Lincoln Prints and Ephemera, circa 1850s-2010s | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

The Lincoln Prints and Ephemera collection is comprised of several hundred depictions of Abraham Lincoln and other people, places, and topics related to his life and legacy. The collection includes materials created from 1854 to the present day, such as prints, photographs, posters, broadsides, periodicals, newspapers, political cartoons, postcards, envelopes, advertisements, cartes-de-visite, books, booklets, portfolios, and more.

This collection contains images of Abraham Lincoln in a variety of formats, including engravings, photographs, portraits, posters, and other creative works. It also includes depictions of Lincoln's family and contemporary figures, including politicians, Civil War generals, and John Wilkes Booth; places around the country relevant to Lincoln's life; art centered on Lincoln's speeches and written works; and visual items related to Lincoln's legacy, such as advertisements for products or materials from Lincoln-related events and programs. This collection also contains one original 1860s autographed note from artist and poet Thomas Buchanan Read and one original 1960 letter from Cooper Union Business Officer Elizabeth J. Carbon.

The items in this collection were donated and purchased at various dates from several sources.