LOC: Lincoln on Flickr

2009 Lincoln Bicentennial - Lincoln the Politician
The seven Lincoln-Douglas debates were some of the most well-attended political events of the time. Illinois was a swing state and the issue of slavery was the main topic of discussion nationwide. It was the model for future debates, including those for President. Stephen Douglas's Democratic Party won the majority of the state legislature and thus was appointed to the Senate (this was before the direct election of Senators). However Lincoln gained the attention of the nation and would use this exposure on his way to the Oval Office.

In honor of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday — and in advance of the Library of Congress' blockbuster Lincoln exhibit — the LOC has uploaded a new set of 22 photos of Lincoln to Flickr. The set includes the earliest known photo of Lincoln (daguerreotype), which was taken in 1846 or 1847. There are other unique and iconic images of Lincoln, his family, and even his funeral procession. More Lincoln imagery from the Library’s online collections can be found here.