Historians calling for Abe Lincoln's stovepipe hat to be DNA tested to see if donors weren't being so honest about the President's trademark accessory Hat in question: The stovepipe hat that belonged to the former President is now stored at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Historians are calling for a DNA test to see if a museum donor is being truly honest about his family's connection to Abe Lincoln and his trademark stovepipe hat. One of the former President's large top hats was donated to his memorial library by the family of a farmer who claims he was given it as a gift by the up-and-coming politician back in 1858. But now members of the historic panel that oversees the library in Honest Abe's honor are calling for Illinois state police to order a DNA sample from the artifact to make sure that the story is true after they learned about a 'credibility gap'. NPR reports that a descendant of farmer William Waller swore in 1958 that her father-in-law had been given the hat in Washington, D.C. during the Civil War, which took place in the early 1860s. The Chicago Sun Times reported the discrepancy, but the collector who donated the hat to the library is not worried about its veracity being tested. 'Family stories get muddled and mashed together all the time,' Louise Taper told NPR. The curator of the library agrees, calling the controversy 'a dead issue' and saying that testing such a fragile hat would be 'even worse than a bad idea'. Standing tall: The hat added several inches to the already-tall politician's stature, seen here during the Civil War with Major Allan Pinkerton and General John McClernand Fitting for all occasions: Lincoln (seen center) wore a similar stovepipe hat when he arrived to give the Gettysburg Address (pictured) Curator James Cornelius says that the 160-year-old hat should not be processed for fear of damage, especially since there is no compelling reason to do so. President Lincoln's hat has become a symbol deeply entrenched with his public image, as he was pictured wearing such a style of hat throughout his political life. Even on his last night alive he was sporting such a hat, and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington has that particular accessory. Aside from the story of the Waller family, who originally said that he was given the hat by Lincoln after his 1858 debate against Stephen Douglas, there are several tell-tale signs that it is the correct hat. Back in the 19th century, hats were typically custom made, and the model on display in the library is 7 1/8inches- matching the former President's dome.