Manuscript of 'What became of John Wilkes Booth's wardrobe?'

Manuscript of 'What became of John Wilkes Booth's wardrobe?'

The first page of this undated manuscript entitled "What became of John Wilkes Booth's wardrobe? The answer by McKee Rankin" is written on the back of a piece of stationery from Continental Hotel in San Francisco. The paper describes Rankin's relationship with Booth. According to the San Francisco Public Library, first mention of the Contintntal Hotel is found in the 1909 San Francisco city directory. McKee Rankin died in 1914.

Rankin, McKee

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

191?

pdf

en

300521

T191?-MISC

What became of John Wilkes Boothes' wardrobe? The Answer by McKee Rankin.I first met John "Wilkes Boothe" in Detroit Mich during the season 1862. - and again in Indiana in early fall of 1863. We became a little intimate in our friendship for each other. We didnt meet again, until about four weeks before the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, in front of the Fremont Hotel on that day. It was some where near ten oclock in the morning -and I - in company with two ladies of the company, that I was playing with, at the old Howard Athenaewn on Howard Street, Boston. And John Wilkes Boothe was standing in front of the Fremont Hotel, talking to Mr Wm Pitcher.- I think still alive - who was connected with the Hotel- and whom I knew. John and I had a hurried deal - in which I explained to him, that I was hurrying to a rehearsal - and he made us me promise that I would call on him, as soon as I was free, he gave me the number of his room at the Parker House and asked me to come right up. and not wait to be convinced for that was long before telephones - when my rehearsal was over - late in the afternoon - I hurried to my friends room - I knocked and walked in, without an answer as I did so - my friend was sitting at a table in the center of the room, in a deep study of a revolver on the table before him - he started up and said - 'Hello! Mack- I've been waiting for you " - he then picked the revolver up, and put it into one of the [small bureaus drawers?] - We then chatted about our mutual friends, and what had happened

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(this letter was written on the back side of a blank sheet of stationery stamped)

Kearny 4550 - Bothphones C 1673 Absolutely Fireproof Cable Address "SHAN-FURN"

Note the Location

1/2 Block from Validating Ticket Office 1/2 Block from Flood Building 1 " " Market Street 1 " " The Emporium 1 " " Orpheum Theatre 1 " " New Alcazar Theatre 1 " " Empress Theatre 1 " " New Wm. Morris Theatre 1" " New Columbia Theatre 2 " " American Theatre 2 " " Savoy Theatre 2 " " The St. Francis 3 " " U. S. Mint 4 " " U.S. Postoffice

The Continental Hotel

on Ellis St., near Powell St.

Shanley-Furness Co.

Proprietors

F. P. Shanley

Mgr.

San Francisco, Cal.

Complete

100

20

paper and ink

2 p

28 x 22 cm