Manuscripts

Rio Grande Camp Knife (Bowie Knife) used by Lewis Powell in assassination attempt on William Seward, April 14, 1865

1 of 5

Description: A large fixed blade knife with a bone handle and leather sheath. Stamped on the blade: Rio Grand Camp Knife. At the base of the blade is stamped: Wm. Jackson & Co. / Sheaf Island Works / Sheffield.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: ca. 1860
Call number: George Foster Robinson Papers
Creator: Robinson, George Foster(Opens in new tab)
Additional description: Also included are card photographs of George Foster Robinson, George Vocke, a fellow nurse who was also detailed to Seward's house, and an autographed card photograph of Boston Corbett who shot J. Wilkes Booth on Apr. 26, 1865; the bowie knife, (8 inch blade, "Rio Grande Camp Knife, Wm. Jackson & Co. Sheaf Island Works, Sheffield"), that Robinson received from the War Department in 1866 and a duplicate copy of the Congressional gold medal. (The original gold medal was donated by Myrtle D. Robinson to the United States National Museum of History in 1947).
Provenance: Gift of Mrs. Myrtle D. Robinson, Sept. 19, 1961.
Restrictions: RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.
Associated people: Black, Henry M. (-1893.); Clagget, John R. (1803-1877.); Grinnell, Moses Hicks, (1815-1896.); MacArthur, Arthur,
Find out more: View in the Huntington Digital Library(Opens in new tab); View in the Library catalog(Opens in new tab)