Watch Ed Steers Recount Tales from Uncovering 3,000 Items of Lincoln Memorabilia

Kelsey Johnston

Baltimore, Maryland

Friday, June 27, 2025

Author Ed Steers, Jr., the world's leading expert on the Lincoln assassination, recently joined members of the Lincoln Group to share tales of reviewing around 3,000 Lincoln memorabilia items while Ford’s Theatre was being restored between 1980 -1981. He shared some of his favorite items and his adventures with colleague Joan Chaconas to the White House, Ford's Theatre, Matthew Brady's photography studio, the Soldiers' Home, Oak Hill Cemetery, and several government buildings.

Who knew there was a Smithsonian storage vault in Union Station before the latest reconstruction? Steers and Chaconas found that it was used to protect the entire Osborn Oldroyd collection of around 3,000 Lincoln items while Ford's was being restored.

Oldroyd was a Civil War veteran and a devoted collector of Lincolniana. In 1883, 41-year-old Oldroyd succeeded in convincing Robert Todd Lincoln to allow him to rent the Lincoln home in Springfield as a museum for his collection. Oldroyd eventually sold his collection to the Smithsonian and retired. The Smithsonian notes that the collection was moved to Ford's in 1956, "where it has been located ever since." Now we know that during the theatre's restoration of the early 1980s, the items were stored in a little-known secure vault in Union Station, where Ed and Joan had it all to themselves.

Steers is a meticulous researcher and author of many books, including The Lincoln Assassination Encyclopedia. He is also an esteemed former president of the Lincoln Group. Members enjoyed the items he discussed and the stories he shared throughout his presentation and a lively Q&A session. 

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