Pictures, Images, and Photographs From The Life Of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln Portraits

This quarter plate daguerreotype is the earliest known picture of Abraham Lincoln. It was taken when he was 37 or 38, a frontier lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, and Congressman-elect from Illinois. Image from the Library of Congress.
This lithograph picture is a full-length portrait of Abraham Lincoln published by Joseph Hoover between 1860 and 1865. Image from the Library of Congress.
This photograph, a cropped version of the original, shows from left to right: Col. Alexander S. Webb, Chief of Staff, 5th Corps.; General George B. McClellan; Scout Adams; Dr. Jonathan Letterman, Army Medical Director; an unidentified person; President Abraham Lincoln; and standing behind Lincoln, Gen. Henry J. Hunt. Image from the Library of Congress.
 
This lithograph of Abraham Lincoln is by Leopold Grozelier. Image from the Library of Congress.
This Currier & Ives lithograph portrait of Abraham Lincoln reads: "Abraham Lincoln: The Martyr President – Assassinated April 14th 1865." Image from the Library of Congress.

 

Campaign and Political Ephemera

 

This early campaign picture, published in 1860, is based on an October 1859 photograph of the Republican presidential candidate. Below it is a small allegorical vignette of an eagle with a shield, holding a streamer with the words "State Sovereignty" and "National Union." Image from the Library of Congress.
This print for a large campaign poster or banner was published in 1860 by Baker & Godwin, engravers. It is similar to their 1856 design for Millard Fillmore, with only the portrait at the center changing. Image from the Library of Congress.
This 1860 campaign button shows a tintype photograph of presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln on one side, and one of his running mate, Hannibal Hamlin, on the other. The picture of Lincoln was copied from a popular 1858 ambrotype attributed to Roderick M. Cole of Peoria, Ill. Lincoln relied on the new technology of photography to make himself better known during the campaign. Image from the Library of Congress.
 
This chromolithograph commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation was produced by the Strobridge Lithographing Company beginning in 1888. It shows a portrait of Lincoln under an eagle and surrounded by flags, with the full text of the Emancipation Proclamation flanked by sculptures, one representing Liberty, the other Justice. Image from the Library of Congress.
This photograph taken by Alexander Gardner shows President Lincoln delivering his inaugural address on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol building. Image from the Library of Congress.

Family Portraits

 

This quarter plate daguerreotype was taken in Springfield, Illinois, when Mrs. Abraham Lincoln was 28 or 29, and her husband was a frontier lawyer and Congressman-elect from Illinois. Image from the Library of Congress.
This picture of the Lincoln family was painted by S.B. Waugh and engraved by William Sartain in 1866. It shows Abraham Lincoln sitting in chair at the left end of a table with Thomas sitting next to him, Mary Todd sitting on the right, and Robert Todd standing behind the table. Over Robert’s shoulder is a portrait of William Lincoln, who had died in 1862. Image from the Library of Congress.
This picture by Alexander Gardner was taken at Gardner’s Gallery in Washington, D.C. Image from the Library of Congress.
 
This seed pearl necklace and matching bracelet set was purchased from Tiffany & Co. for Mrs. Lincoln to wear to Abraham Lincoln’s first Inaugural Ball. Image from the Library of Congress.
This studio portrait by Matthew Brady shows Mrs. Lincoln wearing the seed pearl necklace and matching bracelet that she wore to Abraham Lincoln’s first Inaugural Ball. Image from the Library of Congress.
This studio portrait by Matthew Brady shows Mrs. Lincoln seated holding flowers and wearing the seed pearl necklace and matching bracelet that she wore to Abraham Lincoln’s first Inaugural Ball. Image from the Library of Congress.

 

Assassination-related Images

 

This 1865 portrait in a carte de visite mounting shows John Wilkes Booth seated and holding a pipe. Image from the Library of Congress.
This undated portrait shows John Wilkes Booth standing. Image from the Library of Congress.
This modern-day picture shows the box in which assassin John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln during the president’s visit to Ford’s Theatre, Washington, D.C. Image from the Library of Congress.
 
This 1865 sketch of Abraham Lincoln’s death bed scene is one of two made by Hermann Farber. Farber was an artist on the Surgeon General’s staff and was able to be present at the scene of Lincoln’s death before the room was cleared. Image from the Library of Congress.
This poster broadcasted the ongoing hunt for John Wilkes Booth. Image from the Library of Congress.
 

For more information on the life of Abraham Lincoln,including, facts, quotes, family life, articles and accomplishments like the Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation, please see our Abraham Lincoln theme page.