Description

Throughout the attractive embossed design of the white paper doily, the artist incorporated the words of "The Closing Prayer of the Rev. Dr. Gray, and the Order of The Procession at the Funeral of President Abraham Lincoln, April 21, 1865," all of which had been printed in two and two-thirds columns in "The Washington Weekly Chronicle" of April 22, 1865, page 8. The text continues as it forms the following: "Miss Mary Ella Gray, daughter of Rev. Edgar H. Gray was born January twenty second, eighteen hundred and forty six." as well as forming the blue rectangular border and scrollwork. The work ends in the middle of a sentence. The sampler is matted and framed. Rev. Edgar H. Gray was the Chaplain of the United States Senate and an officiating clergyman at the funeral service held for President Lincoln in the East Room in the Executive Mansion on April 19, 1865. This most unique Lincoln funeral relic was presented to the Lincoln National Life Foundation by Mrs. Caroline Gray Martines of Kirkwood, Missouri, the great-granddaughter of Rev. Gray. For more information on this Lincoln funeral relic, see "Lincoln Lore" number 1540, June, 1966, pages 1-3. Part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection, courtesy of the Indiana State Museum