SPRINGFIELD - A bit of Hollywood has quietly found its way into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Officials confirmed Monday that a dress once worn by movie star Marilyn Monroe is part of a massive collection of Lincoln-related artifacts recently donated to the museum.

A spokesman for the Springfield museum said it is too early to know whether the black wool dress will be put on display next to items such as the Gettysburg Address and the 16th president's iconic stovepipe hat.

"We have no immediate plans," said spokesman David Blanchette.

The collection containing the long-sleeved, off-the-shoulder dress was donated by Louise Taper, a California collector who amassed one of the largest troves of Lincolnalia in the world. It includes the bloodstained gloves Lincoln wore on the night he was shot as well as a number of key Lincoln documents.

The collection arrived in Springfield in June and some pieces were expected to go on display earlier this month

But, museum officials have delayed putting some of the high-profile items in the public eye while they catalogue the condition of each piece.

The Monroe dress was purchased by Taper at an auction in 1999. Blanchette said it is believed to have been added to the collection because of Monroe's interest in Lincoln, as well as her relationship with Illinois native Carl Sandburg, who penned a well-known Lincoln biography.

Monroe, who died in 1962, was photographed with the poet from Galesburg after the two met in California while on neighboring movie sets.

"She wanted a dress of the famous actress who admired Abraham Lincoln," Blanchette said of Taper's decision to purchase the dress.

In addition to the dress, Taper's collection also includes a bust of Sandburg once owned by Monroe, as well as some photographs of Sandburg and Monroe together.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865.