No posts.
No posts.
Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States at a time in our history when we needed a man like him. However, as we reflect on Lincoln as possibly the best President, when he was elected many people protested and in New York City there were riots in the streets. Lincoln actually had to sneak into Washington, DC when he arrived there. A decoy train was sent in at the time announced but, in reality, Lincoln had arrived earlier in the day on another train. But Lincoln would prove a beneficial political figure so much that he would be re-elected to a second term. But fate would cut that term very short. On April 14, 1865, as Lincoln could relax a bit because the war between the states was finally over, he agreed to go to Ford's Theater as a favor to his wife to see the famous play, "Our American Cousin". It would be the last event of his life. As he watched the performance on the stage that night, a disgruntled southerner named John Wilkes Booth managed to gain entry to the Presidential box and shot Lincoln in the back of the head. The President would die early the next morning on April 15.
Many photographs were taken of Lincoln and the war. People like Matthew Brady took their cameras right into the battles. Plus Brady had a studio in Washington not far from the White House. The pictures on this blog are not rare but aren't seen too often. They show a side of Lincoln that few really knew.

Lincoln's Coffin ~ From an old postcard

Lincoln's Coffin ~ From an old postcard

Lincoln's Coffin

Lincoln's Coffin

Lincoln, 1854

Lincoln, 1854
This photo was taken in Chicago while he campaigned for a spot in the Senate. At this time, Lincoln publicly declared his distaste for slavery. He lost the election. 1854.

Lincoln's favorite

Lincoln's favorite
Lincoln said this was one of his favorite photographs. He used it heavily during the 1858 campaign, distributing it to supporters.

Abraham Lincoln - Studio Shots

Abraham Lincoln - Studio Shots
Lincoln, 1846





Lincoln sits for Matthew Brady in Brady's Washington Studio


1864

1864

Lincoln's last photo. Brady shot this photograph only three weeks before Lincoln's death

Colorized Photo

Brady Portrait taken not long before Lincoln's death


Abraham Lincoln in his office, 1863

Abraham Lincoln in his office in 1864

Lincoln at home 1860

Lincoln at home 1860
It’s the summer of 1860, and Lincoln stands outside his Springfield home with his two sons, Willie and Tad (Abe is the tall one behind the fence). Although it was the heat of his presidential run, Lincoln had time to relax at home. He made no speeches during the campaign; his success rode on a wave of outside support.

Family ~

Lincoln's birth mother was Nancy Hanks Lincoln. She died when Abe was only nine years old. His memories of her were sketchy.

Mary Todd Lincoln, Abe's wife

Mary Todd Lincoln, Abe's wife
1855

Abe's son Willie Lincoln. He died of typhoid

Abe's son Willie Lincoln. He died of typhoid

Willie

Willie

Willie

Willie

Lincoln with his son, Tad, in 1865. By this time, Lincoln had already lost a son Willie to typhoid

Lincoln with his son, Tad, in 1865. By this time, Lincoln had already lost a son Willie to typhoid

Lincoln reads with his son, Tad

Lincoln reads with his son, Tad

1855

1860

~

~
Thomas Lincoln, Abraham's father. Abe and his father did not get along well. (THANKS TO Kees van den Berg for sending a copy of this photo).

Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln. Lincoln's Step-Mother. She was the best thing that ever happened to Abe. He adored her. Lincoln said that it was Sarah that was responsible for his becoming a lawyer and probably president. She saw good things in his future and ordered Thomas to allow him to finely go to school. And even though Sarah herself could not read or write, she bought and/or borrowed books for Abe to study. She was determined that he would break out of the poverty that they had been living in. Sarah always remarked how proud she was of Abe.

Mary Todd Lincoln with Willie (left) and Tad (right), taken at th

Fido, Lincoln's dog ~

Fido, Lincoln's dog ~

Abe's son, Robert Todd Lincoln

Abe's son, Robert Todd Lincoln
Robert Todd Lincoln as a young man. Undated photo

1865

Robert Lincoln, 1870

Robert Lincoln as an old man at dedication of Lincoln Memorial, 5-30-1922

Robert Lincoln arrives for dedication of Lincoln memorial 1922

Lincoln sits with his private secretaries

Lincoln sits with his private secretaries
Lincoln sits with his private secretaries, John Nicolay (left) and John Hay (right), on November 8, 1863. Hay wrote in his diary that it was the best picture of the President he had ever seen.

John Milton Hay, 1855.

John Milton Hay, 1855.
Lincoln's private secretary

John Hay


John Hay

John Hay in his White House office.

Dr. Charles Augustus Leale, 1860

Dr. Charles Augustus Leale, 1860
Was with Lincoln at his death

Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton

Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton

Vice President, first term; Hannibal Hamlin

Vice President, first term; Hannibal Hamlin

Vice President; second term, Andrew Johnson

Vice President; second term, Andrew Johnson

Allan Pinkerton & Secret Service at Antietam, Maryland 1862

In the Field ~

In the Field ~
The man on Lincoln's right was Allen Pinkerton, Lincoln's head of Security. This photo is of President Lincoln with Major General McClernand and Allan Pinkerton at Antietam in 1862.

Same photo as above, colorized.

Same photo as above, colorized.

Lincoln with Pinkerton & Maj.Gen. McClernand, 1862

Lincoln at Gen. McClellan's camp, Antietam, Maryland, 1862

Lincoln with Gen. George B. McClellan at Antietam, Maryland. 1862

A memorial to Lincoln at the time of his death

A memorial to Lincoln at the time of his death