Embedded Files
Class Date: September 30th
Location: Your couch! See your weekly e-mail for Zoom link!
The First Ladies
The First Ladies
This week we are talking to the First Ladies National Historic Site about the ‘women behind the women’. We will speak about a few of the first ladies and the women in their orbit. Before we do, let’s do a brief review of most of the first ladies, up until the mid-1900s!
1789 - 1794 - Martha Dandridge Custis Washington
The very first ‘First Lady’ set the standard for the role of the spouse in the White House. She set precedent by serving as the national hostess and was beloved by many for spending winters in the military camps with her husband during the American Revolution. Though she and George never lived in the White House as we know it today, she hosted many dinners with dignitaries and officials, welcoming all she could to ‘the people’s house’.
1797 - 1801 - Abigail Smith Adams
The first couple to live at The White House as we know it today. The Adams family moved into the still-unfinished White House in 1800, spending the last few months of the presidency there. Abigail is most often remembered for expressing her political opinions to her husband, famously asking him to “remember the ladies” as he helped write the Constitution.
1801 - 1809 - Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson
Martha Jefferson never saw her husband assume office, as she passed in 1782. Jefferson occasionally asked his oldest daughter, Martha Jefferson Randolph, to serve the role as hostess, but more often than not, he relied on Dolley Madison, James Madison’s wife and future First Lady in her own right, to take on the role of hostess and planner.
1809 - 1817 - Dolley Payne Todd Madison
Dolley Madison is perhaps most famous for saving a portrait of George Washington when the British set fire to the White House during the War of 1812. But this consummate hostess was much more than a daring portrait rescuer; she was known for her charm and gentle grace, hosting for both the Jefferson White House, as well as her husband’s. To learn more about this famed First Lady, take a look at this 11 minute video: https://youtu.be/BICqaKPq21E
1817 - 1825 - Elizabeth Kortright Monroe
Though she was influential during Monroe’s early political career, Elizabeth grew increasingly ill during their tenure in the White House, often leaving the role of social coordinator to her oldest daughter Eliza. Her youngest daughter, Maria, was married in the White House, the first presidential child to be married there and only the second wedding.
1825 - 1829 - Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams
Louisa was the first First Lady to be born outside the United States (or colonies). She was actually born in London while her father served as US consul. After marrying John, she moved with him to his various diplomatic posts, including Berlin, Paris, and St. Petersburg. She became the consummate political hostess, and openly voiced her support for equal rights for women, much to her husband’s dismay, but to the encouragement of her mother in law, former First Lady, Abigail Adams.
1829 - 1837 - Rachel Donelson Jackson
Rachel only lived to see her husband win his election; she died 3 months before he was inaugurated. Though Rachel often calmed her husband’s anger, she endured much while he was on the campaign trail; newspapers and gossip hounded her about her first marriage and subsequent divorce. Rachel’s niece served as White House hostess until her death, then Rachel’s daughter in law took over the role for the end of Jackson’s second term.
1837 - 1841 - Hannah Hoes Van Buren
Hannah Van Buren remains largely lost to history; she died of tuberculosis in 1819 before becoming First Lady and Martin Van Buren did not write about her in his biography or speak about her to his children. He never remarried, leaving the running of the house to his daughter in-law, Angelica.
1841 - Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison
Anna never even officially hosted an event in the White House; she missed her husband’s inauguration because she felt ill. William Harrison died just one month after he was inaugurated, so Anna never even got the chance to live at the stately Presidential home. She had hosted many political dinners and events while her husband served in Congress, however, and was well known to the political elite.
1841 - 1842 - Letitia Christian Tyler
Letitia never planned to serve as First Lady; she didn’t even plan to move to Washington while her husband served his term as Vice President, choosing to remain in their Williamsburg, Virginia home. After William Harrison’s sudden death, the Tyler family made the move to the White House and Letitia assumed the role. However, after a stroke confined her to her White House bedroom, Letitia only acted as household manager until her death in 1842.
1844 - 1845 - Julia Gardiner Tyler
Julia married John Tyler after a secret engagement near the end of his term as president. Despite their secret relationship, once she became First Lady, she quickly became popular in Washington social circles. While the last few presidents had lacked strong First Ladies due to death or illness, Julia brought her youth to bear (she was 30 years younger than her husband) and entertained in grand fashion during their last 8 months in office. Julia had modeled as a young lady, so she didn’t shy away from the press or attention. She became the first First Lady to to be photographed and she allowed the picture to be circulated among the press.
1845 - 1849 - Sarah Childress Polk
Though Sarah’s Presbyterian beliefs kept her from drinking alcohol and dancing, her White House events were long remembered for being elegant and fashionable. She was well educated and well versed in politics and current affairs, often offering political advice to her husband. She favored new technology, overseeing gas lighting in the White House and embracing the railroad for travel.
1849 - 1850 - Margaret “Peggy” Mackall Smith Taylor
Peggy remained committed to her Episcopal faith throughout her husband’s political career, attending church daily. Though she did not host any social functions, leaving that to her daughter, Elizabeth, she did manage the household ordering and never failed to put a good word in for her husband at church.
1850 - 1853 - Abigail Powers Fillmore
Hannah Van Buren remains largely lost to history; she died of tuberculosis in 1819 before becoming First Lady and Martin Van Buren did not write about her in his biography or speak about her to his children. He never remarried, leaving the running of the house to his daughter in-law, Angelica.
1853 - 1857 - Jane Means Appleton Pierce
Jane actually disliked politics and initially refused to move to the White House. She had lost 2 of her 3 sons and didn’t want to leave her home. When she finally agreed to move to Washington, her 3rd son was killed on the way in a train accident. For the first 2 years of her tenure as First Lady she wasn’t seen in public. The wives of Cabinet members often served as social hostess during this period.
1857 - 1861 - Harriet Lane
Harriet Lane served as First Lady for her uncle, James Buchanan, who never married. If you were with me last semester, we covered her for an entire class, which was fun! She was a polished, skilled hostess, putting her education and political skill to work in attempting to ease tensions in the run up to the Civil War.
1861 - 1865 - Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Lincoln was a steadfast supporter of her husband and the Union, despite the fact that much of her family sided with the Confederacy. She was an astute First Lady, navigating the political issues of the day adeptly. She was plagued by grief, however, first over the death of her son in 1862 and then the assassination of her husband. She relied on her son and siblings for the rest of her life to help with her finances.
Recommended Reading
Recommended Reading
To read more about this period, here are some great books to get you started:
For kids:
History For Kids - The Illustrated Life of Mary Todd Lincoln by Charles River Editors
In Charles River Editors’ History for Kids series, your children can learn about history’s most important people and events in an easy, entertaining, and educational way. Pictures help bring the story to life, and the concise but comprehensive book will keep your kid’s attention all the way to the end.
It’s possible that the world would have remembered Mary Todd Lincoln (1818-1882) if only because she was the wife of one of America’s greatest presidents and present for his shocking assassination. But Mary was one of the most unique women to ever be First Lady, and she was in the White House during the country’s most trying time. That ensured she would have a legacy, but history hasn’t exactly been kind.
Mary was dealt a tough hand that might have made it impossible for her to ever be popular. The Civil War erupted a month after her husband, Abraham Lincoln, became president, and Mary was a native Southerner who had relatives fighting for the Confederacy. Making matters worse, Mary seemed out of touch with the times, organizing lavish balls at a time when the country was literally coming apart at the seams. As if the external pressure wasn’t trying enough, young Willie Lincoln died in the White House in 1862, sending Mary into fits of grief that she might have never fully recovered from even before her husband’s assassination and the death of her son Tad in 1881.
Unfortunately, one of the things most associated with Mary is insanity. Having dealt with so much death, and already a superstitious woman to begin with, Mary was eventually institutionalized by her eldest son Robert, the only Lincoln child to reach adulthood. With her death in 1882, the perception of her as a generally out of touch, troubled woman was set.
History for Kids: The Illustrated Life of Mary Todd Lincoln looks at Mary’s turbulent life and the tragedies she was forced to endure, but it also humanizes her in an attempt to portray a more objective and comprehensive picture. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, your kids will learn about the famous first lady like never before.
Women Who Broke the Rules: Mary Todd Lincoln by Kathleen Krull
"Well-behaved women seldom make history." --Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Women Who Broke the Rules celebrates the bold and brave women who have forged their own paths--breaking rules along the way--to help shape our country's past, present, and future. Acclaimed author Kathleen Krull blends history and humor in this accessible young biography series.
Mary Todd Lincoln had a unique and determined, if sometimes erratic, personality that made her one of the most memorable First Ladies. Although she was born and raised in the South, she staunchly supported her husband's quest to save the Union and she strictly supported his policies. She was also an advocate for our veterans, and she would often bring flowers and food to wounded soldiers in the hospital and even write letters for them to their loved ones. No matter what criticism or personal hardships she faced, including witnessing her husband's assassination, she remained steadfastly loyal to her country.
For adults:
For adults:
Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography by Jean Harvey Baker
This definitive biography of Mary Todd Lincoln beautifully conveys her tumultuous life and times. A privileged daughter of the proud clan that founded Lexington, Kentucky, Mary fell into a stormy romance with the raw Illinois attorney Abraham Lincoln. For twenty-five years the Lincolns forged opposing temperaments into a tolerant, loving marriage. Even as the nation suffered secession and civil war, Mary experienced the tragedies of losing three of her four children and then her husband. An insanity trial orchestrated by her surviving son led to her confinement in an asylum. Mary Todd Lincoln is still often portrayed in one dimension, as the stereotype of the best-hated faults of all women. Here her life is restored for us whole.
An Inconvenient Widow: The Torment, Trial, and Triumph of Mary Todd Lincoln by Lois Romano
An Inconvenient Widow: The Torment, Trial, and Triumph of Mary Todd Lincoln by Lois Romano
A revelatory new biography of one of the most misunderstood and vilified First Ladies in American history: Mary Todd Lincoln.
Mary Lincoln was at the center of politics at a time when society’s expectations for women were rigid and circumscribed. The product of Southern aristocracy, she grew up among an influential clan of politicians and elites who founded Lexington, Kentucky. Mary’s early exposure to the male-dominated world of politics instilled in her a keen political acumen and a fierce ambition. Proclaiming as a child that she was destined to become the wife of a president, she played a crucial role in boosting her husband to greatness.
But her hopes for a triumphant experience at the pinnacle of power were lost to the Civil War and unfathomable family tragedies. Still, Mary persevered. She steadfastly supported the Union war effort, visited encampments, tended to wounded soldiers, and generously donated money and gifts to refugees from slavery. She was an unconventional, larger-than-life character who dressed too ostentatiously, grieved too publicly, suffered a shopping addiction, and seemed unable or unwilling to corral her emotions, her temper, and her opinions. She made enemies—influential men who wrote her story for her, often unfairly. After Lincoln was assassinated, she was all but abandoned by the nation he had given his life to defend and preserve.
Former Washington Post writer and columnist Lois Romano rectifies the tortured legacy of Mary Todd Lincoln, who was failed at nearly every turn in her widowhood—by her family, by her government, by medical professionals ill-equipped to diagnose her mental illness, and finally, by history. Romano draws on hundreds of archives, letters, and memoirs to provide the most complete portrait—of not simply of an inconvenient widow, but of a brilliant and flawed woman, who possessed uncommon tenacity in the face of extraordinary adversity and personal torment, and helped launch one of America’s greatest presidents.
Works Cited
Works Cited
Google Sites
Report abuse