IL Lawmakers Probe Questionable Lincoln Artifact Purchase

(Editor's note: this article had been updated with correct financial figures.)

SPRINGFIELD, IL — After the Abraham Lincoln museum foundation made a big purchase on a hat that possibly never belonged to Abraham Lincoln, Illinois lawmakers are asking questions. The foundation is being accused of buying the stovepipe hat knowing its origin was questionable, reports say.

The Chicago Tribune reported the foundation was asking for $5 million in funding from state tourism taxes for debt relief and other costs.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation started a GoFundMe to help raise nearly $10 million to satisfy the debt. The campaign's six months have yielded about $33,000 in donations of their $9.7 million goal.

Foundation CEO Carla Knorowski said the foundation has already raised $13 million from donors, but needs to raise $9.2 million more to pay off a 2007 loan, the AP reports. That loan was used to buy a collection of Lincoln artifacts including a top hat worn by the president, his White House china and locks of Lincoln's hair.

Though a DNA test couldn't confirm the old stovepipe hat belonged to Lincoln, the collection was far from worthless. It includes the bloodied pair of gloves Lincoln had in his pocket the night he was assassinated at Ford's Theater, a quill pen left on his desk, his seal and some of his earliest known writings, the AP reports.

A WJOL report says lawmakers accuse the foundation's leaders of keeping the hat's questionable origin a secret.

The Tourism, Hospitality & Craft Industries Committee met Tuesday to discuss the matter with foundation and museum officials.

See more:

• Historic Abraham Lincoln Collection At Risk
• Lincoln Museum Sells Marilyn Monroe Dress To Save Artifacts
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum Named Illinois' Top Museum

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Patch will update this article as the story develops.

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