The Washington herald., 1920-02-13
CURATOR GIVES
LIFE TO LINCOLN
Osbom'H. Oldroyd Devotes
All Energy to AS
sembling History.

To live with reminders of Abraham
Lincoln for sixty years. to surround
himself with relics of the great man.
TO devote a lifetime to the memory of
his idol. such has been the career
chosen by Osborn H. oidroyd, who
lives In the three-story brick house
at Sig Tenth street northwest. in which
the martyred President died on April
Is, 1863
Oldroyd never saw Lincoln. In the
Tenth street house are preserved hun
dreds Of relics Of Lincoln. which have
attracted thousands of visitors.
The contents Of the house are Old
royd's. They are invaluable. For al
most thirty years oldroyd has lived in
the Lincoln house, acting as curator
of the museum. The house has been
the property OF the government since
1897
In most respects the house remains
at it was when Lincoln died. The
room in which he passed away Is the
same as it was on that morning, ex-
cept that the furniture has been re-
moved and the walls are covered with
Lincoln relics and pictures some de-
picting the death scene The flooring
and the wall paper, are unchanged.
The government permits Oldroyd to
occupy the house rent free and to
charge an admission.
Discussing his collection last night,
oldroyd explained its beginning. On
the day Of Lincoln's death Oldroyd, a
Union soldier, was at Murfreesboro.
When the announcement Of the Presi-
dents death had been made to the
troops. they were dismissed.
Posted Death Bulletin.
''As soon as we disbanded 1 went up
to headquarters" said Oldroyd. out
side, tackled on a bulletin board. were
three dispatches. Tho first said. 'Abra-
ham Lincoln shot in Ford's Theater;
mortally wounded The second was.
Abraham Lincoln not expected to
live and the third, Abraham Lincoln
died at twenty minutes past Z o'clock
this morning These bulletins were
saved for the collection. From that
time / saved everything 1 could get
hold OF that had anything to do with
the life and acts of Lincoln
The summer of 1860 saw the exciting
Lincoln campaign. One Of its products
was the publication Of a little PAM
phlet entitled. The Life, Speeches and
Public Service of Abram Lincoln. /"
(Note the misspelling of the first
name of the President) A copy fell
into the hands of young Oldroyd. and
that same small booklet is still one of
the most cherished relics in the Lin
coin house.
The book furnished the inspiration
for Mr.. Oldroyd's life.
Then came the war. Mr.. Oldroyd
enlisted in Company c, Twentieth Ohio
infantry. and served throughout the
war. He is a member of the Grand
Army OF the Republic. In 1873 he re-
moved to Springfield, Ill, the home of
Mr.. Lincoln. in order to carry on to
better advantage his work Of collect
ing Lincoln relics. AS soon as he could
make proper arrangements he rented
the Lincoln homestead, and there for
the first time arranged his collection
as a Lincoln museum.
When the Lincoln family went to
Washington in 1861 to exchange the
modest frame dwelling in Spring
field for the White House they sold
all of their furniture. 1t became
scattered and only by diligen;
search and much hard work was
Oldroyd able TO add some of the
pieces to his collection.
Oldroyd was appointed custodian
of the house at a salary IN condi-
ton that he remain in charge of il
during his life, and permit the pub
lie to view the collection. Then, in
1898, a change of political admins
tration came in Illinois. and Oldroyd
was removed. He had only two
ton. which was his private prop
erty.
Has Rail Lincoln Split.
How successful Oldroyd has been
in bringing and arranging interest
ing material relating to Abraham
Lincoln and his times can be
learned only by a visit to the Lin
coin house. There is the office chair
used by Lincoln in his law office in
Springfield. when he was elected
President in 1860. and in which he
sat when he formed his first Cabinet
and drafted his first inaugural ad-
dress before leaving for Washing
ton. There is an original black To-
Gust rail split by Lincoln in ,SS0,
when he was 81 years old.
Oldroyd and his friends. in Con-
gress and out. have been advocating
for years the purchase of the Lin
coin relics by the government. so
that when OIdroyd is no longer here
90 tho rn1laHfinn ms "
be made a permanent memorial to
the Great Emancipator.
The house is opposite the old Ford's
Theater, where Lincoln was shot by
John Wilkes Booth.