The LOC.GOV Wise Guide : First Ladies

Who's That Lady? You Would Recognize Her Husband.

On Feb. 17, we honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on Presidents' Day. But what about the women who played such an important part in their lives? You can view images of most of the first ladies (and their husbands) in the American Memory presentation By Popular Demand: Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies, 1789-Present. This image of Mary Todd Lincoln was probably made sometime between 1860 and 1865.

Mary Todd Abraham Lincoln Martha Washington

American Memory is a rich resource for U.S. presidential materials. The papers of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln are available, as well as films of Theodore Roosevelt and William McKinley. "I Do Solemnly Swear," another American Memory presentation, provides documentation about every presidential inauguration from 1789 to 2001.

A. Mary Todd Abraham Lincoln, full-length portrait, standing, facing left, near table, 1861, printed later. Reproduction Nos.: LC-USZ62-25789 DLC (b&w film copy neg. of detail), LC-USZ62-8341 DLC (b&w film copy neg.), LC-USZ62-4681 DLC (b&w film copy neg.), LC-BH-8201-4023 DLC (b&w film copy neg.)

B. Martha Washington, published by L. Prang & Co., ca. 1864, Dominique Fabronius, lithographer. Reproduction Nos.: LC-USZ62-3833 DLC (b&w film copy neg. of cropped image), LC-USZ62-25767 DLC (b&w film copy neg. of cropped image)