Lot 226

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Lot 226
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McKinley Assassination Archive, More than 60 Items in this Important Collection
McKinley Assassination Archive, More than 60 Items in this Important Collection
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Description:

McKinley Assassination Archive, More than 60 Items in this Important Collection

MCKINLEY, WILLIAM. Large Archive of over 60 items, curated over a period of 30 years, regarding the assassination of President McKinley in Buffalo, New York, on September 6, 1901. 

Highlights of the collection:

• Black Border Printed Document, a Proclamation of President McKinley’s death by President Roosevelt. The President has signed “Theodore Roosevelt / Oct 11th 1901”, 27 days after becoming President. The document is printed Washington September 14, 1901 even though the President was in Buffalo on the 14th. Roosevelt’s signature was originally removed and then reattached after being professionally and expertly cleaned. VERY RARE. A document similar to this, without a date, sold for $21,150 at Christie’s, the Forbes Collection Part One, on March 27, 2002.

• Typed Letter Signed, “M. A. Hanna”, 1 p., on Senate letterhead, September 4, 1901, referring to President McKinley’s planned trip to Cleveland to speak to the GAR. Postscript at bottom of letter by Hanna reads, “P.S. Whom can I see to advise me about the functions for the week. Different ones are inviting the President, and I am at a loss to know how to advise him M.A.H.”

It should be noted that President McKinley was shot on September 6th and died on September 14th, never returning to speak at this function. Of note is that Mark Hanna, one of McKinley’s closest friends, backed McKinley for President in 1896 and 1900, and when a replacement was needed for McKinley’s running mate in 1900 (Vice President Hobart had died in 1899), Theodore Roosevelt’s name was brought up. Hanna, who was against this choice, stated “Don’t any of you realize there’s only one seat between this madman and the presidency?”

• Envelope of the GAR encampment held in Cleveland from September 9th - 14th, 1901 with Pan Am stamp attached.

• Group of three postcards with color engravings of the Temple of Music and with Pan American stamps on verso dated September 4th, date of arrival, September 5th, President’s Day and September 6th date of assassination, an omen?

• Black Border Executive Mansion letter dated October 7, 1901 to John Milburn (President McKinley stayed and died at his home) from McKinley’s Personal Secretary George B. Cortelyou, asking Milburn if some official or personal documents, including President McKinley’s last speech which was delivered on September 5th, were left behind. It should be noted that both Cortelyou and Milburn were standing next to the President when he was shot and assisted him until help arrived.

• A very rare Official Daily Program of the Pan-American Exposition dated September 6, 1901, the day the President was shot. On page 2 of the program, a detail of the President’s schedule for the day with the last entry being, “4:00 p.m. – The President will arrive at the Temple of Music, where a public reception will be held.” He was shot at 4:07 p.m. Of note at bottom of cover, “Day nursery for children under three years of age, at Hospital near West Amherst Gate”, which is where McKinley was taken to be operated on. On page 4, at the Temple of Music between 2 to 4 p.m., the last selection was performed, it was a march by John Philip Sousa titled “The Man Behind the Gun”, another omen?

• An 1883 nickel and an 1894 quarter. These coins were stated to be in President McKinley’s pocket when he was shot. Provenance letter written by Special Operative Albert L. Gallaher, on the verso of a Temple of Music postcard with a Pan Am stamp attached. Gallagher was one of three agents who guarded McKinley and took the gun away from Czolgosz, the assassin. Accompanied by a signed note listing all items taken from the President’s clothing, including the coins in his pocket. It should be noted that Gallaher died on July 1, 1908 from cancer of the liver; his doctor stated it was probably a direct result of the rough handling of the crowd following the shooting of President McKinley 7 years earlier.

• Signature of James Parker, “J. B. Parker”, the heroic African-American who was standing behind the assassin, and assisted in grabbing him and the gun when McKinley was shot.

• Temple of Music Private Mailing Card, postmarked Buffalo, New York, 6 P.M. September 6, 1901, less than two hours after the President was shot, with a one cent Pan American stamp attached, “Dear Midi, - This is the place where the President was shot. He was holding a public reception. Florence.” Extremely Rare.

• An actual piece of the Temple of Music, with excellent provenance (included) by Dr. Jack Fisher, who was given the relic by a resident of 35 Fordham Drive, Buffalo, where the assassination plaque is located.

• Photograph of the ambulance used to carry the President to the hospital and then to the Milburn home.

• Stereo View Photograph of the interior of the Temple of Music showing the spot where the President stood when assassinated.

• Postcard of the Milburn Residence at 1168 Delaware Avenue, where President McKinley was taken to recover and died on September 14, 1901.

• Postcard of the Ansley Wilcox Residence, where Vice President Roosevelt took the Oath of Office as President. The mansion is draped in black mourning flags.

• Envelope postmarked September 14, 1901, Buffalo, New York, the day that President McKinley died. One cent Pan American stamp attached, at top left corner is a stamp of the Temple of Music. It should be noted that Theodore Roosevelt was Inaugurated President on this day in Buffalo, so this is also considered an Inauguration Day cover of Theodore Roosevelt becoming President.

• Typed Letter Signed, “Alice Roosevelt Longworth”, 2 pp., n.d. Seventeen-year-old Alice wrote regarding her feelings on President McKinley’s assassination and her father becoming President.

• Black Border Printed Document, a Proclamation issued by the State Department to the Diplomatic and Consular Officers, September 16, 1901, initialed in pencil by Secretary of State John Hay.

• Postcard of the U.S. Government Building in Buffalo dated September 15, 1901. The sender writes that he saw McKinley’s body lying in state at Buffalo City Hall and also saw President Roosevelt.

• Ticket to the funeral of President McKinley held in Washington D.C. on September 17, 1901.

• Mourning card sent out by Mrs. McKinley on the death of the President dated September 1901, Canton, Ohio.

• Black Border Typed Letter on Executive Mansion stationery dated October 17, 1901 to John Milburn from George Cortelyou regarding a painting of President McKinley’s by Charles A. Wipple, of the late President being displayed at the Pan-American Exposition with a copy of the painting in question. Of note is that this is the day the Executive Mansion stationery was changed to The White House letterhead.

• Typed Letter Signed on White House letterhead, November 15, 1901, to John Milburn from George Cortelyou regarding the painting of President McKinley by Charles A. Wipple. According to Cortelyou, President McKinley did not approve of it, thinking it was a caricature.

• Typed Letter Signed, on White House stationery, March 28, 1902, to John Milburn from George Cortelyou regarding the revolver, cartridges, and handkerchief used to assassinate President McKinley and referencing an understanding with the Buffalo District Attorney (Penny) on how to handle these items, with original clipping from newspaper. VERY RARE.

• Typed Document, 2 pp., on onion sheet, with pencil annotations, account of expenses in connection with the last illness and death of the late President McKinley. Deficiency Act approved by the Government on July 1, 1902 listing 44 payments, including funeral expenses, two Funeral Homes, all Doctors involved in operation, nurses etc., including reference to the Garfield Assassination. VERY RARE.

• Ticket for admittance to grounds for Dedication of the Pan American Exposition on May 20, 1901. Laminated and signed on verso by the speakers that day at the Temple of Music in pencil, Vice President “T. Roosevelt” and U.S. Senator “H.C. Lodge”. President McKinley was shot here less than six months later.

Please note that due to the sheer volume of items in this collection, we are unable to show individual images for all.  You may contact our office to schedule an in-person viewing.  

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000