Description

This is a white cloth net bag with a black bow at the top. Inside the bag are tiny remnants of flowers. The artifact is attached to a piece of cardboard. A note accompanies the artifact and reads: "This is a sprig of a flower which was taken from off our dear and lamented President-Lincoln's coffin while lying in state at the State house Springfield [May 3-4, 1865] previous to being laid in Oak Ridge Cemetery vault. Mrs. Mary L. Westerman." Other collection items associated with Mrs. Henry P. Westerman are a letter from John Hay and two photographs signed by Abraham Lincoln (housed at ACPL in Fort Wayne, IN) to be sold at the Tazewell County Sanitary Fair in Illinois, a badge for the Ladies Soldiers Aid Society worn by Mrs. Westerman while caring for wounded soldiers, (item 71.2009.082.0154), and a Civil War battle flag created by the ladies of Pekin, Illinois, (item ID 71.2009.082.0165), which was presented to the members of the 47th Illinois Volunteer Regiment in a presentation speech made by Mrs. Westerman. Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum