The “Lincoln Flag” went through various tests to be declared as the real thing. The color dyes used on the flag dated back to the Civil War period. The blood stain was shown to be from a human and the contact stain showed that it originated from a head wound, just like what President Lincoln had.
In 1996, Joseph E. Garrera, president of the Lincoln Group of New York, a special group interested in studying the life and history of Abraham Lincoln, finished a study about the authenticity of the 36-star American flag, said to be the one placed under the head of Lincoln when he was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC in 1865. The flag came to be called such because it was Abe’s final resting piece before he succumbed to his mortal wound. The findings of the research, entitled THE LINCOLN FLAG OF THE PIKE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, presented that the flag was indeed authentic.
The flag used to be just like any other 36-star national banner available during that period. It became quite unique after it contained the blood of one of the most famous United States presidents. The flag now became a symbol of sacrifice and freedom from slavery and oppression. It is deemed by many as a National Treasure.
Thomas Gourley, the man who placed the flag under Lincoln’s head at the time, was assigned to care for his flag. Struthers, Gourley’s grandson, subsequently donated the “Lincoln Flag” to The Pike County Historical Society in 1954.