Clara Barton's Diary
Clara Barton, who in 1865 was directing the Missing Soldiers Office answering families' pleas for information on their loved ones, responded with few words to the Lincoln assassination. The Missing Soldiers Office was located three blocks east of Ford's Theatre. In few words, she described the confusion that Washingtonians felt after the event and the anguish that she felt, both over the death of the president as well as the death of her nephew the previous week–sometimes conflating the two.
Friday, April 14, 1865
Assassination of President
Lincoln
Was returning from a call at
Mr. Upperman’s when it was
Rumored on the street.
Saturday, April 15, 1865
President Lincoln died at
7- o clock this morning
the whole city in gloom
no one knows what to do
Dr. Sidney came
Vice President Johnson
Inaugurated President
Sunday, April 16, 1865
Assassins not detected.
Known to be J. Wilks Booth,
The attempted murder of Mr.
Seward + family was sup-
posed to be by one Surrat-
I was quiet all day.
Monday, April 17, 1865
Attempted to offer some help
Went to Surg Genl office
Could get no one.
The President embalmed in
Preparation to be laid in state
Tomorrow,
Mailed 100 letters
Tuesday, April 18, 1865
President Lincoln laid in
State—dept went in bodies
To see him. Resolutaions passed
at the Mars rooms in
Honor of the President and
Commemoration of poor Irving
Fannie not returned –
Heard this evening that
The assassination of Mr. Seward[?]
Had been arrested at –
2 o clock this morning
- dressed as a laborer, on HE st –
Borrowed some tables to write on
Wednesday, April 19, 1865
Funeral of President Lincoln
I remained in doors all day.
Thursday, April 20, 1865
President lain in state
At the capital
Sally + Fannie + Vester
Return from Mas.
Poor Bubby is at rest –
Friday, April 21, 1865
President Lincoln remains
taken on to Baltimore
great search for Booth -
[Transcription provided by the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum.]
This item is in the public domain.
Clara Barton. "Clara Barton's Diary". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/997
Clara Barton
April 15, 1865
Diary from Apr. 15, 1865
Clara Barton, who in 1865 was directing the Missing Soldiers Office answering families' pleas for information on their loved ones, responded with few words to the Lincoln assassination. The Missing Soldiers Office was located three blocks east of Ford's Theatre. In few words, she described the confusion that Washingtonians felt after the event and the anguish that she felt, both over the death of the president as well as the death of her nephew the previous week–sometimes conflating the two.
This item is in the public domain.
Clara Barton
April 15, 1865