Historical Figures

Discover the individuals who changed history and paved the way for modern day life with SuperStock's Historical Figures gallery. Uncover rarely seen photos of iconic figures that you won't find in history books. From the Founding Fathers of the United States to influential scientists, artists, and activists, explore a collection...Read more

Elihu Root (1845-1937), American Lawyer and Statesman, U. S. Secretary of State 1905-1909, U.S. Secretary of War 1899-1904, New York State Senator 1909-1915, awarded Nobel Peace Prize 1912, head and shoulders Portrait, Pach Brothers Studio, 1907

Eldridge Cleaver, Minister of Information for Black Panther Party and Presidential Candidate for Peace and Freedom Party, speaking at American University, Washington, D.C., USA, Marion S. Trikosko, US News & World Report Magazine Collection, October 18, 1968

Reverend Ralph David Abernathy, American civil rights activist and Baptist minister, head and shoulders portrait, speaking at a National Press Club luncheon, Washington, D.C., USA, Warren K. Leffler, US News & World Report Magazine Collection, June 14, 1968

William Sulzer (1863-1941), American Politician, Governor of New York 1913-1913, U.S. House of Representative from New York 1895-1912, only New York Governor to be impeached and convicted on Articles of Impeachment, head and shoulders Portrait, Pach Brothers Studio, 1905

Nicola Tesla (1856-1943), Serbian-American Inventor, Engineer and Futurist, head and shoulders Portrait, Napoleon Sarony, Bain News Service, 1890

Henry Highland Garnet (1815-1882), African-American Abolitionist, Minister, Educator and Orator, head and shoulders Portrait, James U. Stead, 1881

Albert Einstein (1879-1955), Physicist, Head and Shoulders Portrait, Harris & Ewing, 1921

Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro seated with U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter, Statler Hotel, New York City, New York, USA, Warren K. Leffler, US News & World Report Magazine Collection, April 16, 1959

Robert E. Peary (1856-1920), American Explorer, head and shoulders Portrait, George N. Rockwood, 1896

Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi, head and shoulders Portrait, National Press Club, Washington, D.C., USA, Warren K. Leffler, US News & World Report Magazine Collection, November 5, 1971

Ida B. Wells-Barnett (1862-1931), African American Journalist, Civil rights Leader and one of the the Founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), head and shoulders Portrait, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Sallie E. Garrity, 1893

Josiah Henson (1789-1883), a former Slave, he escaped to Canada to become an Author, Abolitionist, and Minister, Bradshaw and Godart, 1876

Julia Dent Grant (1826-1902), U.S. First Lady and wife of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, full-length standing Portrait, Mathew Brady Studio, 1864

Henry L. Dawes (1816-1903), American Republican Politician, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts 1875-1893, U.S. House of Representatives 1857-1875, half-length seated Portrait, Mathew Brady Studio, 1860's

Henry Wilson (1812-1875), American Politician, U.S. Vice President 1873-1875, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts 1855-1873, half-length Portrait, Unidentified Artist, 1873

George Brinton McClellan (1826-1885), American Civil War Union General, three-quarter length standing portrait in Military Uniform, Mathew Brady Studio, 1860's

Lucille Ball (1911-1989), American Actress, Comedian and Producer, three-quarter length seated Portrait, Harry Warnecke, Robert F. Cranston, 1944

General Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), head and shoulders Portrait in Military Uniform, Harry Warnecke, Robert F. Cranston, 1945

Cordell Hull (1871-1955), American Congressman 1907-1921 & 1923-1931, and Senator 1931-1933 from Tennessee, longest-serving U.S. Secretary of State 1933-1942, received Nobel Peace Prize in 1945 for his role in establishing the United Nations, head and shoulders Portrait, Harry Warnecke, Robert F. Cranston, 1940

Eleanor Roosevelt on her Wedding Day, full-length Portrait, New York City, New York, USA, Pach Brothers Studio, March 17, 1905

U.S. President Jimmy Carter shaking hands with Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira, Washington, D.C., USA, Marion S. Trikosko, US News & World Report Magazine Collection, May 2, 1979

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), American Social Reformer, Abolitionist and Statesman, head and shoulders Portrait, George Kendall Warren, 1876

William Howard Taft (1857-1930), 27th U.S. President, 1909-1913, 10th U.S. Chief Justice 1921-1930, Head and Shoulders Portrait, Pach Brothers Studio, 1908

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), American Politician, 16th President of the United States, half-length seated Portrait, Anthony Berger, Mathew Brady Studio, 1864

Hannibal Hamlin (1809-1891), American Politician, served as U.S. Vice President under Abraham Lincoln 1861-1865, U.S. Senator from Maine 1857-1861 & 1869-1881, half-length seated Portrait, Mathew Brady Studio, 1860's

Jefferson Davis (1808-89), American Politician served as President of the Confederate States during American Civil War, Mississippi State Senator and Congressman before American Civil War, U.S. Secretary of State under Franklin Pierce, Last Portrait, full-length seated, William Watson Washburn, 1889

George C. Marshall (1880-1959), American Military Leader and Statesman, head and shoulders Portrait in Military Uniform, Harry Warnecke, 1944

U.S. President Jimmy Carter, head and shoulders Portrait next to American Flag, Washington DC, USA, Karl Schumacher, January 31, 1977

Louis Armstrong 1901-1971), American Jazz Performer, half-length Portrait with Trumpet, Woodward's Studio, 1928

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), Abolitionist and Women's Rights Activist, Seated Portrait, 1864

Jesse D. Bright (1812-1875), American Politician, U.S. Senator from Indiana, expelled from the Senate for being a Confederate Sympathizer during American Civil War, half-length seated Portrait, Mathew Brady Studio, 1860's

Irene Dunne (1898-1990), American Actress and Singer, half-length Portrait, Harry Warnecke, Robert F. Cranston, 1944

Frances Perkins (1880-1965), American Sociologist and Workers-Rights Advocate, served as U.S. Secretary of Labor, 1933-1945, First Woman appointed to U.S. Cabinet, Head and Shoulders Portrait, Clara Sipprell, 1952

Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955), Educator and Civil Rights Leader, Portrait, photograph by Carl Van Vechten, 1949

William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), American Politician, ran unsuccessfully three times for U.S. President, U.S. Secretary of State, participant in Scopes Trial, head and shoulders Portrait, Charles DeForest Fredricks, 1899

Jefferson Davis (1808-89), American Politician, served as President of the Confederate States during American Civil War, Mississippi State Senator and Congressman before American Civil War, U.S. Secretary of State under Franklin Pierce, half-length Portrait, Columbus W. Motes, 1886

Amelia Earhart and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Portrait Attending National Geographic Society Event, Underwood & Underwood, March 2, 1935

Rutherford B. Hayes, (1822-93), 19th President of the United States 1877-81, head and shoulders Portrait, Mathew Brady Studio, 1877

Brigham Young (1801-1877), American Leader in the Latter Day Saint Movement and Settler of Western United States, half-length Portrait, Charles William Carter, 1865

Millard Fillmore (1800-1874), 13th U.S. President 1850-1853, 12th U.S. Vice President 1849-1850, full-length Portrait, Mathew Brady Studio, 1860's

Jacob Collamer (1791-1865), American Politician from Vermont, served in U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, three-quarter length Portrait, Mathew Brady Studio, early 1860's

George Aiken (1892-1984), American Republican Politician, U.S. Senator from Vermont 1941-1975, Governor of Vermont 1937-1941, half-length seated Portrait, Clara Sipprell, 1960

Ulysses S. Grant (1822-85), 18th U.S. President 1869-77, General of Union Army during American Civil War, three-quarter length seated Portrait in Military Uniform, Barr & Young, 1862

Henry Smith Lane (1811-1881), American Politician and Abolitionist, served as U.S. Representative, Senator and Governor of Indiana, three-quarter length Portrait, Mathew Brady Studio, 1860's

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), American author and abolitionist, full-length Portrait, 1865

Mary Todd Lincoln (1818-1882), First Lady of the United States as wife of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, three-quarter length portrait in black mourning dress after the death of her son, Willie, Mathew Brady Studio, 1863

U.S. President Richard Nixon (center) with new Chief Justice Warren E. Burger (right), Washington, D.C., USA, Marion S. Trikosko, US News & World Report Magazine Collection, June 23, 1969

Pauline Cushman (1833-1893), American Actress and Spy for Union Army during American Civil War, three-quarter length Portrait wearing Military Uniform, Mathew Brady Studio, 1864

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), Abolitionist and Women's Rights Activist, Seated Portrait, Randall Studio, 1870

Senator Huey P. Long speaking in early 1935 .

Mr. H. Alberda new KLM president. Here behind his KLM desk in The Hague (portrait) / Date June 17, 1963 Location The Hague, South Holland.

Senator Huey P. Long from Louisiana in January 1935 (eight months before his assasination) .

Grand Gala du Disque poplar in Kurhaus in Scheveningen Sarah Vaughan / Date October 12, 1963 Location Scheveningen, South Holland.

Amelia Earhart shaking hands, center circa 1932.

Anneke Grönloh at home / Date January 29, 1964 / Location Amsterdam.

January 7, 1938 - Edsel Ford, auto magnate, poses for the Harris-Ewing photographer just before he is questioned by the Senate Rail Investigating Committee.

Prince Albert.

Prince Oscar of Germany.

Portrait of Swedish author August Strindberg Date: 1912 .

Prince George of Greece.

President Daniel Edward Howard of Liberia.

Portrait of Swedish author August Strindberg / Date: 1880s .

Schevret Pasha.

Gold medal for professor Dr. WG Burgers / Description Here in his laboratory / Date December 5, 1963.

Masayoshi Kayto.

USA, North Carolina, Montreat, Billy Graham and his daughter, Anne, then age 10, at their home, September 1958