Title: Photograph of Mary Todd Lincoln in a ball gown

Description: When Mary Todd Lincoln moved from Kentucky to Illinois, she met Abraham Lincoln, then a young lawyer. They were married three years later and lived happily in Springfield, Illinois with their three boys, Robert, Willie, and Tad. Mrs. Lincoln was intelligent and loved high society. Once in the White House she redecorated it with funds from Congress, but was criticized for spending such large amounts of money during wartime. Her confidence in her husband was unshakable and her devotion unwavering.

Date: 1861

Creator: Mathew Brady

Credit: Library of Congress