Mary Lincoln never overcame the tragedies she endured. She came out of mourning on only one occasion, at the request of her son Tad for one of his birthdays. The two were almost inseparable until his death, possibly from tuberculosis, in 1871 at age 18. In 1882, at age 63, Mary died in Springfield, Illinois, at the home of her sister.

Mary Lincoln used this black onyx lapel watch as her personal timepiece for the remainder of her life.

This gold pin with an image of Abraham Lincoln was among Mary Lincoln’s possessions when she died.