1. The earliest known photograph of Lincoln, taken in Springfield, IL by Nicholas H. Shepherd. The photo is believed to have been taken in 1846, perhaps after Lincoln's election to Congress on August 3, 1846.
2. Taken by J.C.F. Polycarp von Schneidau in Chicago, IL on July 11, 1858. Lincoln is holding a copy of the German anti-slavery newspaper “Staat Zeitung.”
3. Taken by Alexander Hesler in Chicago, IL on February 28, 1857. Lincoln thought this likeness "a very true one, though my wife and many others do not." He deliberately mussed up his hair because, he thought, people who knew him wouldn't recognize him with neatly combed hair. Hesler would journey to Springfield three years later to take a famous series of pictures of the newly nominated Republican presidential candidate.
4. Taken by Amon T. Joslin in Danville, IL on May 27, 1857.
5. Taken by Samuel G. Alschuler in Urbana, IL on April 25, 1858. Lincoln is wearing a velvet jacket lent to him by photographer. Lincoln would be photographed by Alschuler two years later (see # 41) – in the first photograph showing his newly grown beard.
6. Taken by Abraham M. Byers in Beardstown, IL on May 7, 1858. Lincoln was in Beardstown to defend Duff Armstrong, the son of his friend Jack Armstrong, who was accused of murder. The prosecution’s case rested on the testimony of an eyewitness, who claimed to have seen Armstrong commit the murder. Lincoln produced an almanac that showed that the murder was committed on a moonless night, and the witness couldn’t have seen what occurred. The jury promptly acquitted Armstrong of all charges.
7. Taken by Preston Butler in Springfield, IL on July 18, 1858.
8. Taken by T.P. Pearson in Macomb, IL on August 26, 1858. This photo was taken five days after the first Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
9. Taken, it is assumed, by Christopher S. German in Springfield, IL on September 23, 1858. Lincoln said of this photograph, "This is not a very good-looking picture, but it's the best that could be produced from the poor subject."
10. Taken by Calvin Jackson in Pittsfield, IL on October 1, 1858. This photo was taken between the 4th and 5th Lincoln-Douglas Debates.
11. Taken by William Judkins Thompson in Monmouth, IL on October 11, 1858.
12. Photographer and place unknown, presumably taken in 1858.
13. Photographer and place unknown, presumably taken in 1858.
14. Believed to have been taken by Roderick Cole in Springfield, IL some time in 1858.
15. Photographer and place unknown, presumably taken in 1858.
16. Photographer and place unknown, presumably taken in 1858 or 1959.
17. Taken by Samuel M. Fassett in Chicago, IL on October 4, 1859. Mary Lincoln described it as the best likeness she has ever seen of her husband. The negative of this photo was destroyed in the Chicago Fire.
18. Taken by Mathew Brady in New York City on February 27, 1860. This was the first of many photographs of Lincoln taken by Brady (or by one of Brady's assistants). This is known as the "Cooper Union Photograph" as it was taken on the morning of the day Lincoln would deliver his famous address at New York City's Cooper Union. Lincoln asserted that the speech – and this portrait – propelled him into the national spotlight and paved the way for his nomination for president a few months later. (For more on the speech and this portrait, read Harold Holzer’s excellent book “Lincoln at Cooper Union.”)
19. Photographer unknown, presumably taken in Chicago in 1860.
20. Taken by Edward A. Barnwell in Decatur, IL on May 9, 1860. Note the spectacle cord extending into Lincoln's inside jacket pocket. Lincoln wore reading glasses for many years. He can be seen holding them in several photographs (see #71 and #109), but there is only one photograph of him wearing glasses (see #93). When Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865, he was carrying two pairs of glasses and a chamois cloth lens polisher.
21. Taken by William Marsh in Springfield, IL on May 20, 1860, just after Lincoln's nomination as the Republican candidate for president. This is the first in a series of four photographs Marsh took of Lincoln on May 20 and May 24 (see #22-24).
22. Taken by William Marsh in Springfield, IL on May 20, 1860. Note how Lincoln’s hair is more kempt here that in the previous photo.
23. Taken by William Marsh in Springfield, IL on May 24, 1860.
24. Taken by William Marsh in Springfield, IL on May 24, 1860.
25. Taken by William Marsh in Springfield, IL some time around the time he took the four photos above.
26. Taken by Joseph Hill in Springfield, IL in June 1860. Hill took four photographs of Lincoln in this sitting, but a fire destroyed all the negatives of most of the prints. This is the only on that remains.
27. Taken by Alexander Hesler in Springfield, IL on June 3, 1860. Two weeks after Lincoln's nomination, Hesler traveled from Chicago to Springfield to take this series of four photographs (see #28-30). Lincoln, a notoriously sloppy dresser, got "dressed up" for this sitting. When Mary Lincoln saw this photo she was amazed at the likeness and exclaimed, "Yes, that is Mr. Lincoln. It is exactly like him."
28. Taken by Alexander Hesler in Springfield, IL on June 3, 1860. This was Lincoln's favorite image of himself: “It looks better and expresses me better than any I have ever seen.”
29. Taken by Alexander Hesler in Springfield, IL on June 3, 1860. Lincoln said of this photograph, “That picture gives a very fair representation of my homely face.”
30. Taken by Alexander Hesler in Springfield, IL on June 3, 1860.
31. Taken by William S. Seavey in Springfield, IL in June 1860. Only one print of this image remains; the negatives and all other prints were lost when Seavey's Gallery burned to the ground.
32. Photographer and place unknown, taken in 1860. This photograph was taken for sculptor Henry Kirke Brown, among whose effects it was found after his death in 1931.
33. Photographer and place unknown, taken in 1860.
34. Taken by either William Shaw or Samuel Fassett in Chicago, IL in June 1860.
35. Taken by William Shaw in Springfield, IL on August 8, 1860. Lincoln stands on the front porch of his Springfield home, surrounded by well-wishers. Lincoln is standing just to the right of the front door, wearing a white suit; his wife Mary is at the far left first floor window, his son Willie in second from left second floor window.
35a. Detail from #35.
36. Photographer and place unknown, taken in 1860. Though author and Lincoln scholar Ida Tarbell published several Lincoln photographs she owned during her lifetime, she never published this one. It was found among her papers after her death.
37. Taken by Preston Butler in Springfield, IL on August 13, 1860. This is one of two photos of Lincoln taken by Butler for use by portrait painter John Henry Brown (see #38).
38. Taken by Preston Butler in Springfield, IL on August 13, 1860.
39. The first of two photographs (see #40) taken by John Adams Whipple of Lincoln’s home in Springfield, IL during the summer of 1860. Lincoln stands on the porch behind the railing with his son Willie. His younger son, Tad, who has seven at the time, can barely be seen peeking out behind the post at Willie’s left.
39a. Detail from #39.
40. The second Whipple photograph taken during the summer of 1860. Here Tad can be better seen, as he climbs the post. The blurry little boy standing on the sidewalk is Isaac Diller, a friend of the Lincoln boys.
40a. Detail of #40.
41. Taken by Samuel G. Alschuler in Chicago, IL on November 25, 1860. This is the first photograph that shows Lincoln wearing a beard.
42. Taken by Christopher S. German in Springfield, IL on January 13, 1861. The photo was taken at the request of sculptor Thomas Jones, who came to Springfield to make a bust of Lincoln.
43. The first of two photographs (see #44) taken by Christopher S. German in Springfield, IL on February 9, 1861, two days before Lincoln left Springfield for Washington DC.
44. Taken by Christopher S. German in Springfield, IL on February 9, 1861.
45. One of three photographs (see #46-47) taken by Frederick De Bourg Richards in Philadelphia on February 22, 1861. Lincoln’s journey from Springfield to Washington took a somewhat circuitous route. Lincoln is seen here outside of Independence Hall on George Washington’s birthday, just after sunrise, participating in a flag-raising ceremony to commemorate the recent admission of Kansas into the Union.
46. Taken by Frederick De Bourg Richards in Philadelphia on February 22, 1861. Another shot of the same scene. Note the people at left who had climbed a tree to get a better view. Lincoln stands in the center of the picture, looking to his left, while Tad stands to Lincoln's left leaning on the railing just above the far right star on the flag.
46a. Detail from #46.
47. Taken by Frederick De Bourg Richards in Philadelphia on February 22, 1861. A third view of the same scene.
48. Taken by Alexander Gardner at Mathew Brady’s Studio in Washington on February 24, 1861. This is the first of five photographs (see # 49-52) taken at this sitting. Lincoln had just arrived in Washington after a grueling two-week journey to our nation’s capital. Lincoln keeps his right hand clenched in all five poses, since it was severely swollen from shaking so many hands on trip. If you look closely you can see Lincoln holding an opened pocket watch in his hand.
49. Taken by Alexander Gardner at Mathew Brady’s Studio in Washington on February 24, 1861.
50. Taken by Alexander Gardner at Mathew Brady’s Studio in Washington on February 24, 1861.
51. Taken by Alexander Gardner at Mathew Brady’s Studio in Washington on February 24, 1861.
52. Taken by Alexander Gardner at Mathew Brady’s Studio in Washington on February 24, 1861.
53. Lincoln’s First Inauguration, taken by an unknown photographer in Washington on March 4, 1861. Lincoln stands under the canopy to the right of flagpole.
53a. Detail of #53.
54. Lincoln’s First Inauguration, another view, taken by Montgomery Meigs on March 4, 1861. Note the capitol dome under construction and the people who have climbed trees for a better view. Meigs would serve as Quartermaster General during the Civil War and one of Lincoln’s key advisors. Meigs served in the honor guard at Lincoln's funeral.
55. Taken by an unknown photographer in Washington in April 1861. As can be seen here, Lincoln inscribed this photograph to Lucy Speed, the mother of one of Lincoln’s oldest and closest friends, Joshua Speed. The text reads, "For Mrs. Lucy G. Speed, from whose pious hand I accepted the present of an Oxford Bible twenty years ago."
56. Taken by Edward Bierstadt in Washington in September 1861.This photograph remained undiscovered for close to 100 years until it was found by Lincoln scholar and Lincoln photograph expert Lloyd Ostendorf in an old book shop in New York City in 1956.
57. The first of five photographs (see # 58-61) taken by Mathew Brady in his Washington Studio some time in 1861 or 1862.
58. Taken by Mathew Brady in his Washington DC in 1861 or 1862.
59. Taken by Mathew Brady in his Washington DC in 1861 or 1862.
60. Taken by Mathew Brady in his Washington DC in 1861 or 1862.
61. Taken by Mathew Brady in his Washington DC in 1861 or 1862.
62. The first in a series of six photographs (see #63-67) taken by Alexander Gardner in Antietam, MD on October 3, 1862. The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, was an inconclusive Northern victory, and Lincoln came to the battle front to urge General George McClelland to pursue General Lee’s retreating Confederate forces. McClelland is the sixth figure from the left, facing Lincoln.
62a. Detail of #62.
63. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Antietam, MD on October 3, 1862.
64. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Antietam, MD on October 3, 1862. Lincoln poses with Allan Pinkerton and Major General John A. McClernand,
65. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Antietam, MD on October 3, 1862, a view similar to #64. Note the bearded man sitting on the ground at lower left holding a sign reading "7479." He was one of Gardner’s assistants holding a newspaper on which he had written a number to identify the photograph after it was developed.
66. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Antietam, MD on October 3, 1862. One of two photographs (see #67) of Lincoln and McClelland sitting in McClelland’s tent discussing the progress of the war
67. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Antietam, MD on October 3, 1862.
68. Taken by O. Pierre Havens in or near Washington in late 1862 or early 1863. In this rare candid photograph, Lincoln is seen visiting the troops defending the capital during the Civil War.
68a. Detail of #68.
69. Taken by Thomas Le Mere of Mathew Brady’s Studio in Washington on April 17, 1863.
70. The first of six photographs (see #71-75) taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on August 9, 1863. Gardner, a former Mathew Brady assistant who had previously taken several photographs of Lincoln and ran Brady’s Washington studio, recently set out on his own and opened his own studio in Washington. Lincoln visited Gardner’s studio the day before the grand opening to avoid the crowds. Lincoln’s assistant John Hay accompanied the president.
71. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on August 9, 1863. Lincoln is holding a copy of the Washington "Sunday Morning Chronicle."
72. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on August 9, 1863.
73. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on August 9, 1863.
74. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on August 9, 1863.
74a. Detail of #74.
75. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on August 9, 1863.
76. The first of five photographs (see #77-80) taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on November 8, 1863. Here Lincoln sits with his two personal secretaries, John Hay and John Nicolay. This series was taken eleven days before Lincoln would visit the site of the Battle of Gettysburg to deliver his famous Gettysburg Address.
77. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on November 8, 1863. This is perhaps the most famous photograph of Lincoln. It would serve as one of the main inspirations to sculptor Daniel Chester French in creating the seated sculpture of Lincoln that sits inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.
77a. Detail of #77.
78. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on November 8, 1863. Sometimes jokingly referred to as the “Big Foot Photograph,” it shows a clear view of Lincoln’s enormous size 18 feet.
79. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on November 8, 1863. The envelope lying on the table is said to have contained an advance copy of the speech that Edward Everett would deliver at Gettysburg.
80. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on November 8, 1863.
81. Taken by an unknown photographer in Gettysburg, PA on November 19, 1863. This is the only known photograph of Lincoln at Gettysburg. A hatless Lincoln can barely be seen standing on the speaker’s platform, looking down.
81a. Detail of #81.
82. Taken by Lewis E. Walker in Washington DC some time in late 1863 or early 1864.
83. The first of five photographs (see #84-87 taken by Mathew Brady in Washington DC on January 8, 1864.
84. Taken by Mathew Brady in Washington DC on January 8, 1864.
85. Taken by Mathew Brady in Washington DC on January 8, 1864.
86. Taken by Mathew Brady in Washington DC on January 8, 1864.
87. Taken by Mathew Brady in Washington DC on January 8, 1864. Lincoln said of this photograph, “If I looked like any of the likenesses of me that have been taken, I look most like that one.”
88. The first of seven photographs (see #89-94) taken Alexander Gardner on February 9, 1864.
89. Taken by Alexander Gardner on February 9, 1864. This photograph would serve as the image that engraver Victor David Brenner would use to create the bas relief of Lincoln used on the penny. The Lincoln Penny was first issued in 1909 to commemorate the Lincoln’s 100th Birthday.
90. Taken by Alexander Gardner on February 9, 1864.
91. Taken by Alexander Gardner on February 9, 1864. This photograph would provide the image of Lincoln used on the $5 bill.
91a. Detail of #91.
92. Taken by Alexander Gardner on February 9, 1864.`
93. Taken by Alexander Gardner on February 9, 1864. One of the most beloved (and reproduced) photographs of Lincoln, he is pictured hear reading with his son Tad. This is the only photograph of Lincoln wearing glasses.
94. Taken by Alexander Gardner on February 9, 1864. This is one of the few standing full-length pictures of Lincoln.
95. The first of two photographs (see #96) taken by the Philadelphia firm of Wenderoth & Taylor in Washington some time in 1864. These photographs were taken in the White House.
96. Taken by Wenderoth & Taylor in Washington some time in 1864.
97. The first of three photographs (see #98-99) taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on April 20, 1864.
98. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on April 20, 1864.
99. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on April 20, 1864.
100. The first of three photographs (see #101-102) taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on April 26, 1864. These three amazing photographs were taken in the White House and they are the only photographs showing Lincoln in his office. The photographs were taken for painter Francis B. Carpenter for his renowned Emancipation Proclamation painting.
101. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on April 26, 1864. The pair of legs on the right belongs to Lincoln’s private secretary John Nicolay, and the legs barely visible on the left belong to Carpenter.
102. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on April 26, 1864. Lincoln’s left hand rests on the table used for cabinet meetings.
103. Taken by Frank Pulsifer near Washington DC on July 11, 1864. This long-lost photograph shows Lincoln standing on the deck of the Coast Guard ship “Wayanda” cruising in the Potomac River. The two men seated to Lincoln’s right are John White, the ship’s captain, and William Seward (in the white hat), Lincoln’s Secretary of State.
104. Taken by an unknown photographer in Washington some time in 1863 or 1864. A barely visible Lincoln stands immediately to the right of the far left archway.
104a. Detail of #104.
105. The first of two photographs (see #106) taken by Lewis E. Walker in Washington in February 1865. Note how Lincoln’s unruly hair was so short that it stood on end.
106. Taken by Lewis E. Walker in Washington in February 1865.
107. The first of five photographs (see #108-111) taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on February 5, 1865. This would be Lincoln’s last formal sitting. Here he is pictured with his son Tad.
108. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on February 5, 1865.
109. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on February 5, 1865.
110. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on February 5, 1865.
111. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on February 5, 1865. For many years it was thought that this series was taken on April 10, 1865, just four days before Lincoln’s assassination. As a result, this photograph was long known as the last photograph of President Lincoln. Subsequent research has assigned the correct date of February 5th to this series.
112. Lincoln’s Second Inauguration, taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on March 4, 1865. Taken before he delivered his famous Second Inaugural Address, Lincoln is seated just to the left of the white podium with outgoing Vice President Hannibal Hamlin and incoming Vice President Andrew Johnson.
112a. Detail of #112.
113. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on March 4, 1865. Lincoln stands at the podium reading his Inaugural Address.
113a. Detail of #113.
114. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington on March 4, 1865 presenting another view of Lincoln’s Second Inauguration.
115. Taken by an unknown photographer in Washington on March 4, 1865. This recently discovered photograph shows the only known distant view of Lincoln’s Second Inauguration. Note how the caption refers to it as “Lincoln’s Re-Inauguration.”
116. The first of two photographs (see #117) taken by Henry F. Warren in Washington on March 6, 1865. This photograph and its companion were taken on the White House balcony at Tad’s request.
117. Taken by Henry F. Warren in Washington on March 6, 1865. This is the last known photograph of Lincoln (see note to #111 above).
118. Taken by John B. Bachelder in Washington on April 16, 1865. This much disputed photograph shows a detail of Lincoln’s face as his body was lying in its coffin.
119. Taken by Jeremiah Gurney, Jr. in New York City on April 24, 1865. After his death and funeral ceremonies in Washington, Lincoln’s body took a long journey to its final resting place in Springfield, IL. Here it is pictured lying in state in New York City Hall. Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s Secretary of War who essentially ran the government during the first few weeks after Lincoln’s death, ordered all copies of this photo destroyed. Thankfully, Stanton kept one copy himself.
119a. Detail of #119.
