This photograph of Lady Bird Johnson was taken in Austin, Texas, during the summer of 1947 or 1948. Around that time, her husband Lyndon Johnson was a United States Congressman for Texas' 10th District who was preparing for, or actively pursuing, his campaign for U.S. Senator. The print is sepia tone and measures 7" wide and 8.5" in height. A sample of her own handwriting can be found on the reverse side. The photo comes from the J.R. Thornton collection at the LBJ Museum of San Marcos and may have been given to the family during the late 1950s as a wedding gift from Lady Bird. The photographer is Christianson-Leberman.

Originally, the photograph was mounted in a highly decorative, butterscotch-colored frame made of metal and sturdy plastic, with cardboard backing. In order to mitigate potential damage, the original photo has since been removed from the frame, placed in a protective acid-free plastic sleeve, and filed appropriately within the collection. The frame now houses a black-and-white scanned copy of the photo, so that the original intent of the artifact can be understood and appreciated.

Although this particular photograph is in reasonably good condition, photographic prints in general are extremely prone to deterioration over time, especially if not housed in a proper environment. Traditional or historic photographs were produced through a complex process that makes them highly susceptible to continually undergo chemical reactions and therefore lose their stability over time. It is recommended to house valuable photographs in acid-free plastic sleeves and keep them away from warm, humid, or pest-ridden areas. Photos should also be removed from their frames or other mounting procedure. However, if such removal may cause damage to the photo, then leave it as is and preserve the best way possible, or seek out a professional conservator.

If anyone has information they would like to share about this particular artifact, or its historical, social, or political context, please e-mail Scott Jordan, Museum Director, at director@lbjmuseum.com .

If anyone owns an artifact related to Texas history or the Johnson family and would like to donate it to the museum, please email director@lbjmuseum.com , call us at (512) 353-3300, or write to Scott Jordan, LBJ Museum of San Marcos, P.O. Box 3, San Marcos, Texas, 78667.

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