Lincoln Speeches Come Alive on YouTube
- John O’Brien
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
By John A. O'Brien
Denver, Colorado
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
I suspect that anyone who studies Lincoln might have wondered at some time what it would have been like to be in the crowd at Gettysburg on November 19, 1863, to hear him deliver his “few appropriate remarks” to dedicate the new cemetery. Certainly, there is no recording or time machine to allow us anything like the authentic experience. There is now, however, an amazing alternative that helps to give a glimpse of the event. Thanks to an excellent production concept animated by the miracle of artificial intelligence, we can see Lincoln giving that speech (and many others).
Past president of the Lincoln Group, Karen Needles, has been digitizing Lincoln documents from the National Archives for 25 years. From this experience with computerizing records and photographs, she wanted to help students better visualize the context of these items. She has been able to animate photos to have Lincoln and other people of his era actually speak the words that we study today.
Karen has brought historic photographs to life, adding professional voices to recite the speeches that made American history. The animation process beautifully coordinates facial features for expression and pronunciation so that one might think it an actual video of Lincoln himself. In some instances, Karen has created a broader narrative to create the context for the speech that includes videos of other prominent people of that period. It all makes for a very engaging educational experience in which the circumstances and the words seem to come alive as modern news features.
She has created 25 of these wonderful videos that are available on YouTube. The Lincoln Archives Digital Project: A Moment with Lincoln Series can be accessed at this link:
The project is committed to digitizing the millions of records from the departments and agencies of the Lincoln administration. Over 60,000 images have been uploaded so far to the accessible website. These records include pardon case files, applications for federal jobs, the papers of Generals Ambrose Burnside and Henry Halleck, records on the capture of Jefferson Davis and the John Surratt trial, and numerous telegrams and letters about all aspects of presidential business, as well as maps, photographs, and newspaper articles. Many are available for free, but full access requires a small subscription fee.
Karen began the effort because, as a veteran and a former history teacher, she found Lincoln a compassionate, resolved, determined, and steadfast role model in leading the country with values of unity and equality. His words apply today just as they did 160 years ago. Making these records available online provides a gateway to the past that helps illuminate the life and times of America's greatest president and helps readers to better
comprehend the profound significance of his contributions to our nation's history.
See the Lincoln Archives Digital Project at: http://www.lincolnarchives.us/
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