While visiting with Dorothea Barstow, I record this episode from the Sam Mudd House, known for the location where John Wilkes Booth received medical attention for his broken leg after the Lincoln assassination.

Join us in hearing about the life of Dr. Mudd, before and after that infamous day, while I sit on the very sofa Booth was initially examined on. There is some controversy over whether Dr. Mudd was a friend of John Booth and knew about his assassination plan. Dr. Mudd claimed that he did not know who he was treating when he set Booth’s leg, which was probably the smartest plan of action to save his family in the following man-hunt and investigation. Dr. Mudd was spared hanging by one vote, and was instead sent to the Dry Tortugas to serve his sentence at the Fort Jefferson’s prison.

We also discuss the family history of the house and the quilt that brings it all together. Small pieces of fabric were sent out to women in Mudd’s family for them to write their signatures upon. Once returned, the signatures were embroidered and a family generational quilt was made by hand as a lasting impression of their family ties.

Episode Links:

• The original recording of Edwin Booth in 1890 presenting Othello: https://ia801603.us.archive.org/8/items/OthelloByEdwinBooth1890/Othello1890_64kb.mp3

• The cleaned-up version of Edwin Booth's recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mybqvj4wZLA

• Official Facebook page of the Dr. Samuel Mudd House Museum with a virtual tour: https://drmudd.org/virtual-tour/