Examination of date tampering on Abraham Lincoln's pardon of Patrick Murphy, RG 153 entry 15, case MM761 (ARC identifier: 1839980)

Abstract

On January 26, 2011, the Pardon of Patrick Murphy, a document in the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Record Group 153 (RG 153) Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army), was submitted to conservation for examination. The record was examined with special focus on the handwritten “1865” to the left of Abraham Lincoln's signature. All analysis techniques were non-sampling, non-invasive, and non-damaging as retaining the integrity of cultural heritage is very similar to the forensic handling of evidence. Microscopy, transmitted light, Ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence, and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the ink used to write the “5”, in the April 14, 1865 date is different from the remaining text written by Lincoln and these analytical forensic-inspired techniques allowed scientists and conservators to “set the record straight” about the modern forged “5” for future generations of researchers.