Chrysler Building, New York City, 1930

Guides for Youth Programming Poster 9-B Elementary

Name of Poster: Abraham Lincoln, 1865
Poster #: 9-B
Artist(s) or Maker(s): Alexander Gardner
Object(s) Identification: Photograph
Medium: Photography
Date: 1865
Owner or Venue: Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

Program Outline

1. Use Visual Thinking Strategies to discuss the poster in depth.

2. Use the Whole Book Approach to share one or more of the programming books suggested below to connect library resources to the poster via subject, style, or artist.

3. Using one or two intriguing sentences per book, booktalk a number of books from the bibliography to whet the appetite of your audience for more reading. Give books to interested takers for later checkout.

4. Add crafts, music, activities, etc. as your style dictates.

Target Audience

School Age (6–12)

Background Notes

Alexander Gardner was one of a team of photographers hired to make a visual record of the Civil War. Gardner “became known for his portraits of uniformed soldiers heading off to war—and his candid photos of President Abraham Lincoln—at a time when photography was still a new medium.”

For additional insight, refer to an article in The Washington Post, Style section, page 1, November 8, 2008, which describes an exhibit of Lincoln photographs at the National Portrait Gallery. According to writer David Brown, Lincoln is more American even than George Washington, “at least when it comes to his image.” Brown goes on to say, “A big part of this reason is photography. Lincoln was the first president whose entire political career transpired in the era when light could be magically captured and held forever … Lincoln did not shrink from the camera. There’s evidence he realized that photographs were a way of keeping his face—homely though he thought he was—in front of the people.” The book, Lincoln through the Lens, by Martin W. Sandler may also provide insight into Lincoln as seen and known through his photographic images. Other resources include:

• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
• Lincoln Bicentennial
• Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Illinois
• Mr. Lincoln’s White House
• Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

Program Books

(These can be read in a traditional manner or with the interactive picture book method described in Using the Whole Book Approach.)

Rappaport, Doreen. Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Hyperion, 2008.

Rabin, Staton. Mr. Lincoln’s Boys: Being the Mostly TRUE Adventures of Abraham Lincoln’s Trouble-Making Sons, TAD and WILLIE. illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Viking, 2008.

Related activities:

Play music of the Civil War while participants are gathering for the program or as background during activities.

Have the children discuss the differences between the portrait of Lincoln on the poster and the depiction of Lincoln on the penny. Have them do a coin rubbing of the front of the coin as well. Information about the Lincoln portrait on the penny can be found in Chapter 3 of George Sullivan’s book, Picturing Lincoln: Famous Photographs That Popularized the President.

Janis Herbert’s Abraham Lincoln for Kids (Chicago Review Press, 2007) offers many wonderful program ideas, from making a stovepipe hat to the more challenging creation of simulated daguerreotypes.

Directions for a milk carton/pretzel log cabin can be found at http://crafts.kaboose.com/pretzel-log-cabin.htm.

Bibliography

Adler, David A. A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln. Illustrated by John and Alexandra Wallner. Holiday House, 1989. (Preschool–K, Elementary)

Aylesworth, Jim. Our Abe Lincoln: An Old Tune with New Lyrics. Illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Scholastic Press, 2008. (Preschool–K)

DeGezelle, Terri. American Symbols: The Lincoln Memorial. Capstone Press, 2004. (Elementary)

Denenberg, Barry. Lincoln Shot: A President’s Life Remembered. Feiwel & Friends, 2008. Illustrations by Christopher Bing. (Elementary, Teen)

Fitzgerald, Dawn. Vinnie and Abraham. Illustrated by Catherine Stock. Charlesbridge, 2007. (Elementary)

Freedman, Russell. Lincoln: A Photobiography. Clarion Books, 1987. (Elementary, Teen)

Giovanni, Nikki. Lincoln and Douglass: An American Friendship. Henry Holt, 2008. Illustrations by Bryan Collier. (Preschool–K, Elementary)

Hopkinson, Deborah. Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall Thin Tale. Illustrated by John Hendrix. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2008. (Elementary)

Jackson, Ellen. Abe Lincoln Loved Animals. Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. Albert Whitman & Co., 2008. (Elementary)

Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln: The Story of the Gettysburg Address. Dir. Ray Messecar. Videocassette.Weston Woods, 1999.

Kunhardt, Edith. Honest Abe. Illustrated by Malcah Zeldis. Mulberry Books, 1993. (Preschool–K)

Lincoln, Abraham. The Gettysburg Address. Illustrated by Michael McCurdy. Houghton Mifflin, 1995. (Elementary)

Rabin, Staton. Mr. Lincoln’s Boys: Being the Mostly TRUE Adventures of Abraham Lincoln’s Trouble-Making Sons, TAD and WILLIE. Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Viking, 2008. (Elementary)

Rappaport, Doreen. Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. Hyperion, 2008. (Elementary)

Sandler, Martin W. Lincoln through the Lens: How Photography Revealed and Shaped an Extraordinary Life. Walker & Co., 2008. (Elementary, Teen)

Sullivan, George. Picturing Lincoln: Famous Photographs That Popularized the President. Clarion Books, 2000. (Elementary, Teen)

Usel, T. M. Abraham Lincoln: A Photo-Illustrated Biography. Bridgestone Books, 1996. (Elementary)

Venezia, Mike. Getting to Know the U. S. Presidents: Abraham Lincoln. Children’s Press, (Elementary)

Wells, Rosemary. Lincoln and His Boys. Candlewick Press, 2009. (Elementary)

Winnick, Karen. Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers. Boyds Mill Press, 1996. (Elementary)

Age Key
Preschool–K	Ages 3–5
Elementary	Ages 6–11
Teen	Ages 12–15
Older Teen	Ages 16–18
Adult	Ages 18+