The inauguration of a President marks an important milestone in American history. This presentation highlights inaugural primary sources found in American Memory historical collections. Search American Memory for thousands of items about Presidents and presidential terms in office. For a look at the campaigns that brought American leaders to office, see the feature presentation Elections in American Memory. For a reading list on inaugurations prepared by the Center for the Book of the Library of Congress, see Read More About It! Celebrating Democracy.
![]() McKinley's Second Inauguration, March 4, 1901 | This photograph of the inaugural stand, draped in patriotic bunting for McKinley's 1901 inauguration, can be found in Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies, 1789-Present, a new online file of images frequently requested from the Library of Congress. |
This turn-of-the-century film of McKinley's inaugural parade can be found in the Early Motion Picture collection Last Days of a President: McKinley and World's Fair, 1901.
President McKinley and escort going to the Capitol, 1901
Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
The Edison Film Company catalog described the film as follows:
This most excellent picture was secured at the junction of Pennsylvania Avenue and Fifteenth Street. The parade is headed by a platoon of mounted police;...Next come the famous Troop A, of Cleveland, Ohio, who act as the personal escort of the President. They present a most striking appearance as they go down the incline onFifteenth Street, Washington.Next comes President McKinley in his carriage drawn by four of his own horses, the pair of blacks in the lead and the favorite bays on the wheel. The President is seated in the right of the carriage.... Owing to special permits granted us by the United States Government, we were able to have our camera within twenty feet of the President's carriage when it passed, and an absolutely perfect photograph was secured.
For the film and the complete text of the Edison Film Company description, search on inauguration for "President McKinley and escort going to the Capitol."
Scenes from the Washington as It Was, 1923-1959 collection, by Washington, DC commercial photographer Theodor Horydczak provide a glimpse of inaugurations past.
Search on presidential inaugurations for photos of inaugural decorations for Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Franklin Roosevelt, and for an inaugural stand built in 1949 for President Harry Truman.
The Oath of Office
The Presidential oath of office is one of the most solemn and important oaths administered. Throughout history, film makers and photographers have recorded the importance of this oath in many ways. In American Memory, you will find turn-of-the-century film footage of President McKinley taking the oath in Last Days of a President: McKinley and World's Fair, 1901.
Search on oath for the film and description of "President McKinley Taking the Oath."
President McKinley Taking the Oath, 1901
![]() Wilcox Residence, Where President Theodore Roosevelt Took the Oath of Office, Buffalo, N.Y., c[1908] | But oaths of office are not always administered in happy times or in the nation's Capitol. When President McKinley was assassinated at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as President at the nearby Wilcox Residence in Buffalo, New York. This picture of the residence can be found in Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920.
Search on oath of office to find the Wilcox residence photograph. |
![]() The death of President Garfield - Judge Brady administering the Presidential oath to Vice President Arthur, September 20, 1881 | Earlier in history, Chester Arthur had the sad duty of taking the oath of office after James Garfield was shot just six months into his term of office. A picture of Arthur being sworn in as President can be found in Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies, 1789-Present, an online file of images frequently requested from the Library of Congress. |
![]() President Calvin Coolidge Signed the Oath of Office at this Desk. Photograph taken August 2, 1961. | When the twenty-ninth President, Warren Harding, died of a heart attack in 1923, Vice President Calvin Coolidge was visiting family in Vermont. The desk at which Calvin Coolidge signed his presidential oath can be found in the Architecture and Interior Design for 20th Century America, 1935-1955 collection of architectural and interior design photographs. Search on oath of office for this photograph. Search on swearing in to find the notary seal used by Coolidge's father to swear in his son as president. |
In a democracy, everyday citizens sometimes play a role in presidential inaugurations. American Memory collections contain the stories of citizens who had roles in early inaugural celebrations.
![]() Abraham Lincoln, three-quarter length portrait, standing, facing left
[1864 January 8] | In 1938, Mrs. Cora Jamerson remembered her mother's role in Abraham Lincoln's inauguration. Read about Mrs. Jamerson's life, and the lives of other Americans in the American Life Histories, 1936-1940 collection.
For the complete text of Mrs. Jamerson's story, search on Jamerson for "Early Songs and Ballads." |
Mrs. Jamerson recounts:
My father, John Ayers, when he came from California to Oregon in 1852, worked for some time for Barlow of the Barlow Route. Mrs. Barlow ... was considered quite the lady of the country roundabout. My mother was with her a lot. After Abraham Lincoln's inauguration Mrs. Barlow pieced him a quilt of silk ribbon. There was a wide border all around the quilt, and this border was embroidered in red roses. Mother helped her on it, and was always very proud of her share in the work. [ December 5, 1938 ]
![]() Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the top of [San Juan Hill], 1898. | Charles Ballard, born in 1867, remembered how he came to feel an allegiance for Theodore Roosevelt that carried through to Roosevelt's inauguration day.
In American Life Histories, 1936-1940, you will find the memories of many Americans, including Mr. Ballard's story. Search on inauguration for the complete text of Mr. Ballard's story and other American life stories. |
From Charles Ballard's story:
Governor Otero was Territorial Governor when war was commenced against Spain. He wired me and asked if I would accept a regiment. I did accept and took about thirty men from around Roswell to Santa Fe. From there we went to San Antonio and Teddy Roosevelt who had first conceived of the idea of the Rough Riders - met us there. ...Roosevelt resigned his place as assistant Secretary of the Navy and was made Lieut. Colonel.Colonel Roosevelt...never spared himself at all. He gave his sleeping car [berth?] to a sick soldier. It has been truthfully said that rank, money, and occupation meant little to him. Cowboys, ambassadors, prize fighters and clergymen were afterwards entertained and sat together as guests of the Roosevelt family at the White House table.
When hostilities were suspended and we were mustered out of service...Colonel Roosevelt invited five of us to go to his home at Oyster Bay for a visit. ...We were royally entertained, by the Roosevelts and others, with dances, fishing, parties, and dinners.
Forty of us Rough Riders formed the Guard Of Honor from the White House to the Capitol Building when Teddy Roosevelt was inaugurated. There are very few left of those men. I don't know of any here in Roswell." [February 12, 1937]
![]() Find images of President William Jefferson Clinton and his predecessors in a preview of Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies, 1789-Present. | The 1997 inaugural celebration is in full swing in Washington, DC today. There are many World Wide Web Sites that cover current events related to President William Jefferson Clinton's inauguration to a second term. Find out more about the 1997 Inauguration at the Celebrating Democracy site. |
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Learn More About It: Feature Presentation on Inaugurations URL: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/features/inaug/inaug.html
June-3-97