Piece of Lincoln’s History in Wisconsin

When you think of states with ties to President Abraham Lincoln, Kentucky and Illinois may immediately come to mind. But a very unique piece of his clothing actually lives right here in Wisconsin. Believe it or not, it’s no top hat or long black coat that’s synonymous with the 16th president. The Wisconsin Historical Society is home to one of Lincoln’s shawls. Mary Todd Lincoln gifted the shawl to Dr. Anderson Abbott after Lincoln was assassinated. It was passed down through Abbott’s family. Abbott’s grandson was living in Wisconsin at the time of the centennial of the Civil War and loaned the piece to the Wisconsin Historical Society for a few years and eventually converted it to a gift. Abbott was the first black doctor in Canada, who volunteered as a United States Army surgeon during the Civil War, where he and Lincoln became friends.