TheLincoln Bible is aBible that was owned by William Thomas Carroll, a clerk of theU.S. Supreme Court. The bible was theoath book ofPresidentAbraham Lincoln at his inauguration in1861. It was also used by PresidentBarack Obama at his inaugurations in2009 and2013, as well as by PresidentDonald Trump at his inaugurations in2017 and2025. The bible was returned to Carroll after Lincoln's first inauguration. He later gave it to the Lincoln family sometime after Lincoln's assassination.Mary Harlan Lincoln would later donate the Bible to theLibrary of Congress in 1928.[1]
The Bible is anOxford University Press edition of theKing James Bible. Published in 1853, it has 1280 pages, and measures approximately 6 inches (150 mm) long by 4 inches (100 mm) wide, and 1.75 inches (44 mm) thick,[2][3] and is bound inburgundy redvelvet withgilt edges.[3][4] The backflyleaf of the Bible bears the seal of the Supreme Court of the United States along with a record of the 1861 inauguration.[5] The Bible is not a rare edition, and a similar Bible lacking the Lincoln Bible's historical significance would be valued at approximately $30 or $40.[5]
Abraham Lincoln reachedWashington, D.C. forhis inauguration in 1861. His belongings, including his Bible, had yet to arrive. William Thomas Carroll, the clerk of theU.S. Supreme Court, fetched a Bible that he kept for official use. This became the Lincoln Bible.[6] Although the Bible remained with Carroll for a time, the Lincolns acquired it at an unknown time. The Bible later remained with the Lincoln family up until 1928, at which pointMary Eunice Harlan, the widow ofRobert Todd Lincoln, donated it to theLibrary of Congress.[5] When the Bible was donated, it contained markers at the 31st chapter of theBook of Deuteronomy and the fourth chapter of theBook of Hosea.[7]
Barack Obama chose to use this Bible for his inaugurations in2009[4] and2013.[8] The Bible was on display at theLibrary of Congress from February to May 2009 in a celebration of the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth.[3] The Bible was used to swear inCarla Hayden as the 14thLibrarian of Congress on September 14, 2016.[9]Donald Trump was sworn in on this Bible and his childhood Bible athis first inauguration on January 20, 2017.[10] Trump used the Bible again, along with a childhood Bible given to him byhis mother, athis second inauguration on January 20, 2025,[11] though he did not place his hand on either Bible during the oath of office.[12]
