Lincoln's Office Suit

Lincoln's Office Suit

Emancipation Proclamation
Union
Abraham Lincoln
constitution
Civil War
slavery
California

This object is the suit with Abraham Lincoln wore to the office a President of the United States, 1861-1865. It shows a black broadcloth coat, vest and trousers, although the shirt and tie are reproductions. Lincoln used this suit when he delivered his Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, essentially freeing all the slaves in the USA. The suit is significant because it was a symbol of freedom for many slaves and associated with the anti-slavery movement in California. Just like today, the clothes people wear define their position and role in society.
The Proclamation would have affected the transportation and economic development of California to some extent. Labourers had the legal right to demand payment for their work, and the freedom to change employers at their suitability.

Mrs William Hunt

Smithsonian National Museum of American History

http://americanhistory.si.edu/changing-america-emancipation-proclamation-1863-and-march-washington-1963/1863/lincoln-and

1860s

Leah Guy

Shapell Manuscript Foundation
http://www.shapell.org/exhibitions/changing-america-emancipation-proclamation-march-on-washington/abraham-lincolns-manuscripts/

N/A

Material object - textiles

19th century California