(11-29-2016 12:32 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  Fred's expression is about the closest thing to a smile that I have seen in any photograph of that era.

(It must have been illegal to smile in a photo until after WWII. It was as if they were practicing for their drivers license or passport photo....)

(11-29-2016 01:26 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Amazing what one can find on the Internet:

http://petapixel.com/2015/04/15/the-earliest-known-photos-of-people-smiling/

(01-31-2017 07:20 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  My favorite radio station ( http://www.klassikradio.de/ ) features a daily "soap" and contest called "The true story". A person or incident of historical significance is described and you can call and win a book in case you know (and are the fastest caller). The last episode in a nutshell asked whom President Abraham Lincoln considered "our best recruiting sergeant". Of course, for the less specialized audience there was some more info, but do you need more to figure?

(01-31-2017 09:02 PM)L Verge Wrote:  

(01-31-2017 07:20 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  My favorite radio station ( http://www.klassikradio.de/ ) features a daily "soap" and contest called "The true story". A person or incident of historical significance is described and you can call and win a book in case you know (and are the fastest caller). The last episode in a nutshell asked whom President Abraham Lincoln considered "our best recruiting sergeant". Of course, for the less specialized audience there was some more info, but do you need more to figure?

Thanks to having the remarkable Kevin Rawlings portraying Civil War Santa for years during the holiday festivities at Surratt House, I know this answer. The creator of Civil War Santa (and other American iconic characters) was Thomas Nast. That's who Lincoln was referring to - unless he specified a certain character...

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Months ago, I believe there was a thread regarding how the Lincolns celebrated Christmas. I found a site related to White House Christmas cards while searching for more information to post on Thomas Nast. The info on the Lincolns' Christmases in the White House seemed more interesting. Sorry that photos would not transfer, but you will see captions stuck into the regular text:

It was during the Civil War that Harper’s Weekly illustrator/cartoonist Thomas Nast became a contributor to the Union’s war effort. Nast, who became known for his Christmas drawings and was generally credited with depicting Santa Claus as we know him today, had initially worked for Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 election creating campaign posters. Nast’s ability to stunningly depict Civil War battles and scenes prompted Lincoln to remark that Nast was “our best recruiting sergeant. His emblematic cartoons have never failed to arouse enthusiasm and patriotism.”

Thomas Nast's depiction of Father Christmas for Harper's Weekly
Commissioned by Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Nast illustrated the cover of Harper’s Weekly in January of 1863, depicting Father Christmas (aka Santa Claus) as we imagine him today.
Throughout the rest of 1861, the new president involved himself with the running of the war, forming an army, experiencing the disappointment of that army’s loss at the Battle of Bull Run in July, and the naming of George B. McClellan as the General-in-Chief of all Union forces in November.

Although Christmas morning of 1861 was spent in an important cabinet meeting, the President and Mrs. Lincoln had time to have dinner guests to the White House that evening. [wonder who they were?] It was the only Christmas that included the entire Lincoln family. White House Christmases after this first one were relatively sad occasions due to the death of their son, Willie, in February of the following year.

With all that was going on, the President Lincoln and his wife both made a point of visiting hospitals in the area to help care for the wounded. To combat scurvy, the Lincolns donated their own money toward the purchase of oranges and lemons for the troops. It is unknown whether White House Christmas cards accompanied these gifts from the President and First Lady. On New Year’s Day, as part of the holiday tradition, the Lincolns hosted and attended open houses.

President Lincoln also maintained his honoring of soldiers by his continued hospital visits to those who were wounded in battle, especially at Christmastime. He and First Lady Lincoln, as well as son Tad, did what they could to try to bring cheer to those who were suffering. One visit moved Tad so much that once back at the White House, Lincoln arranged to have Christmas gifts, such as reading material and sanitary clothes, sent to the soldiers under the signature, “From Tad Lincoln.” Hospitals in the Washington area were also the recipients of liquor – used for medicinal purposes – that the Lincolns had donated after having had received the bottles as gifts. Again, it was not known whether White House Christmas cards were given out to those hospitalized soldiers along with the gifts.

Christmas presents given amongst the Lincoln family members were probably purchased by the President and Tad at a toy store located near the White House, the Stuntz Toy Store. Wooden toys and toy soldiers were some of the items purchased. Referring to Tad, Lincoln remarked, “I want to give him all the toys I did not have and all the toys that I would have given the boy that went away” (“the boy” referring to Willie).

What also was special at Christmastime was the serving of special foods for dinner: turkey, venison, biscuits, chicken salad, fruit, cake, and eggnog. A famous story involved son, Tad, who during one particular holiday season, pleaded with his father to not have a certain turkey (named Jack) killed for Christmas dinner because Tad considered Jack his pet. The President wrote a formal pardon, saving the life of the turkey.

The Lincolns never did have a Christmas tree at the White House, although a short walk away there was a tree they may have gone to see when they attended services at the First Presbyterian Church.


President Lincoln at Stuntz Toy Shop in 1863
Robert Sivard painted this 1863 depiction of Stuntz Toy Shop located at 1207 New York Avenue in Washington, D.C. If you look closely you'll see Abraham Lincoln inside the shop purchasing a Christmas gift for son Tad.