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Gettysburg Address
Image courtesy of the Barack Obama Presidential Library
Gettysburg Address
Image courtesy of the Barack Obama Presidential Library

Gettysburg Address

Artifact SeriesDomestic Gifts
Artifact IDDO.687875
Object Type Speech
Artist/ Maker
Artist/ Maker
Medium leather, parchment (vellum), textile, adhesive, metal (gold), ink
DimensionsOverall - 3D (Book, Closed) H 1 1/4 in x W 17 7/8 in x D 23 5/8 in (3.2 cm x 45.4 cm x 60 cm )
 Overall - 3D (Book, Open Maximum) H 5/8 in x W 36 3/8 in x D 23 5/8 in (1.6 cm x 92.4 cm x 60 cm )
 Overall - 2D (Parchment) L 22 1/4 in x W 16 in (40.6 cm x 56.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionHandmade leather-bound book containing a handwritten and hand-decorated piece of parchment that features President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The parchment features a border that contains green, blue, and purple floral designs with a brown background that runs along the bottom and left edge, and a gold-foiled border that runs along the top and right edge. There is a depiction of an American flag within the bottom left corner of the border as well as a green and blue floral design at the top right corner of the border. The title, "The Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln," as well as the words of the Gettysburg Address are written at the center of the page within the decorated borders.

The leather-bound book contains intricate gold-foil designs throughout its front cover, along with stamped lines and dots. The back cover contains an intricate gold-foil design in each corner.
Historical NoteReceived on the occasion of President Barack Obama speaking at the reopening of Ford's Theatre on February 11, 2009.
Custodial History / ProvenanceThe item was a gift from a member of the general public to President Barack Obama during the Obama administration. It was received through the Office of the President and maintained there until its transfer to the National Archives in January 2017 for deposit with the Obama Presidential Library.Additional Details
National Archives Catalog CollectionBarack Obama Artifact Collection (National Archives Identifier 63542091)
National Archives Catalog SeriesDomestic Gifts (National Archives Identifier 66540613)
Use Restriction Status(not entered)
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