Lincoln Flag
From Wiki of The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County
Newspaper accounts tell the story of how on February 12, 1861, his 52nd birthday, President-elect Lincoln came through Cincinnati on his way to Washington. There was a huge parade and celebration. A horse-drawn carriage draped with American flags carried Mr. Lincoln and other dignitaries. As Lincoln’s carriage passed Sixth Street and Freeman Avenue, one of the flags fell to the ground and Charles Hanselman, then 4 ½ years old rushed from the crowd and picked it up. He kept the flag throughout his life and after his death in 1932 his sister Alice Isabel Hanselman of St. Louis donated the flag to the Library. A Cincinnati Times Star article from June 1950 stated that the flag was then hanging in the boardroom of the Library and would be displayed in the new Library building. The Foundation recently contributed more than $2,000 to have the flag restored and prepared for inclusion in a display of Lincoln artifacts in celebration of his 200th birthday. Conservator Jane Hammond did not repair the hole in the flag, believed to have been from a horse’s hoof. We may never know whether or not this flag was actually on Lincoln’s carriage. We do know this flag is from the right time period and the newspaper account and letter from the donor are consistent. We hope visitors to the Main Library enjoy once again seeing this invaluable piece of American history.
