This purple velvet dress by Elizabeth Keckley was created for First Lady Mary Lincoln during the 1861-1862 winter social season in Washington, D.C. Keckley designed the ensemble to include a skirt and two bodices -- one for the daytime and one for the evening. The daytime bodice, seen here, features white satin piping and mother of pearl buttons. Keckley, who was born enslaved, frequently designed dresses for Mrs. Lincoln. The two developed both a business partnership during Mrs. Lincoln's time in the White House as well as a friendship during that time. To see the evening bodice, see image 1135054.

This purple velvet dress by Elizabeth Keckley was created for First Lady Mary Lincoln during the 1861-1862 winter social season in Washington, D.C. Keckley designed the ensemble to include a skirt and two bodices -- one for the daytime and one for the evening. The evening bodice, seen here, features white satin piping and black and white lace-decorated sleeves. Keckley, who was born enslaved, frequently designed dresses for Mrs. Lincoln. The two developed both a business partnership during Mrs. Lincoln's time in the White House as well as a friendship during that time. To see the daytime bodice, see image 1135052.

This satirical cartoon was submitted for copyright shortly before the presidential election of 1860. The cartoon depicts the political contest as a baseball game. Abraham Lincoln stands at home base on the right side of the image, advising his opponents, from left to right: former Senator John Bell, Senator Stephen A. Douglas, and John C. Breckinridge, who was then Vice President of the United States under President James Buchanan. The text on the men's bats and belts provides clues about their political platforms. Instead of a baseball bat, Lincoln holds a wooden rail labeled "Equal Rights and Free Territory." A skunk stands near the other candidates, signifying that they have been "skunk'd," or overwhelmingly defeated.

This engraving of President Abraham Lincoln was produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and served from March 4, 1861 to April 15, 1865. Prior to becoming president, Lincoln served in the United States House of Representatives and practiced law in Springfield, Illinois. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared freedom for enslaved African Americans. He led the Union to victory over the Confederacy during the Civil War. On April 14, 1885, he became the first United States president to die by assassination when he was shot at Ford's Theater by actor John Wilkes Booth.

This is a campaign button from Abraham Lincoln's 1860 bid for president. The button reads "Abraham Lincoln/Free Soil & Free Men." He was elected and began his tenure as president in 1861. This was one of the earliest examples of a campaign button using a photograph.

This certificate is Montgomery Blair's official appointment by President Abraham Lincoln to the Cabinet position of postmaster general of the United States. Blair served until his resignation in September 1864.

This is a letter written by President Abraham Lincoln to his wife First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln on April 28, 1864. Lincoln asked his wife to their son Tad that "the goats and father are very well-especially the goats".

This is an executive order from President Abraham Lincoln requesting that Company K of the 150th Regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers remain at the White House.

This photograph of President Lincoln standing among a group of soldiers during the Civil War was taken by Alexander Gardner on October 3, 1862. The photograph was taken on the grounds on the Battle of Antietam, which took place in northwestern Maryland on September 17, 1862 and is considered the bloodiest day-long battle in American history. Standing, from left to right, are: Col. Delos B. Sacket, I.G.; Capt. George Monteith; Lt. Col. Nelson B. Sweitzer; Gen. George W. Morell; Col. Alexander S. Webb, Chief of Staff, 5th Corps.; Gen. George B. McClellan; Scout Adams; Dr. Jonathan Letterman, Army Medical Doctor; unknown soldier; President Lincoln; Gen. Henry J. Hunt; Gen. Fitz-John Porter; unknown soldier; Col. Frederick T. Locke, A.A.G.; Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys; Capt. George Armstrong Custer. The original photograph was a glass negative, wet collodion print.

This portrait photograph of a young Mary Todd Lincoln was taken between 1846-1847, around the time she and Congressman-elect Abraham Lincoln were moving to Washington, D.C. for the first time. The couple had been married for five years when Lincoln was elected to represent the 7th district of Illinois in the United States House of Representatives.

This painting of President Abraham Lincoln was created by R. D. Bayley. The painting depicts Lincoln showing abolitionist Sojourner Truth a bible gifted to him by African Americans from Baltimore, Maryland. Bayley completed the painting on October 29, 1864. The image of the painting is mounted on a cabinet card.

This photograph of President Abraham Lincoln and Tad Lincoln was taken on February 9, 1864 by photographer Anthony Berger of the Brady Studio in Washington, D.C. In this portrait photograph, President Lincoln and his youngest son look at an album of preeminent photographer Mathew Brady's photographs.

This front page edition of "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper" features a wood engraving print of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Published on May 6, 1865, the engraving shows John Wilkes Booth leaping from the Presidential Box at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. to the stage below moments after he shot the president, who is hidden by curtains surrounding the box. President and Mrs. Lincoln were attending the play "Our American Cousin".

This portrait photograph of Mary Todd Lincoln was taken between 1861 and 1865 while she served as First Lady of the United States. Mrs. Lincoln and her husband, President Abraham Lincoln, were married for over 20 years at the time of his death and had four sons together. The portrait was possibly taken by Mathew Brady at his Brady's National Photographic Portrait Galleries.

This portrait photograph of President Abraham Lincoln was taken by Alexander Gardner. Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and served from March 4, 1861 to April 15, 1865. Though Gardner is credited with taking this photograph on November 8, 1863, it was later printed and copyrighted in 1900 by M.P. Rice of Washington, D.C.

This portrait photograph of President Abraham Lincoln was taken by Alexander Gardner on August 9, 1963. The photograph is one from a series taken of President Lincoln just prior to the opening of Gardner's new gallery. Lincoln is holding his glasses in his right hand.