• Mrs. Clinton and Pastry Chefs with 1993 Gingerbread House
    Unknown
    winter holidays
    staff
    gingerbread
    food & drink
    decorations
    State Floor
    State Dining Room
    Christmas
    Residence staff
    This is a photograph of First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, and pastry chef Franette McCulloch with the 1993 official White House Gingerbread House that was dubbed the "House of Socks". It was created by Chef Mesnier in honor of President Bill Clinton and Mrs. Clinton's cat, Socks. The gingerbread house is a to-scale replica of White House complete with 20 marzipan versions of Socks playing around the house. The architectural details were created with carefully pipped icing and illuminated with working miniature floodlights. This photograph is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Chef Mesnier created elaborate desserts for the White House from 1979 to 2004.
  • Mrs. Johnson at Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory
    Joseph J. Scherschel
    event
    This photograph was taken on First Lady Lady Bird Johnson's beautification tour of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on September 21, 1965. In this photograph, Mrs. Johnson speaks at the dedication of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory. During her trip, she addressed the American Institute of Park Executives and toured the Boerner Botanical Gardens. Mrs. Johnson was an environmentalist who championed beautification projects across the country, culminating in the passing of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965.
  • Dinner in Honor of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor
    Joseph J. Scherschel
    event
    White House Guests
    State Floor
    Entrance Hall
    entertainment
    music
    In this photograph, guests dance and mingle in the Entrance Hall following a dinner held in honor of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor on April 4, 1970. President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon hosted the formal dinner in the State Dining Room, that included after-dinner entertainment in the East Room by singer and pianist Bobby Short and singing troupe the Young Saints. In this photograph, Julie Nixon Eisenhower can be seen near the North Door, speaking with her parents' dinner guests.
  • President and Mrs. Trump Welcome Trick-or-Treaters
    Matthew D'Agostino
    Halloween
    South Grounds
    children
    holidays
    This photograph of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeting trick-or-treaters during their third Halloween at the White House was taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association on October 28, 2019. Local schoolchildren and military families were invited to take part in family-friendly activities on the South Grounds, including photo opportunities, a display of a space suit and other objects by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Junior Ranger Explorer booklets and stickers by the Department of the Interior, and the chance to check out unusual vehicles such as a tractor from the Department of Agriculture, a postal truck from the United States Postal Service, and the presidential limo, popularly known as "the Beast." Guests also enjoyed renditions of popular movie themes and Halloween tunes performed by the United States Air Force Strolling Strings.
  • Donald Trump
    Daniel Torok
    official portrait
    This portrait photograph of President Donald Trump was taken by Daniel Torok on June 2, 2025, during his first year as the 47th President of the United States. President Trump was the second president, after President Grover Cleveland, to serve two nonconsecutive terms in office, having previously served as the 45th president from 2017-2021.
  • The Carters with Prime Minister Thatcher in the Center Hall
    Karl Schumacher
    Yellow Oval Room
    State Visit
    State Dinner
    Second Floor
    Center Hall
    Head of State
    This photograph is of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter walking with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom out of the Yellow Oval Room through the Center Hall. Karl Shumacher took this picture on December 17, 1979. President Carter wore a black tuxedo, a pleated dress shirt, and a black bow tie. Notched lapels, though considered the least formal lapel style, were particularly trendy at the time, and black remained the standard color for formal wear. While Carter was known for his casual Southern style, he recognized the significance of dressing formally for diplomatic occasions. A strong supporter of State Dinners, Carter hosted 40 during his presidency, including the largest in White House history at the time with over 1,340 guests.
  • President Truman with Marine Guard During Trip to Key West
    U.S. Navy
    travel
    military
    Florida
    This photograph is of President Harry S. Truman standing with the Marine Guard during a trip to the Little White House in Key West, Florida, taken on November 15, 1947. Among the Marines pictured is Private First Class Michael Hassett, Captain Robert L. Dennison's orderly. As vice president, Truman became president when President Franklin D. Roosevelt died during his fourth term in office in 1945. He was elected president in his own right during the 1948 election, serving from January 20, 1949 to January 20, 1953. During his second term, Truman was the target of an assassination attempt while living in Blair House during a major White House renovation. He served in the Senate prior to his years in the White House.
  • Postcard of the Harry S. Truman in Uniform
    Unknown
    military
    World War I
    This postcard studio portrait photo of Harry S. Truman wearing his uniform and helmet was taken in France during World War I. Noted on the reverse of the postcard: "Given to John A. Hatfield in France in 1918 - returned to Harry S. Truman in January, 1962." Truman enlisted for service with the National Guard in 1905. During World War I, Truman served as a captain in the Field Artillery, wearing the standard olive drab, M1910 service uniform: breeches that flared out at the thigh, a single-breasted coat with four front pockets, tall lace-up boots, and a helmet. As vice president, Truman became president when President Franklin D. Roosevelt died during his fourth term in office in 1945. He was elected president in his own right during the 1948 election, serving from January 20, 1949 to January 20, 1953. During his second term, Truman was the target of an assassination attempt while living in Blair House during a major White House renovation. He served in the Senate prior to his years in the White House.
  • President Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia
    Bernard Gotfryd
    travel
    meetings
    Presidential Visit
    Georgia
    This photograph of President Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia, was taken by Bernard Gotfryd on December 24, 1977. President Carter visited his hometown for a meeting with farmers who were part of the American Agriculture Movement. The group was formed to express their discontent with the 1977 Farm Bill, which reduced the price of commodities below the cost of production. Carter served as governor of Georgia prior to his term as president, which began on January 20, 1977 and ended January 20, 1981.
  • President Roosevelt Delievers a Speech in Waterville, Maine
    Underwood & Underwood
    speeches
    travel
    Maine
    This stereograph by Underwood & Underwood of President Theodore Roosevelt was taken circa 1902 during a visit to Waterville, Maine. During his presidency, Roosevelt wore formal attire for public outings. Here, he wears a dark frock coat and holds a top hat, which remained common for formal occasions, although the crown had become shorter by the 1890s. Around him, people in the crowd wear a range of hat styles, including the fedora, which was then growing in popularity. A former governor of New York, Roosevelt became president upon the assassination of William McKinley on September 14, 1901, and served until March 4, 1909.
  • Ambrotype of Abraham Lincoln
    William Painter Pearson
    portrait
    This ambrotype of future president Abraham Lincoln was taken by photographer William Painter Pearson on August 26, 1858. An ambrotype was a successor to the daguerrotype that was easier and cheaper to produce. This image was taken during the seven debates the future president had with Stephen Douglas in 1858, when both were running for senator. Lincoln became president on March 4, 1861 and had served in the House of Representatives earlier in his life.
  • President Roosevelt Passing Through the Canal Zone By Train
    W. A. Fishbaugh
    travel
    Presidential Visit
    Panama
    This photograph of President Theodore Roosevelt and others on the back of a train car in the Panama Canal Zone was taken in November 1906 by W. A. Fishbaugh (also referred to as William A. Fishbaugh). When President Roosevelt was photographed wearing a Panama hat during his trip to the Panama Canal in 1906, the image of the president helped make the hat even more fashionable, with its popularity enduring into the 21st century. The boater and Panama hat became more prevalent as clothing associated with sporting pursuits became acceptable daywear. With its origins in Ecuador, Panama hats were recommended to travelers to South America since the mid-19th century for their protection from the elements. A former governor of New York, Roosevelt became president upon the assassination of William McKinley on September 14, 1901, and served until March 4, 1909.
  • Theodore Roosevelt in Hunting Attire
    George Grantham Bain
    portrait
    This photograph of future president Theodore Roosevelt in a hunting outfit was likely taken by George Grantham Bain in 1885. In 1883, Roosevelt went buffalo hunting in the Dakota Territory, now known as North Dakota, for the first time. There, he faced even more scrutiny for his slim build and fashionable New York style. Eager to prove himself as a real frontier hunter, he acquired a custom-made buckskin suit and purchased his first ranch. After returning to New York, he sat for photographs at a studio while wearing the outfit in 1885. A former governor of New York, Roosevelt became president upon the assassination of William McKinley on September 14, 1901, and served until March 4, 1909.
  • Theodore Roosevelt in Rough Rider Uniform
    Siegel, Cooper & Co.
    portrait
    Spanish-American War
    This photograph is of future president Theodore Roosevelt posing in his Rough Rider uniform during the Spanish-American War. It was taken in 1898 by Siegel, Cooper & Co. His uniform was custom-made by the American clothing brand Brooks Brothers. Roosevelt wore a slouch hat, a hat style popular for military uniforms since the Civil War. Rough Rider uniforms also included a loosely tied blue bandana, cartridge belt, long gloves, and boots. This rugged look captured the adventurous, frontier spirit Roosevelt aspired to, and that earned the group the nickname, the “Rough Riders” though officially known as the 1st Volunteer Cavalry. A former governor of New York, Roosevelt became president upon the assassination of William McKinley on September 14, 1901, and served until March 4, 1909.
  • Theodore Roosevelt in a Mountaineering Outfit
    Unknown
    portrait
    In this photograph, future president Theodore Roosevelt poses in a mountaineering outfit, representing his growing interest in outdoorsmanship. He posed for this photograph in 1881, around the time of his honeymoon to his first wife, Alice Lee Roosevelt. A former governor of New York, Roosevelt became president upon the assassination of William McKinley on September 14, 1901, and served until March 4, 1909.
  • Theodore Roosevelt Portrait and Quotation
    George Gardner Rockwood
    F. M. Buckles & Co.
    portrait
    This photograph of future president Theodore Roosevelt was taken by George Gardner Rockwood in 1898, and the card was made by F.M. Buckles & Co. in 1900. The quotation was adapted from a speech given by Roosevelt in 1899, called "The Strenuous Life." From the late 1880s through his election as president, Roosevelt held several prominent positions, including U.S. Civil Service commissioner, New York police commissioner, governor of New York, and Vice President of the United States. During this time, he dressed in typical 1890s fashion: a frock coat, waistcoat, and trousers. Roosevelt added patterned ties and striped trousers to his wardrobe. His pince-nez eyeglasses, fashionable during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, also added sophistication to his look. Roosevelt became president upon the assassination of William McKinley on September 14, 1901, and served until March 4, 1909.
  • Lithograph of President Abraham Lincoln
    Currier & Ives
    portrait
    print
    This lithograph of President Abraham Lincoln was created by Currier & Ives Lithography Company circa 1860-1861. In late 1860, Abraham Lincoln began growing a beard, and was the first United States president to do so. After his first election, he reportedly received a letter from an eleven-year-old fan, Grace Bedell, who suggested that growing facial hair might improve his appearance. In his reply to this letter, President Lincoln wrote, “As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affectation if I were to begin wearing them now? Your very sincere well-wisher," A. LINCOLN."” By 1861, Lincoln’s beard appeared in portraits, paintings, and photographs, and would remain a style that he maintained for the remainder of his life. Lincoln became president on March 4, 1861 and had earlier served in the House of Representatives.
  • Gelatin Silver Print of Abraham Lincoln
    Alexander Hesler
    Herbert George Studios
    portrait
    This gelatin silver print of future president Abraham Lincoln was taken by Alexander Hesler of the Herbert George Studios of Springfield, Illinois in June 1860. It depicts Lincoln before his presidency, without his beard, wearing a suit and cravat. Lincoln’s cravat was pre-tied and fastened at the back. The bow was also intentionally sewn on crooked, since Lincoln preferred to wear it slightly off-center. Lincoln became president on March 4, 1861 and earlier had served in the House of Representatives.
  • Daguerreotype of John Quincy Adams
    Southworth and Hawes
    portrait
    This daguerreotype of former president John Quincy Adams is believed to be a copy by Southworth and Hawes of a lost original daguerreotype by Philip Haas. In his later years, President Adams was photographed wearing his usual outfit: a black double-breasted coat, black trousers, and black leather shoes. These clothes represent the typical daywear of the 1850s. The shoes, which are split at the vamp, are fastened with shoelaces, and the large, stiff necktie resembles a black stock. These simple, tailored garments show that Adams’s preference for elegant dress lasted well after his time as president. John Quincy Adams was the son of President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. Prior to his presidency, President Adams was a diplomat to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. He served as Secretary of State under President James Monroe and is the only president who went on to serve in the United States House of Representatives after being president. Adams represented his home state, Massachusetts, in the House.
  • President Truman on the Flying Bridge of the USS Williamsburg
    U.S. Navy
    transportation
    presidential yachts
    travel
    This photograph is of President Harry S. Truman on the flying bridge of the USS Williamsburg as it sails up the Potomac River on September 2, 1946. President Truman was on the presidential yacht following his vacation cruise to Bermuda. Truman is wearing a suit featuring a double-breasted jacket worn with wide-leg trousers. Known for his huge collection of ties and other accessories, he added his own flair with a handkerchief, contrasting tie, two-tone shoes, and fedora hat. As vice president, Truman became president when President Franklin D. Roosevelt died during his fourth term in office in 1945. He was elected president in his own right during the 1948 election, serving from January 20, 1949 to January 20, 1953. During his second term, Truman was the target of an assassination attempt while living in Blair House during a major White House renovation. He served in the Senate prior to his years in the White House.
  • Harry S. Truman and Friends in His Haberdashery Store
    Unknown
    This photograph from circa 1920 is of future president Harry S. Truman (at left) in the clothing store he and owned with Edward Jacobson. Pictured in the photo, from left to right, alongside Truman are: Francis Berry, Mike Flynn, and Kelsey Cravens. After returning from World War I, Truman opened a haberdashery in Kansas City with his friend Jacobson, with whom he served in the United States Army. Located at 104 West 12th Street, Truman and Jacobson sold men’s shirts, ties, and other furnishings. Though the business ultimately failed, his time in the shop created friendships that played important roles later in his life, such as his long-time tailor, Sol Stolowy. Truman served in the United States Senate prior to his years in the White House. As vice president during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fourth term, Truman became president upon Roosevelt's death in office in 1945. He was elected president in his own right during the 1948 election, serving from January 20, 1949 to January 20, 1953. During his second term, Truman was the target of an assassination attempt while living in Blair House during a major White House renovation.
  • Harry S. Truman, Age Thirteen
    W.A. Hare and Co.
    portrait
    This photograph of Harry S. Truman, aged 13, wearing a bow tie and glasses, was taken by W.A. Hare and Co. in 1897. Truman is wearing a dark jacket, bow tie, and oval spectacles with a thin metal frame. At the time, children did not typically wear glasses, as they were not as fashionable as other types of eyewear, such as eyeglasses, which did not have side arms. The glasses also prevented him from doing rough activities, which might break them. Truman served in the United States Senate prior to his years in the White House. As vice president during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fourth term, Truman became president upon Roosevelt's death in office in 1945. He was elected president in his own right during the 1948 election, serving from January 20, 1949 to January 20, 1953. During his second term, Truman was the target of an assassination attempt while living in Blair House during a major White House renovation.
  • President Abraham Lincoln
    Alexander Gardner
    portrait
    This glass plate collodion negative, a type of photograph, is of President-elect Abraham Lincoln. This photograph was taken on February 24, 1861 by Alexander Gardner in the days following Lincoln’s arrival in Washington, D.C. ahead of his Inauguration. He is dressed in the outfit that would become his most recognizable look: a black frock coat, matching waistcoat and trousers, a narrow black cravat, and polished black leather shoes. His hat rests on the table next to him. Photographs of Lincoln from the 1840s and 1850s show that by this time, his signature look was well-established. Lincoln became president on March 4, 1861 and earlier served in the House of Representatives.
  • Print of President John Quincy Adams
    Thomas Gimbrede
    print
    portrait
    Cabinet
    This print of President John Quincy Adams, made by Thomas Gimbrede in 1826, suggests how Adams may have dressed during his time as Secretary of State. Adams is pictured here wearing a black morning coat and breeches, in line with his preference for simple, formal styles. His short haircut marked another first; Adams was the earliest president to adopt this style, rather than the long powdered hair typically associated with early presidents.
  • Daguerreotype of John Quincy Adams
    Philip Haas
    portrait
    This daguerreotype, a type of photograph, of President John Quincy Adams was taken in 1843 by Philip Haas. John Quincy Adams is believed to be the first former president to be photographed following the invention of the daguerreotype in 1839. Adams was particularly fond of photographs, writing about his experience, “I walked this morning to Mr Haas’s shop, and he took from his camera obscura, three Daguerrotype likenesses of me— The operation is performed in half a minute; but is yet altogether incomprehensible to me… It would seem as easy to stamp a fixed portrait from the reflection of a mirror; but how wonderful would that reflection itself be, if we were not familiarised to it from childhood.” Adams’s appreciation for photography was the beginning of a new period in which the presidential image could be recorded and shared with greater accuracy. John Quincy Adams was the son of President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. Prior to his presidency, President Adams was a diplomat to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. He served as Secretary of State under President James Monroe and is the only president who went on to serve in the United States House of Representatives after being president. Adams represented his home state, Massachusetts, in the House.