Handkerchief
Photo credit: 9/11 Memorial staff
Accession Number: C.2025.31.2
Dimensions: 16 in X 15 in X 1/8 in
Dimensions (Metric): 40.64 cm X 38.1 cm X 2.54 cm
Dimensions (Metric): 40.64 cm X 38.1 cm X 2.54 cm
Source: Edward Lalor
Credit Line: Gift of Edward Lalor
Description
White and light gray plaid patterned handkerchief, heavily wrinkled and soiled by smoke and soot.
White and light gray plaid patterned handkerchief, heavily wrinkled and soiled by smoke and soot.
Historical Notes
During the February 26, 1993, bombing of the World Trade Center, as smoke grew increasingly dense inside the towers, people shielded their faces with whatever items they had. Edward Lalor used this handkerchief during his evacuation from the 38th floor of the North Tower.
During the February 26, 1993, bombing of the World Trade Center, as smoke grew increasingly dense inside the towers, people shielded their faces with whatever items they had. Edward Lalor used this handkerchief during his evacuation from the 38th floor of the North Tower.
Curator's Comment
On February 26, 1993, Edward Lalor was living in Cranford, NJ, working in lower Manhattan as a senior account manager for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company in the World Trade Center. He was in his office on the 38th floor of the North Tower seated at his desk, about to head to lunch with two of his colleagues, when he felt what he described as “a shockwave,” causing him to jump out of his chair.
Lalor, his coworkers, and a computer technician who was on site that day, decided to stay put and await an announcement from the building’s security office. Unaware that the public address system had been shorted by the thunderous explosion they had overheard—the result of a bomb detonating in basement parking garage—the group decided to towel the office entrance to prevent further smoke infiltration and then retreated to the back of the suite to await the arrival of responding firefighters.
Approximately two hours after the explosion, the smoke had dissipated enough to permit Lalor and his colleagues to head to the emergency exit and begin descending to street level. The stairwells were pitch dark. In response, the Hancock group formed a line, holding onto the railing with their right hands and onto the person in front of them with their left. Once safely out of the building, Lalor joined some of his colleagues for a drink at a local bar before heading home.
HIDE
On February 26, 1993, Edward Lalor was living in Cranford, NJ, working in lower Manhattan as a senior account manager for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company in the World Trade Center. He was in his office on the 38th floor of the North Tower seated at his desk, about to head to lunch with two of his colleagues, when he felt what he described as “a shockwave,” causing him to jump out of his chair.
Lalor, his coworkers, and a computer technician who was on site that day, decided to stay put and await an announcement from the building’s security office. Unaware that the public address system had been shorted by the thunderous explosion they had overheard—the result of a bomb detonating in basement parking garage—the group decided to towel the office entrance to prevent further smoke infiltration and then retreated to the back of the suite to await the arrival of responding firefighters.
Approximately two hours after the explosion, the smoke had dissipated enough to permit Lalor and his colleagues to head to the emergency exit and begin descending to street level. The stairwells were pitch dark. In response, the Hancock group formed a line, holding onto the railing with their right hands and onto the person in front of them with their left. Once safely out of the building, Lalor joined some of his colleagues for a drink at a local bar before heading home.
HIDE
