Fords Theater – LOST + FOUND HISTORY

Lost + Found Friendship

Lost + Found Friendship: stories of lore and legend, and never before seen Civil War heirlooms found in attics and archives retrace my family’s Civil War footprints and friendship they shared with the Lincolns. From their first days in Washington until their last— the Lost + Found Friendship story offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the Lincolns from a new vantage point.

LOST + FOUND FRIENDSHIP

Lost + Found Friendship: is presented for the first time in 155 years. Featuring family Civil War letters, heirlooms, and friendship keepsakes discovered in family attics and archives. Preserved over four generations, the items retrace one family’s Civil War footprints and the friendship they shared with the Lincolns — from their first days in Washington until their last.

Lost + Found Friendship shares a unique glimpse into the lives of the Lincolns from a new vantage point.

Lost + Found Friendship program is available as virtual or live event for public libraries, house museums or historical groups.

To schedule contact:

Caroline Welling Van Deusen Lincolnfriends@gmail.com

Untold Civil War Podcast highlights

During my Jan 16, 2021 interview on Untold Civil War podcast we spoke about a couple major events of the Civil War that were witnessed by members of my family.

On August 22, 1862 when President Lincoln finished his famous letter to Horace Greeley he had the letter delivered to and published by National Intelligencer editor, my great grandfather, James Clarke Welling.

Also, another family member, my great great grandmother, Elizabeth L. C. Dixon was a witness at the Petersen House, when President Lincoln died at 7:22 am on April 15, 1865.

Follow Lost and Found History on Instagram for new stories.

Civil War Friends

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/untold-civil-war/id1493685212

Check out this 01/16/2021 episode of Untold Civil War podcast.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/796715/7315471-politics-and-friendship-in-civil-war-washington

Paul and I discuss Civil War heirlooms that retrace my family’s Civil War footprints and friendship with the Lincolns, from the Lincolns’ first days in Washington until their last.

Last Hours of Lincoln by Alonzo Chappel — *Last Hours of Abraham Lincoln*

Until now, little is known about these lady friends of Mary Lincoln who witnessed Lincoln’s death.

We discuss, the possibly as to, why it’s taken 155 years to learn who they were and why these friends were at the Petersen House.

Elizabeth Dixon, Mary Lincoln at Lincoln’s deathbed

Mrs. Mary C. Kinney and Miss Constance Kinney, future Countess Gianotti, wife of Count Caesar Gianotti of Italy.

Shown on the top, is my great-great grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth L. C. Dixon with outstretched Mary Lincoln and the dying president.

Below are two other family members who witnessed Lincoln’s death– the sister of Elizabeth L.C. Dixon, Mrs. Mary C. Kinney and niece, Miss Constance Kinney, future Countess Gianotti, wife of Count Caesar Gianotti, of Italy.

Please listen to the episode and let me know if you find it informative and/or interesting.

Happy 2021.

Contact:

Twitter: @history_hound

CarolineWellingVanDeusen.com

Her Voice Heard

Imagine you discovered Civil War relics that confirmed someone in your family witnessed the death of President Lincoln. This is precisely what happened to me.

Found within our family collection of Civil War relics are artifacts left our great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth L. C. Dixon that confirmed she witnessed that fateful night and details of her close friendship with the Lincoln’s – from their first days in Washington, until their last.

The writing and relics left by Elizabeth L. C. Dixon, preserved over generations, offer an intimate glimpse into the past, from a new vantage point.

So, ‘Why was her friendship with the Lincoln’s overlooked in history?’ and ‘Why am I the first of her children to share this trove of Civil War treasures publicly? The answers to these questions may surprise you.

Over the last decade, after discovering dozens and dozens of Civil War relics, papers, diaries, photographs in our family’s basements, attics and historical societies it has become clear that our family has needed these 150 years to heal — Elizabeth L. Dixon must have been an archetype for the following generations and we have had to wait until her children’s children’s children were grown that her relics would be found and details of her friendship with the Lincolns finally shared, publicly.

The first of Elizabeth Dixon’s writings; ‘The Diary of Elizabeth Dixon’, 1845-47′ was featured in ‘White House History’, Issue 33, published by the White House Historical Association.

For details go to: https://shop.whitehousehistory.org/collections/journals/products/the-white-house-neighborhood-and-the-war-unseen

Twenty years before she witnessed Lincoln’s deathbed she wrote at the end of her diary;

” I wonder if this will be of interest in after years, for that was my intent on writing it, a giddy life but my head was not turned by it”.

A stark contrast to her words in 1865, she never could have imagined what was in store for her, but we know don’t we?

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