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Carte de Visite Depicting Abraham Lincoln

 Collection
Identifier: MS-1789

  • Staff Only

A single carte de visite depicting Abraham Lincoln. Mathew Brady made the original portrait that serves as the foundation of this carte de visite. Either Brady or another photographer added a dark wreath around the image, likely on the occasion of Lincoln's assassination.

Dates

  • circa 1865

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

A single carte de visite depicting Abraham Lincoln. Mathew Brady made the original portrait that serves as the foundation of this carte de visite. Either Brady or another photographer added a dark wreath around the image, likely on the occasion of Lincoln's assassination.

Biographical/Historical Note

Abraham Lincoln was born to Thomas and Nancy (Hanks) Lincoln near Hodgenville, Kentucky on February 12, 1809. His family moved to Indiana in 1816 and again to Macon County, Illinois in 1830. Lincoln settled in New Salem, Illinois in 1831, where he worked as a storekeeper (in partnership with William F. Berry) in addition to serving as deputy county surveyor, postmaster, and odd jobber. He also served as a Captain in the Black Hawk War (1832) and studied law in his free time. Lincoln was licensed as an attorney in 1836 and was admitted to the Bar in 1837. In the same year, he moved to Springfield, Illinois where he practiced law with John T. Stuart and later with Stephen T. Logan and William H. Herndon. Lincoln married Mary Ann Todd (1818-1882) on November 4, 1842 and the couple had four children: Robert Todd (1843-1926), Edward Baker Eddie (1846-1850), William Wallace Willie (1850-1862), and Thomas Tad (1853-1871).

In 1847, Lincoln was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives. He served until his term expired in 1849 and did not reenter political life until 1854 when he opposed many of Stephen A. Douglas' policies, including the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Lincoln ran unsuccessfully for Vice President (1856) and for a Senate seat (1858) before being elected President in 1860. Although he was not an abolitionist, he opposed slavery's extension into the territories and unsuccessfully advocated for a gradual emancipation of slaves. After Fort Sumter was fired on, Lincoln called for volunteers to preserve the Union, restored conscription, and suspended habeas corpus. He signed an act freeing the slaves of Washington, D.C. in April of 1862 and issued the Emancipation Proclamation in September of the same year. Lincoln also set down the beginnings of Reconstruction by pardoning Confederate officials who would swear allegiance to the Union and forming loyal Southern state governments. Although his general policy was one of reunion and forgiveness, abolition of slavery was required. John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865 while he was watching a play entitled Our American Cousin at Ford's Theater. Lincoln was taken to a residence across the street, where he died the following day.

Arrangement

This collection consists of a single folder.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480