ALPLM brings rare photos of Lincoln and more online

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) has now made more than 1,000 high-resolution photos of President Lincoln and his life available online .

It’s part of their “Picturing Lincoln” initiative, made possible by a $100,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

There are 129 pictures of Lincoln, rare photos of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 178 pictures of Lincoln’s Tomb — including the unearthing of his coffin — and dozens of photos related to Lincoln’s assassination, funeral and the execution of the plot’s conspirators.

^{(Images from left to right: A portrait of Abraham Lincoln; (Top-right) Abraham Lincoln’s great-grandchildren, Mary Lincoln Beckwith and Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith; (Bottom-right) A crowd gathers around Lincoln’s coffin as it is moved during construction at the Lincoln Tomb. Photos courtesy of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. )}

Pictures of Lincoln’s son, Robert, are also available. Robert was Mary and Abraham Lincoln’s only son to survive into adulthood. Throughout his life, he became U.S. ambassador to England, the secretary of war, and head of a major corporation. For the first time, the “Picturing Lincoln” project affords the public a glimpse into Robert’s life of luxury, his hobbies and his family.

“These photos represent a virtual treasure trove that tells a rich and vibrant story of one of our nation’s most influential leaders,” Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said, who also serves as State Librarian and State Archivist. “Digitizing records and making them available online through our Illinois Digital Archives gives the public, historians and future generations the ability to explore historical documents and photos that would otherwise be inaccessible.”

Matthew Deihl, an audiovisual (AV) librarian at ALPLM, said the goal is to chronicle all aspects of Lincoln’s life and legacy. Fellow AV librarian Kelsey Wise said that not only will the digital photo archive make the documentation of President Lincoln more accessible, but it will make the delicate, original photos less susceptible to damage.

“Abraham Lincoln’s legacy belongs to the world, so the whole world should be able to see these images. They show the highs and lows of President Lincoln’s life, remind us of the nation’s deep mourning at his death, and give us a glimpse into the lives of descendants he would never see,” Executive Director Christina Shutt said. “I am incredibly proud of the ALPLM team.”

Director of Library Services Jade Kastel thanked those who brought “Picturing Lincoln” to life.

“This was truly an accomplishment by the entire library team. Their work deepens our understanding of President Lincoln and his legacy.”

The museum said they plan to add several thousand more pictures, posters and paintings in the near future.

For more information, visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov or follow ALPLM on X , Facebook , and Instagram for updates.

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