A lock of Abraham Lincoln’s hair, collected by Dr. Robert K. Stone during the autopsy conducted following President Lincoln’s death has been donated to Gettysburg National Military Park.

The artifact is framed and dated by Dr. Stone as “April 1865.” This framed lock of hair was later presented by Dr. Stone to Enoch Pratt, a prominent unionist and philanthropist in Baltimore (hence the handwritten inscription as seen in a close-up, below).

“The lock of Lincoln’s hair will become part of the permanent collection of Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP) and will go on display in the museum later this year,” said Bob Kirby, superintendent of GNMP. “This is one of those special objects that gives you the chills when you see it.”

Thomas E. Metz, owner of Heritage Inns, Inc. and Gettysburg Tours, Inc. presented the donation along with Max Felty, of Gettysburg Tours Inc., representing the late Ron Felty, an owner of Heritage Inns, and Donna McCleaf, executrix of the late Ken Rohrbaugh’s estate. Rohrbaugh was also an owner of Heritage Inns, Inc.

“We want to thank Heritage Inns for their generous donation to the American public,” added Kirby.

Heritage Inns, Inc., an independently-owned company, operates the Hall of Presidents Museum, Soldiers Museum and Jennie Wade House Museum in Gettysburg, Penn.

Gettysburg National Military Park is a unit of the National Park Service that preserves and protects the resources associated with the Battle of Gettysburg and the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, and provides an
understanding of the events that occurred there within the context of history.

The battle at Gettysburg happened July 1, 2, 3, 1863. On July 4th, as the Federal troops marked Independence Day, Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his troops south on a retreat in the rain. Related story on our news network about Gettysburg, horses and mules, plus a must-see film.