An examination of the historical record must take into account the sentimentalism, sensationalism, and partisan politics of the Civil War era.

Politics and the popular press were nineteenth century entertainment industries, and information was frequently exaggerated or distorted. The reliability of individual testimony must also be examined. However, popularly perceived truths often provide an important key to the historical record.

The investigation of Mary Todd Lincoln's cloak encompasses more than the evidentiary record of a single garment.

Ultimately, a comparative record of Lincoln's blood and hair may be necessary to authenticate the cloak. The authenticity of related evidence from the crime scene is an important corollary of the investigation. An examination of the historical record is intrinsic to this research; in turn, a study of the material evidence from the crime scene can inform our understanding of Lincoln's assassination.