Most of us may take museums for granted given how they perserve and display important pieces of history.

in fact some artifacts have either disappeared or the legitimacy of their existence has been put into question over the years…and that’s what will be talking about on this list.

#5. Rutherford’s Audio Recordings

In 1878, famed inventor and businessman Thomas Edison meet when President Rutherford B. Hayes at the the White House to demonstrate his newest device which could capture and reproduce audio through wax cylinders.

Known back then as Phonograph, this device was the earliest example of recording equipment in American history and paved the way for other inventions just like. Anyway, the story goes that during Edison’s meeting with the President an recording of Hayes was captured and this has led to some (notably on YouTube) to claim the supposed audio in these videos is that of the 19th U.S. President.

As you might expect this isn’t the case; Why it is possible a recording of Rutherford Hayes speaking into the phonograph did at one time exist, that time is long gone and no trace of this audio has been found.

A little over a decade later, another president from Ohio in Benjamin Harrison would indeed have his voice recorded, making him the earliest president to have his speech preserved for future generations.

#4. Chester Arthur’s Burnt Documents

Chester Allen Arthur served as America’s 21st President from 1881-1885; While Arthur isn’t remember much by the general public today, that may have something to do with the fact the former New York lawyer turned politician had many of his personal and private letters destroyed before his death.

Throughout his career Arthur was seen as an operator from the Republican Party’s political machine meaning he was the guy working behind the scenes getting stuff done in favor of the party bosses which more than likely involved some corruption.

When Arthur became president, many were shocked to see him denounce his corrupt past in favor of passing civil service reform with the Pendleton Act of 1883 but when his health began to decline from a kidney ailment while in office, Arthur soon began the process of having most of his documents burned.

Some speculate this had more to do with Arthur trying to cover up his shady dealings as part of the political machine while others believe the former president just wanted to keep his personal life a secret; With Arthur himself famously saying:

“I may be President of the United States, but my private life is nobody’s damned business.”

#3. Upton Sinclair’s Jungle Film

Most people probably recognize Upton Sinclair for his literary masterpiece known as ‘The Jungle’ a fictionalize book the chronicles Sinclair’s time investigating the disgusting and illegal treatment of many workers had to endure at meat packing factories.

The book became such a hit that in 1906 it led to then President Theodore Roosevelt passing the Pure Food and Drug Act as well as the Meat Inspection Act thus ensuring any drug or food items being sold were safe for consumption.

What some may not be aware of is that a film based on Sinclair’s book was actually made release during the height of America’s Silent Film Era. Produced by the All-Star Feature Corporation (a short lived film company) and released in 1914, the film was a faithful adaptation of Sinclair’s book which isn’t too surprising when you hear that Sinclair is credited as a writer for the film and even appears a few times in the movie.

While the film reportedly got mixed reviews, Sinclair decided to buy the film negatives in 1916 and screen them during meetings with his fellow Socialists; Aside from film reviews at the time and few images floating around the internet, any traces of the film were lost as Sinclair’s copy of the flick was never found after his death and the All-Star Corporation would file for bankruptcy before shuting down in 1915.

#2. Huey Long vs. Norman Thomas: Lost Debate

Ask anyone to think of a left-wing politician in U.S. History and after listing off names like Bernie Sanders, AOC, Lyndon Johnson or anyone with the last name Roosevelt; They’ll probably come up with Huey P. Long, a man so far left in his policies that he basically felt FDR’s First and Second New Deal weren’t progressive enough and felt that Social Security favored the rich than regular people.

Given how much today’s mainstream media uses the words progressive and socialist interchangably you’d think Long was beloved by other left wingers of his time, but in actuality he wasn’t as Norman Thomas (a multiple time presidential candidate for the Socialists Party) was a critic of ‘The Kingfish’ and apparently the feeling was mutual when it came to Long’s view on socialism.

On March 2nd 1934, these two men came together for a debate that took place inside the Mecca Temple (now the New York City Center) with the major focus centering on which ideology was better in solving the economic woes of the Great Depression while also debating the effectiveness of Long’s Share Our Wealth policies which included the redistribution of money to the poor.

Unfortunately there is little footage of this debate nor have any transcripts resurfaced since it occurred; Outside of one photo showing both men shaking hands and alleged quotes from Long which includes his reading of the Bible, it’s unlikely will ever know how well this debate between lefties actual went.

#1. The Lost Portrait of William Henry Harrison

John Quincy Adams is often credited for being the first U.S. President to have his picture taken when he did so in 1843 long after his term in office ended.

While John Quincy does hold the distinction of having the oldest surviving photo of a U.S. President, the first person to have their photo taken whilst serving as commander-in-chief was than other than America’s Nineth President William Henry Harrison.

On March 4th 1841, Harrison is reported to have had his picture taken the same day he gave his infamous inauguration speech (infamous because he gave this two speech in the rain without a jacket which for a time was rumored to the eventual cause of his death).

It’s also reported that Harrison was pleased with how the final image turned out but much the portrait who soon vanish following Harrison’s death just 31 days into office.

Although a black and white image is often claimed to be the original portrait of the Nineth President, it’s actually just a painting of Harrison which was made nine years later.

After nearly two centuries since Old Tippecanoe’s death in the White House, his portrait has yet to be discovered and in all honestly it likely never will.

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