“Lincoln’s Deathbed: Images of a Martyred President”

In this online session, Smithsonian historian Pamela M. Henson examines how the public first heard of President Abraham Lincoln’s death and how Lincoln’s death was portrayed in popular images. Participants will view and listen to the diary of Mary Henry, daughter of Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry, as she describes her own reactions and the stories she heard about Lincoln’s last moments. Participants will compare her diary with news accounts of the assassination, and popular paintings and lithographs of the deathbed scene to uncover what Lincoln’s death meant to the American public. Participants will also learn how to evaluate primary and secondary sources in a variety of media – a diary, newspapers and visual images, analyze the symbolic meanings attached to important events, and draw conclusions about Lincoln’s role in 19th century American ideas. The session will be of interest to teachers and students of history at any level and will be of particular interest to those interested in popular responses to important historical events. The confusion, misinformation, and symbolism surrounding this national trauma can be used to teach students how to critically evaluate information in their own lives.

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