recording,oranyothersourceofinformationthatwascreatedatthetimeunder study.JohnWilkesBooth’sdiaryisalsoaprimarysource.Itis,infact,theonlysourcethatrecordsBooth’s thoughts.
TheFord’sTheatrecollectionisfullofinterestingartifacts.YoucanseetheclothesLincolnworetothetheaterthatnightandmanyother objects.
Thesepiecesofourpasthavebeenpreservedandprotectedsothatpeoplecanseeandconnectwiththem today.
TofindoutmoreabouttheartifactsatFord’sTheatre,goto www.fords.org
TolearnmoreabouttheNationalParkService’sMuseumResourcesCenter,goto www.nps.gov/orgs/1802/
MyCareer
WhennothandlingartifactswithhiswhiteglovesattheMuseumResourcesCenter,KamalMcClarincanbefoundatdifferenthistoricsitesintheWashington,D.C.,area.McClarinservesasaninterpretiverangerwiththeNationalPark Service.
It'shisjobtohelpvisitorsmakeapersonalconnectionwithhistoricplacesandpeople.He'softenworkingatthehomeofFrederickDouglass.Douglasswasaformerslavewhobecameanabolitionist.HepressedPresidentLincolnforequalityforallpeople.McClaringivesvisitorsasenseofhowDouglasslivedand worked.
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