1915 silent film on Abraham Lincoln, once thought lost, found in donations

• The Historic Films Archive found the 1915 film “The Heart of Lincoln,” thought lost forever, in a pile of donations. The archive believes it’s the only surviving copy in existence.
• Francis Ford, older brother of legendary Hollywood director John Ford, directed and starred in the movie.
• The film was digitized, and the archive’s owner wants to add a score and make it available to modern audiences.

Full Story

Five score and 10 years ago, a silent film about former President Abraham Lincoln was made and lost — thought never to be seen again — until now. An intern for the Historic Films Archive on Long Island was sorting through boxes of donations last summer when he came across the 16-millimeter film of “The Heart of Lincoln.”

What do we know about the rediscovered movie?

Francis Ford directed by and starred in the 1915 film. He was the older brother to legendary Hollywood director John Ford.

John Ford won a record four Academy Awards for Best Director and made his own movie about Lincoln decades after his brother’s film.

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The Historic Films Archive is now home to the only known surviving copy of the film.

The Library of Congress listed “The Heart of Lincoln” among 7,000 silent films believed lost forever.

A 16-millimeter film that is believed to be the only known surviving copy of “The Heart of Lincoln,” which was missing for more than 100 years and thought to be lost forever, was found on Long Island in New York by an intern going through old boxes. https://t.co/V7JfqRKL2R

— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 5, 2025

Will the public get to see the film?

Archivist Eliot Kissileff restored the film, which sat untouched for decades. Still in pretty good condition, he digitized it.

Historic Films Archive owner Joe Lauro said he now wants to add a score to the movie so modern audiences can view it.