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Ford’s Theatre chair obtained by ALPLM

Ford’s Theatre chair obtained by ALPLM

This chair from Ford's Theatre has been donated to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum by Gordon McCray. Photo: Contributed/Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.


Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – What could arguably called a piece of history has been obtained by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) — one the museum calls “an artifact from a consequential moment in American history.”

Gordon McCray, along with his wife, Coleen, donated the chair to the ALPLM.  Gordon is a retired Wake Forest University dean.

“We’ve had this amazing piece of history for decades, and now we want others to have the chance to see it and learn from it,” said McCray, in a news release.  “We’re honored that it will have a permanent home in Abraham Lincoln’s hometown.”

McCray purchased the chair in the 1980’s at a charity auction.

“This chair will help us vividly portray the audience’s perspective at the time of Lincoln’s assassination,” said Dr. Ian Hunt, head of acquisitions, in the news release.

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