Elizabeth Keckley was a former slave who became a seamstress for Mary Todd Lincoln, and subsequently the author of a controversial account of her life with the First Lady. Mary Ann Todd Lincoln (December 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882) was the First Lady of the United States when her husband, Abraham Lincoln, served as the sixteenth President, from 1861 until 1865. ...

Early life

Born in Hillsborough, North Carolina circa 1818/1819, her parents George and Agnes Hobbs, were slaves. George had a different master than Agnes and lived about 100 miles away from his family. George was only allowed to visit his family at Easter and Christmas. Lizzie (as she was called) never saw her father again after the age of 7 or 8, as George's master moved away and took George with him. Agnes was a seamstress on the plantation and taught Lizzie this skill as a young girl. This sewing skill would be Lizzie's ticket to freedom and eventually take her to the White House. Hillsborough is a town located in Orange County, North Carolina. ... 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Wiktionary has related dictionary definitions, such as: slave Slave may refer to: Slavery, where people are owned by others, and live to serve their owners without pay Slave (BDSM), a form of sexual and consenual submission Slave clock, in technology, a clock or timer that synchrnonizes to a master clock... This article is about the Christian festival. ... Christmas is a Christian holiday held on December 25 which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... North façade of the White House, seen from Pennsylvania Avenue. ...

Marriage and Release

Lizzie was given to the "Colonel's son as a wedding gift when she was a teenager. Lizzie had one child, who was named George after her father. George II was the product of a forced and unwanted relationship with a friend of the Colonel's son. Lizzie married James Keckley in 1852 but found out early on he was not a free slave and he was an alcoholic. She was promised by her master that she could buy her freedom upon his death but when he died she did not have the money. One of her patrons loaned Lizzie the $1200.00 needed to buy her freedom. 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Career

Lizzie moved to Baltimore and started a school for young girls teaching them sewing and etiquette. She became the personal seamstress for Mary Todd Lincoln after working on Mary's Inaugural Ball gown. Lizzie became Mary Lincoln's confidante. She was one of the few people who could tolerate Mrs. Lincoln's mood swings and harsh criticisms. Lizzie eventually wrote a book, Behind the Scenes (1868) describing her times at the Lincoln White House. The book became very controversial and Mary Lincoln's son Robert had the book removed from publication. Flag Seal Nickname: Monument City, Charm City, Mob Town, B-more Motto: Get In On It (formerly The City That Reads and The Greatest City in America; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Location Location of Baltimore in Maryland Coordinates , Government Country State County United... Mary Ann Todd Lincoln (December 13, 1818 – July 16, 1882) was the First Lady of the United States when her husband, Abraham Lincoln, served as the sixteenth President, from 1861 until 1865. ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was an American politician who served as the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... Robert Todd Lincoln Robert Todd Lincoln (August 1, 1843 – July 26, 1926) was the first son of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Ann Todd. ...

Lizzie went on to become the founder and president of the first Black Contraband Relief Association. She represented Wilberforce College at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. Wilberforce University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio, was founded in 1856. ... 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... One-third scale replica of Daniel Chester Frenchs Republic, which stood in the great basin at the exposition, Chicago, 2004 The Worlds Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago Worlds Fair), a Worlds fair, was held in the U.S. city of Chicago in 1893 to celebrate... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ...

References

• Woman in History. Elizabeth Keckley biography, Lakewood Public Library

External links

• Behind the Scenes