By Popular Demand: Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies, 1789-Present

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Go directly to the collection, By Popular Demand: Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies, 1789-Present, in American Memory, or view a Summary of Resources related to the collection.

1) Chronological Thinking

Mrs. Woodrow Wilson (Edith Bolling Galt). [between 1915 and 1921]

Students will find, for example, that Woodrow Wilson was married twice. After his first wife, Ellen Axson Wilson, died, he married Edith Bolling Galt. Search on Edith Wilson for this portrait of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.

President's Levee, or all Creation going to the White House. Crowd in front of White House during Andrew Jackson's first inaugural reception in 1828. [1841]

Search on inauguration to find this image of the crowd attending Andrew Jackson's second inauguration in 1833.

Woodrow Wilson and wife riding to second inauguration in backseat of a convertible. [March 4th, 1917]

Search on Woodrow Wilson to view the attire of President and Mrs. Wilson going to Wilson's second inauguration in 1917.

2) Historical Comprehension

a) There are images of presidential inaugurations in the collection. Most inaugurations take place in Washington, DC, on very festive occasions. A few have taken place in much sadder situations upon the death of a president. In the Feature Presentation: Inaugurations in American Memory, students will find supporting information about inaugurations as documented throughout American Memory collections. Students can use this collection, the feature presentation, and other sources to report on inaugurations. Students might research the text of the oath of office and how it is administered to the president.

b) Students can study moments and people our country considers important by viewing images of presidents signing important documents and participating in events commemorated by the nation.

President Hoover addresses joint session of Congress at ceremony commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington. [Feb. 22, 1932]

Search on anniversary, battles, campaigns, centennial celebrations, international relations, and political posters for images of important events. For example, this image shows President Herbert Hoover commemorating the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth.

The first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation before the cabinet. July 22, 1862. [c1866]

Search on Emancipation Proclamation to see an image of the first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.

3) Historical Analysis and Interpretation

Using this collection, students can study the intended message in several of the images. Ask students to imagine that they are public relations agents for the president in each portrait below and answer these questions. What message is conveyed by the picture? Was the message deliberate? Does the message reflect well on those pictured?

A. Lincoln showing Sojourner Truth the Bible. Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., Oct. 29, 1864. [c1893]	Dwight Eisenhower Giving Orders to American paratroopers in England. [June 6, 1944]

4) Historical Research Capabilities

There are many possibilities for research in this collection, since it emcompasses the history of the United States from the first president through the present. Students might choose a president, research significant events during his administration, then report on how much influence the president had on the events. Some interesting possibilities would include the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, or wars during presidential terms. Another topic might be the role of first ladies, particularly Dolley Madison, Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, and Eleanor Roosevelt.

The Senate as a court of impeachment for the trial of Andrew Johnson sketched by Theodore R. Davis. [1868]

Search on Andrew Johnson for this sketch of the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson.

Mrs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. [July 20, 1933]

Search on Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt for this portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt.

5) Historical Issue Analysis and Decision Making

a) Some men became president in part because war made them popular candidates. Students might use the collection as a springboard for research on the role of war in the election of Presidents. Students can consider how election of the following presidents was affected by war:

The Prayer at Valley Forge painted by H. Brueckner. [c1866]

Search on George Washington and other presidents by name to see war-related images such as this painting of General Washington at prayer at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War.

b) Other presidents are well-remembered because they served during the crisis of a war. Students might find out how the Civil War assured a place in history for Abraham Lincoln and how World War II assured a place for Franklin D. Roosevelt.

c) The Great Depression (beginning with the stock market crash in 1929 and ending in 1942) was a crisis that marked Presidents Hoover and Roosevelt. Hoover was remembered because he was president when the depression began, and Roosevelt because he was president during the battle against it. Students might analyze whether the men themselves had major responsibility for either beginning or ending the depression.

Search on Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt for these portraits.

Herbert Hoover, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly right. [1928(?)]	Franklin Delano Roosevelt, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly left. [c Dec 27, 1933]