Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29
LINCOLN RELICS
PASS TO j. s. SOON
Oldroyd Collection to Be
Delivered Next Week
for $4,000.

The Oldroyd Lincoln collection will
pass into the hands of the Govern
ment next week.
Col. Osborne s. Oldroyd. who has
devoted so years of his life and most
of the money he has been able to
earn toward building up the collec-
ton. will receive from the Treasury
"A check for $50 400 for the thousands
of articles connected with the life o.
the Civil War President now housed IN
the house on Tenth street where he
died
The future disposition of the col
, lection is uncertain. Col. OdrOyd VIII
remain for Il time as acting custodlah'
but has refused to consider remain
ing permanently in this position. Ihe
house will not Immediately be thrown
open to the public free of charge: IN
order TO make the collection available
as Government exhibit, it will be
necessary either to place 1t in some
other building or make extensive al
terations The articles are unprotect-
ed by showcases. If they were thrown
open at once, Col. Oldroyd said, the
place would probably become at once
a. mecca for thieves and very few OF
the articles would be left in Few
weeks.
Remains With Collection.
Col. Oldroyd will remain perma
nently with the collection, but desires
liberty to leave Washington as he
pleases during the remainder OF hla
life. which would be Impossible II he
We're appointed custodian. He is OPP
posed TO moving the articles into some
other building, despite the advantage
l1at lob from
of an exhibitor.
The present building, he said, is the
only structure in Washington, aside
from the White House. which IS init
mately associated with the life of
Lincoln. There the President died
after he had been shot by John Wilkes
Booth i'll F'ordS Theater, across the
street.
Persons entering this house breathe
the atmosphere of Lincoln" said Col.
Oldroyd. showcases can be installed
and the collection spread out over the
two upper floors, properly protected
from persons who might pocket an
article If not closely watched.
The history of the collection dates
back Sc years Col. OldrOyd then was
running a newsstand in his native
town. Mount Vernon, Ohio. Lincoln
was then entering his first campaign
for the presidency. Oldroyd received
from a Pittsburgh news company one
day a campaign booklet, telling OF the
candidates rise from poverty.
Booklet Inspired Purpose.
ct read 1t through and decided then
and there that Mr.. Lincoln was des-
tined to be a very great man. he said.
at resolved to keep everything | could
obtain regarding him. That eaokiet
was the nucleus of this Collectlon.
The Civil War broke out and the
Young newsdealer entered the Army.
He served until 1864 and all the time
his admiration for the Great Enamel
nator was increasing and he was adG-
ing stray bits to the collection lfa
looked forward TO meeting Lincoln,
but the assassin's bullet cut short the
Presidents life before this ambition
was realized. Col. Oldroyd continued
with his collection. but for time ms
chief efforts had to be devoted TO
earning a living.
He served for 10 years as steward
in various Ohio institutions, always
devoting any spare money to purchas-
ing articles associated with Lincoln
or dealing with his life
A new impetus was given his ambl-
ton by his marriage. Mrs. Oldroyd
was q native Of Springfield. Ill, LIN
coins home town. They moved back
there in 1873 and Col. Oldroyd found
himself In the most fertile field for
Lincoln relics.
Some Pieces Gotten Easily.
Springfield people as yet hardly re-
allied the value Of some of their pos
sessions. When Lincoln was elected
President he broke up housekeeping
Gnl6
away his furniture to neighborS. He
opened his house, told them TO take
what they pleased and set their own
price on it. Naturally, the price was
very small in u great many cases.
Col. Oidroyd started rounding up
this furniture. Some families parted
readily with the articles they had OBJ
tanned Others refused TO sell at any
price. He tells of three sisters, mil
liners. who obtained from Lincoln a
horsehair sofa which had been in his
living room during his years in
Springfield They refused TO sell.
He waited patinetly for years, untii
they broke up housekeeping. to secure
the article.
Presidents Son Gave Aid
With his collection growing he APP
oealed to Robert y. Lincoln, son of
the martyred President. TO rent him
the Lincoln home i'll Springfield TO
house the relics. This was done and
the collection kept there from 1883 10
1893. This was the period of its
greatest growth Articles We're Sc
cured from all over the country.
In 1898 the collection was brought
10 Washington and has remained here
ever since, attracting thousands of
visitors annually. Col. Oldroyd has
charged a small admission fee. but has
devoted all the proceeds, together with
money from his writings, for the pur-
chase of additional articles.
col. Oldroyd regards the collection
as his life work and has striven con
sctentiously to create Il real monu-
ment to Lincoln lie has had num- |
erouS private offers for the colleC- |
ton. but has consistently refused to
sell it while he waited for the Gov |
eminent TO take action. Among the !
offers was one of $4,000 from Henry |
Ford, but Col. Oldroyd gave the Gov.
eminent an opportunity TO match this |
bid rather than see the relics leave |
Washington
SUBSTITUTE FOR WOOL