Today in History: Lincoln Shot!
Today in History–April 14–the Library of Congress features the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, who was shot on this day in 1865. Learn more about tragic day in United States history by visiting the Today in History section, then follow the links below to access secondary sources, all types of primary sources, and teaching resources related to the death of President Lincoln.
Assassination primary sources
- Artifacts of assassination
- Lincoln assassination primary source set
- Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln The New York Herald (New York) April 15, 1865
- Lincoln assassination timeline & select newspaper articles
- $100,000 Reward! Washington, D.C April 20, 1865 broadside with attached albumen silver prints
- Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: selected images
- Lincoln assassination image set
- Lincoln Conspiracy Trial Professor Douglas O. Linder, University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School
Funeral & tribute primary sources
- Lincoln funeral primary source set
- TPS Teachers Network Album: Lincoln’s Funeral
- Lincoln tribute sheet music
- Lincoln tribute primary source set (various collections)
Teaching resources
- Guided Primary Source Analysis: Theory. Practice. Effect
- Learning from the Source: Putting Loss into Words
- Learning from the Source: Mourning Lincoln & the Art of Tribute
- Lincoln’s Assassination Ford’s Theatre
- Lincoln’s Pockets professional development activity that also works with students
- Primary Source Starter: Lincoln’s assassination from a friend’s diary
- Putting Loss into Words
- Teaching Now: Using Primary Sources to Create a Lincoln Assassination Newscast
Secondary sources
- Lincoln assassination summary (overview, timeline, gallery)
- Lincoln’s pockets America’s Library
- What Was in Lincoln’s Pockets? video
- What Was in Abraham Lincoln’s Pockets on April 14, 1865? Timeless Stories from the Library
- Curtain Rises Tonight on Abraham Lincoln Timeless Stories from the Library
- The Conspirators of the Lincoln Assassination In Custodia Legis
- The Death of an Assassin: The 151st Anniversary of the Capture of John Wilkes Booth In Custodia Legis
- Homeward to His Final Resting Place: Lincoln’s Funeral Procession Picture This
Related resource
- Presidential Spotlight: Abraham Lincoln primary sources & teaching resources