Students and leaders from across Lone Star College System and partner institutions gathered at Lone Star College-Tomball to be among the first to encounter recently uncovered records of 19th-century American history when nationally recognized historian Larry Cook visited the campus Sept. 21 to discuss his latest book, “Brushes with History: Francis B. Carpenter in His Own Words.”
Carpenter was a prominent portraitist and painter in the 1800s, and his subjects included several presidents and other notable figures from that era, including Texas's very own General Sam Houston. He is best known for painting “First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln,” which measures 15 feet by 9 feet and is currently displayed in the U.S. Capitol.
“Most people don’t know who Francis B. Carpenter is, but we all know this painting. You’ve seen his work almost every day,” Cook said, explaining Carpenter’s role in arranging for the photography sessions that would capture images of Lincoln, some of which would later be the model used for U.S. currency.
Cook has enjoyed learning about U.S. presidents since he was a curious child reading about the coincidences between Abraham Lincoln's and John F. Kennedy’s presidencies. Today, his collection of more than 8,000 pieces of presidential memorabilia is one of the largest in the United States.
During his time as the medical operations director for a fire department, Cook worked with Carpenter’s great-great-grandson, which eventually led to his acquisition of Carpenter’s personal handwritten diaries spanning from 1851 to 1899. The diaries, which share Carpenter’s encounters with his portrait subjects, were the basis of Cook’s latest publication.
Carpenter was commissioned at age 21 to paint a full-length portrait of Millard Fillmore, the nation’s 13th president, and this connection led to other opportunities to paint historical figures over the next several decades, including Secretary of State William Seward; U.S. Presidents John Tyler, Franklin Pierce and Abraham Lincoln; and former Republic of Texas President Sam Houston.
“He painted almost everybody who was somebody at the time, and they opened up to him like they would open up to their therapist,” Cook said. “We’re all living history at any moment in our lives. Carpenter was really conscious of that, and he was able to document that history with both a brush and a pen.”
This event was made possible through a deepening partnership with Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, Sam Houston State University, the Engage the Electorate grant, and Lone Star College System’s Center for Civic Engagement and Service-Learning.
"Moments like these where scholars like Dr. Cook, and institutions like Lone Star College System's Civic Engagement and Service-Learning, in partnership with other institutions enrich the work we all do to deliver remarkable experiences to our students and communities we serve," said Cory Colby, LSC-Tomball professor of political science and leader of the LSCS Civic Engagement and Service-Learning program. "I want to thank Dr. Cook for bringing entirely new knowledge to all of us across campuses and institutions about Sam Houston, our presidents and the leaders Carpenter worked with in shaping our American story."
Visit LoneStar.edu/CivicEngagement for more information.
About Lone Star College System
With 100,000 students and counting, Lone Star College System provides transformational educational opportunities that help individuals get from where they are to where they want to be.
Under Chancellor Mario K. Castillo, J.D., the System’s priorities are guided by its strategic plan, which focuses on financial resilience, academic excellence, talent development and bridges to prosperity. Lone Star College System, recognized as a 2026 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by The Chronicle of Higher Education, has eight main campuses and more than 20 locations in the Houston area. Learn more at LoneStar.edu.
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