A piece of film history 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. The 16-millimeter film is believed to be the only known surviving copy of “The Heart of Lincoln,

A 1915 movie about the life of Abraham Lincoln, previously thought lost forever, was found on Long Island. “The Heart of Lincoln,” released by Universal, is a silent film about American life during the Civil War.

The film, discovered last summer in a basement archive, sheds light on early 20th century depictions of the Civil War and the revered 16th president, whose birthday is Feb. 12.