Collection Art in the White House
The collection of fine art at the White House has evolved and grown over time. The collection began with mostly...
Main Content
Abraham Lincoln, three-quarter length portrait, seated, facing front. Nicholas H. Shepherd photographer, 1846 or 1847.
Library of CongressZachary Taylor and his cabinet, all seated except President Taylor. Produced by Mathew Brady's studio, 1849.
Library of CongressFranklin Pierce, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the left. Produced by Mathew Brady's studio, between 1851 and 1860.
Library of CongressAndrew Jackson, head-and-shoulders portrait, nearly in profile to left, leaning against pillow of which ticking appears in lower left corner. Copy daguerreotype produced by Mathew Brady's studio, original possibly by Edward Anthony, between 1844 and 1845.
Library of CongressDolley Madison, three-quarter length portrait of a woman, facing front, seated. Produced by Mathew Brady's studio, 1848.
Library of CongressMary Todd Lincoln, three-quarter length portrait of a woman, seated, facing front Photographer possibly Nicholas H. Shepherd, 1846 or 1847
Library of CongressJames Knox Polk, three-quarter length portrait, three-quarters to the right, seated. Produced by Mathew Brady's studio, February 14, 1849.
Library of CongressZachary Taylor, half-length portrait, head in profile to the right. Produced by Mathew Brady's studio, between 1844 and 1849.
Library of CongressAbout this Gallery
French photographer Louis-Jacques-Mand Daguerre invented the first commercial photographic process known as the Daguerreotype, in 1839. The process involved a plate of polished copper with a coating of light sensitive silver-halide. Once exposed, the latent image on the copper plate was developed using open flame and liquid Mercury. Daguerre published a precise description of this process titled, Histoire ET description du procede nomme le Daguerreotype, allowing anyone who purchased the booklet to make their own daguerreotypes.
American Photographers such as Mathew Brady marveled at this process, with its ability to capture a "truthful likeness." Brady, a famous American daguerreotype photographer created a gallery of images, ranging from presidents to the common man. This remarkable series of early presidential and first ladies photographic portraits reproduced on this page are public domain images from a daguerreotype collection in the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
The collection of fine art at the White House has evolved and grown over time. The collection began with mostly...
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s advocacy for the arts endures as a vital part of th...
For two hundred years, Decatur House has stood as a near neighbor to the White House across Lafayette Square. Stewart...
James Archer AbbottJames Archer Abbott currently serves as the Executive Director of the Lewes Historical Society in Lewes, Delaware. A...
The White House Association is proud to introduce its Next-Gen Leaders, a group of influential and historically-minded young professionals. The...
JAMES ARCHER ABBOTT is the Executive Director of the Lewes Historical Society in Lewes, Delaware. His publications include JANSEN, JANSEN...
Jim AdamsJim Adams has been gardening in Washington, D.C., for over 25 years. His D.C. career began at the...
October 1, 20209:00-9:15amWelcome and Overview Stewart D. McLaurin, President, White House Historical AssociationFrederick J. Ryan Jr., Chairman, Board of Directors,...
The White House Historical Associationcommissions the official White House Christmas ornament each year. This is the 36th ornamentin the series...
20212021 AAM Publication Design CompetitionWhite House History Quarterly 56: Furnishing the White House: The Decorative Arts Collection, Honorable Mention, Magazines/Scholarly Journals2021...
Simmie Knox
The 2022 White House History Teacher Institute will be offered in two different formats: in-person and virtual. Scroll down for more...