Drawing of Thomas S. Murdock

Lincoln Collection

2014.076

Drawing

drawing 1923; inscription 1924

Drawing of Thomas S. Murdock. Done by Frederick Wilton, Jr. 1923.

Transcription: "This is a picture of Thomas S. Murdock. He is the only man so far as I know to reproduce the log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born. He went to Hodgenville, KY in order to study the details and reproduce the exact dimensions. Thus making a perfect replica of this historic cabin. He has hewn by hand all the logs himself, but on the rest of the building has been ably assisted by his nephews Edwin + Frank Murdock. My gratitude to Mr. Murdock for his interest and hard work, is only equal to my congratulations on his success. I think everyone who visits the cabin should take off their hats to him. I know I am proud to be the possessor.

Mary Bowditch Forbes Feb. 1924."

"I cannot better describe what I hoped the Cabin might become than by saying that it seems to be a place where young and old, rich and poor, and people of every diverging interest may meet as Americans in a common love of Abraham Lincoln. Truly, as Louis Coolidge said in his well—known speech at the Cabin, February 12, 1925, Lincoln's personality was "In tune with every race, with every rank, with every creed."

It has been a great satisfaction to me to have the Cabin such a success. Having already collected quite a number of souvenirs of Lincoln I had especially in in building this Cabin that visitors, and particularly the young, should here visualize Lincoln's humble beginnings."

Letter from Mary Bowditch Forbes to Lauriston L. Scaife

Taken from The Lincoln Cabin, by Lauriston L. Scaife

Reprinted from Stone & Webster Journal, May 1926