Famous Lincoln Portrait Unveiled at St. Clair County Courthouse

A high-quality reproduction of a famous Abraham Lincoln photograph was unveiled May 15 at a ceremony at the St. Clair County Courthouse.

The photograph was taken in Springfield by well-known photographer Alexander Hesler for Lincoln’s 1860 presidential campaign. It is considered to be one of the best taken of Lincoln during his pre-presidential years.

The permanent installation is made possible by donations from the Illinois Judges Association (IJA), the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) and their respective foundations – the Illinois Judges Foundation and the Illinois Bar Foundation. 

The four organizations are partnering with the Illinois State Historical Society (ISHS), which owns the glass-plate positives of the Hesler-Lincoln portrait. The ISHS is leading a statewide campaign to place a framed copy in a courthouse in each of Illinois’ 102 counties in commemoration of the state’s bicentennial this year.

Andrew Gleeson, chief judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit, presided over the unveiling ceremony. ISBA was represented by 3rd Vice President Dennis Orsey.