From Frederick Douglass and Edith Wharton, to Mark Twain and Allen Ginsberg, the list of these most influential writers truly goes on and on. They are so notable that if you visit the National Portrait Gallery here in Washington, D.C., you will see portraits of most of these writers on display (in fact, earlier this fall, the museum was offering an Atlantic-themed tour of their collection). Yet until today, most of these authors were represented on this site solely by their names—no bios or portraits were displayed for them, unlike our contemporary authors.

To commemorate them, and our 160 years, we've addressed that lack. Below you'll find a selection of some of the greats from our past, with their updated bios and portraits, alongside links to their coverage. We hope you enjoy this author-themed tour of our history.

Albert Einstein

Orren Jack Turner / Library of Congress

Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist, best known for his mass-energy equivalence formula (E = mc2) and his development of the theory of relativity. He was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the field.

“Atomic War or Peace”—November 1947 Issue

Allen Ginsberg

Jerry Cleveland / AP

Allen Ginsberg was a poet and leading literary figure in the Beat Generation. He is best known for his poem “Howl.”

“The Great Marijuana Hoax”—November 1966 Issue

Booker T. Washington

Frances Benjamin Johnston / Library of Congress

Booker T. Washington was an influential black intellectual and educator. In 1881, he founded the Tuskegee Institute for Colored Teachers.

Carl Sandburg

AP

Carl Sandburg was a poet and writer. He won the Pulitzer Prize on three occasions for his poetry and prose, once for his biography of Abraham Lincoln.

“Those Who Make Poems”—March 1942 Issue

Edith Wharton

Edward Harrison May / National Portrait Gallery

Edith Wharton was a poet, essayist, short story writer, and novelist. In 1921 she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature, awarded for her novel The Age of Innocence.

Eudora Welty

Mildred Nungester Wolfe / National Portrait Gallery

Eudora Welty was a short story writer and novelist known for her portrayals of the American South. She received the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Optimist’s Daughter.

“A Worn Path”— February 1941 Issue

Frederick Douglass

National Portrait Gallery

Frederick Douglass was an orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping a life of bondage, he became a leading advocate for the emancipation and civil rights of African Americans.