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* Dave McKinney has been chasing down the provenance of a stovepipe hat purchased for $7 million by the independent foundation that’s supposed to support the Lincoln presidential library for years, first at the Sun-Times and now at WBEZ…
A stovepipe hat that reputedly belonged to Abraham Lincoln is one of the most historically sacred objects displayed at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, but there’s insufficient evidence to prove it ever actually belonged to the former president.
That’s the finding from a previously undisclosed FBI analysis and another report obtained by WBEZ. They were part of a highly secretive effort to authenticate the hat by the foundation charged with acquiring artifacts for the Lincoln museum.
The efforts by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation involved a DNA assessment by the FBI and a report by top curators from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and Chicago History Museum. Those historians ultimately encouraged the Lincoln museum to “soften its claim about the hat.”
The focus of all the attention is a beaver fur hat in Lincoln’s size. It is the $6.5 million centerpiece of a major $25 million acquisition of Lincoln artifacts in 2007 by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, a nonprofit that operates independently of the Springfield, Illinois museum.
The financially troubled foundation, whose board members include former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, is now seeking millions of dollars in state taxpayer support and private donations to repay $9.7 million in outstanding loans on the purchase of the hat and 1,600 Lincoln-related artifacts. Details about the foundation’s efforts to authenticate the hat are being reported for the first time by WBEZ.
The foundation bought the hat from someone who sat on the foundation board at the time. We may be owed a refund, but good luck getting that.
Go read the whole thing. Good stuff in there, as always with Dave.
* SJ-R…
State Rep. Tim Butler said Wednesday the Illinois House should hold hearings to get to the bottom of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation and a hat purportedly owned by Abraham Lincoln that the foundation shelled out millions to obtain. […]
“I just find it incredible that the foundation could sit on this report for five years while also out there advocating for private and public dollars for a collection where the most iconic item they have, a report that says it may not be Abe’s hat,” Butler said.
The hat, which is occasionally on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, was the centerpiece of the Louise and Barry Taper Collection bought by the foundation in 2007 for $25 million. The foundation borrowed $23 million to purchase the collection. It still owes $9.7 million on the loan, which must be repaid by next year. […]
Butler said he wants the House Tourism Committee to hold hearings since the foundation was seeking tourism money to pay off its debt. He said the two historians should be asked to testify along with a representative of the FBI. He said the committee should also try to get to the bottom of the foundation’s finances.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:27 pm
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Newton Minow of the Chicago Tribune recently shared an idea first put forth in a letter to the Tribune by Tom Berwick of Naperville and echoed by blog writer Judy Marcus. They suggest that both Gov. Bruce Rauner and candidate J.B. Pritzker should take $5 million from each of their substantial $10 million television commercial campaign budgets and pay off the museum’s loan.
http://www.mywebtimes.com/2018/09/10/write-team-saving-lincolns-legacy/a4483kj/
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:34 pm
If the Foundation still has money in their account, I’ll happily sell them Lincoln’s ax. I’ve taken real good care of it — I’ve replaced the handle twice and the head once.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:34 pm
–The financially troubled foundation, whose board members include former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, is now seeking millions of dollars in state taxpayer support and private donations to repay $9.7 million in outstanding loans on the purchase of the hat and 1,600 Lincoln-related artifacts.–
Uh, no.
But I think it would be swell if the U.S. attorney turned over some rocks on how the foundation board approved a multi-million-dollar purchase from a board member. Sounds like self-dealing to me.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:34 pm
If I was on the Board right now, I’d be willing to sell the Lincoln catheter I got free from a QVC show. Only $8 million.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:34 pm
Who made the loan? What is the collateral? Did the museum guarantee the loan for the foundation.
If the hat is the collateral for the loan, then maybe they should just give the bank the hat and fold up shop.
Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:35 pm
I mean the Foundation should fold up shop, not the museum.
Although maybe the museum guaranteed the loan.
I still don’t see who in their right mind would loan someone $25 Million to buy artifacts unless they did their own due diligence on the provenance of the items.
Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:39 pm
The hat makes a better metaphor for Illinois under Rauner than that deer.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:39 pm
My Great great great grandfather was Lincoln’s surgeon. I inherited Mr. Lincoln’s mole.
If I was on the Board, I’d cell it for $50 million. The DNA might not match, but we have photographic proof that Lincoln had a mole.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:40 pm
Hasn’t any of these geniuses ever watch “Antiques Roadshow”? They’d probably buy the Lincoln penny Abe carried around in his pocket.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:45 pm
The foundation is either full of amateurs or crooks, take your pick.
Comment by Sir Reel Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:47 pm
I have a half eaten Horseshoe that Abe gave my great, great, great grandfather while they were standing outside the old statehouse in Springfield waiting to hear Joe Biden speak.
Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:52 pm
Tim Butler once again hammering away at the big issues facing the state. Lol
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 1:54 pm
The Palm Pilot is legit though
Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 2:10 pm
That was a terrific WBEZ segment this morning with Dave McKinney. What a huge embarrassing disaster that whole thing is. A comedy of errors and outrageous incompetence and buffoonery on display by multiple players.
To borrow a phrase from Diana Rauner, one might say that stovepipe hat is a metaphor for Illinois.
Comment by Chris P. Bacon Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 2:12 pm
What about the fax machine Lincoln received the surrender from Appomattox Courthouse on?
Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 2:24 pm
Send the Joshua Speed tape to Quantico for verification also
Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 2:28 pm
Are you telling me the Abraham Lincoln legislative license plates I bought might not be real?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 2:47 pm
I have some manure from when Lincoln rode the circuit right by my house. I hear the ALPM is probably interested in purchasing it.
Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 2:59 pm
Sometimes I wonder if there is anything anyone in government or leadership in Illinois can get right or do without having the smell of favoritism. Unfortunately, the answer seems to be no. And the worse answer is that the people keep re-electing or appointing these types.
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 3:57 pm
“What about the fax machine Lincoln received the surrender from Appomattox Courthouse on?” Wait, they weren’t using Blackberrys then? Man, I got ripped off!
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:09 pm
“What about the fax machine Lincoln received the surrender from Appomattox Courthouse on?” Wait, they weren’t using Blackberrys? I got ripped off.
Comment by Skeptic Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:10 pm
That hat was Abe’s ! Mary Todd told me at the seance last month. There are how many visitors to the Lincoln muesum every year? Implement a Hat Tax, problem solved. Curators et al remember to always say that It was Abe’s hat with conviction let the nay sayers prove otherwise.
Comment by theCardinal Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:12 pm
Yeah. Usually when purchasing a purported historical artifact, you determine its provenance first. Because until you can prove something is what it is claimed to be, it isn’t. You’d think a bunch of Lincoln experts and people charged with running a history museum would know that. And yes, the conflict of interest and self-dealing should be investigated.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 4:39 pm
Rushton is reporting that the hat will no longer be displayed until the provenance is settled. Further, the Museum’s Lincoln curator, who knew about the testing but didn’t tell anyone at the Museum, was fired today.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 6:55 pm
–Further, the Museum’s Lincoln curator, who knew about the testing but didn’t tell anyone at the Museum, was fired today.–
Stay tuned.
Just a reminder, TII, first one to the flipper switch wins.
I doubt highly that only one person got a taste of that obvious self-dealing at the foundation.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 9:37 pm
Would being the President of the bank that’s totin’ the note for the hat, etc. also being a Director of the Foundation happen anywhere but Illinois?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 9:59 pm
Chumlee said the hat was probably worn by Slash from Guns and Roses. Rick said they’d have their guy look at it, but Rick says best he can do is a fifty.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Sep 19, 18 @ 10:50 pm