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The Studebaker National Museum Special Exhibits
Lincoln Carriage Conserved
February 2008 marked the beginning of a three-year celebration of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. His legacy as arguably America's greatest President has been commemorated in art, music, and sculpture and an abundance of Lincoln material will reach the public through museums between now and the end of 2010. The Studebaker National Museums efforts have included borrowing the Faces of Lincoln exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society and displaying Lincoln artwork from private collectors. At the core of these, though, is the cornerstone of the museums own vehicle collection: the 1865 President Lincoln Carriage.
In 1865, the Wood Brothers Company of New York, in collaboration with a prominent citizens group, presented President Lincoln with a Barouche carriage shortly before his second inauguration. Following the Presidents death, the carriage was sold, under the direction of Robert Todd Lincoln, to Dr. F. B. Brewer of Westfield, New York. During a trip through the East Coast in the summer of 1890, Clement Studebaker met Dr. Brewer. Brewer told Studebaker of the historic carriage in his possession. Studebaker made an offer to purchase the carriage and Dr. Brewer accepted. In August 1890, the vehicle arrived in Chicago for display on the second floor of the Studebaker carriage repository on Michigan Avenue.
After many years in the corporate collection, the President Lincoln Carriage was given to the City of South Bend and is now under the care of the Studebaker National Museum. The museum was awarded a Save Americas Treasures (SAT) Grant in 2005 and as part of the SAT Grant project, the Lincoln Carriage was designated to receive work to stabilize the leather covering the dash and fenders, repair split body panels, and consolidate areas of actively flaking paint.
Conservation treatment on President Lincolns Carriage began in March 2007. After proper packing, the carriage was transported in a climate controlled box truck by Terry Dowd Art Movers of Chicago. Transportation to the conservators workshop took approximately 11 hours, but the carriage arrived safely at B. R. Howard & Associates in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and research began immediately. Mr. Brian Howard, the workshops proprietor, is well experienced in working with museum objects. Mr. Howard employs a conservation technique that incorporates examination, documentation, treatment, stabilization, and, on occasion, restoration.
During six months of intense work, Brian Howard made several important discoveries. An intricate gold "AL" monogram was located on both doors and, because of the previous repaint and additional varnish, the raised monograms were surprisingly intact. In addition, the original striping pattern on the springs was found to be maroon with gold outlining and a single white stripe down the middle.
Once again visitors can enjoy what truly was some of the finest carriage making of the 1860s and realize the color and pageantry of that period. With the work completed, the Lincoln Carriage returned to the Studebaker National Museum on January 31, 2008. It is currently on display in the museums AM General Atrium and is the centerpiece of the museums celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial celebration.
Exhibits • SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
the Lincoln Carriage Conserved
Lincoln: The Man You Didn't Know
February 2008 marked the beginning of a three-year celebration of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. His legacy as arguably America's greatest President has been commemorated in art, music, and sculpture and an abundance of Lincoln material will reach the public through museums between now and the end of 2010. The Studebaker National Museums efforts have included borrowing the Faces of Lincoln exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society and displaying Lincoln artwork from private collectors. At the core of these, though, is the cornerstone of the museums own vehicle collection: the 1865 President Lincoln Carriage.
In 1865, the Wood Brothers Company of New York, in collaboration with a prominent citizens group, presented President Lincoln with a Barouche carriage shortly before his second inauguration. Following the Presidents death, the carriage was sold, under the direction of Robert Todd Lincoln, to Dr. F. B. Brewer of Westfield, New York. During a trip through the East Coast in the summer of 1890, Clement Studebaker met Dr. Brewer. Brewer told Studebaker of the historic carriage in his possession. Studebaker made an offer to purchase the carriage and Dr. Brewer accepted. In August 1890, the vehicle arrived in Chicago for display on the second floor of the Studebaker carriage repository on Michigan Avenue.
After many years in the corporate collection, the President Lincoln Carriage was given to the City of South Bend and is now under the care of the Studebaker National Museum. The museum was awarded a Save Americas Treasures (SAT) Grant in 2005 and as part of the SAT Grant project, the Lincoln Carriage was designated to receive work to stabilize the leather covering the dash and fenders, repair split body panels, and consolidate areas of actively flaking paint.
Conservation treatment on President Lincolns Carriage began in March 2007. After proper packing, the carriage was transported in a climate controlled box truck by Terry Dowd Art Movers of Chicago. Transportation to the conservators workshop took approximately 11 hours, but the carriage arrived safely at B. R. Howard & Associates in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and research began immediately. Mr. Brian Howard, the workshops proprietor, is well experienced in working with museum objects. Mr. Howard employs a conservation technique that incorporates examination, documentation, treatment, stabilization, and, on occasion, restoration.
During six months of intense work, Brian Howard made several important discoveries. An intricate gold "AL" monogram was located on both doors and, because of the previous repaint and additional varnish, the raised monograms were surprisingly intact. In addition, the original striping pattern on the springs was found to be maroon with gold outlining and a single white stripe down the middle.
Once again visitors can enjoy what truly was some of the finest carriage making of the 1860s and realize the color and pageantry of that period. With the work completed, the Lincoln Carriage returned to the Studebaker National Museum on January 31, 2008. It is currently on display in the museums AM General Atrium and is the centerpiece of the museums celebration of the Lincoln Bicentennial celebration.
