Mrs. Lincoln's dressmaker : the unlikely friendship of Elizabeth Keckley & Mary Todd Lincoln

Mrs. Lincoln's dressmaker : the unlikely friendship of Elizabeth Keckley & Mary Todd Lincoln / by Lynda D. Jones.

Author/creator	Jones, Lynda
Format	Book and Print
Publication Info	Washington, D.C. : National Geographic, 2009.
Description	80 pages : illustrations ; 27 cm
Supplemental Content	Table of contents only
Subject(s)	Keckley, Elizabeth, approximately 1818-1907--Juvenile literature. Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882--Friends and associates --Juvenile literature. Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882--Relations with African Americans --Juvenile literature. African American women--Biography --Juvenile literature. Dressmakers--Washington (D.C.) --Biography --Juvenile literature. Enslaved women--United States --Biography --Juvenile literature. Presidents' spouses--United States --Biography --Juvenile literature. Female friendship--United States --History --19th century --Juvenile literature. Washington (D.C.)--Social life and customs --19th century --Juvenile literature. Washington (D.C.)--Race relations --History --19th century --Juvenile literature.

Contents	Invitation to the White House -- Life of a slave girl -- Mary: Kentucky belle -- Chasing freedom -- We are elected! -- Starting over -- Facing new challenges -- Fighting to survive -- Elizabeth takes a stand.
Abstract	Few events can stir up a scandal more than an autobiography of a First Lady's confidante. In 1868, a controversial tell-all called Behind the Scenes introduced readers to Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley. Mrs. Keckley was a former slave who had been Mary Todd Lincoln's dressmaker and friend during the White House years, and in the aftermath of President Lincoln's assassination. The book exposed Mary's marriage and her erratic behavior, along with confidential opinions of many in high society. The airing of the Lincoln's "dirty laundry" meant humiliation for Mary and her family, and Elizabeth's reputation was destroyed. This outcome would have been unimaginable in 1867, when Mary declared in a letter, "I consider you my best living friend." How could such a bond have developed between a woman born into slavery and the First Lady of the United States? Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker answers this question by chronicling the extraordinary lives of these women.
Bibliography note	Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-77) and index.
LCCN	2008029314
ISBN	9781426303777 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN	1426303777 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN	9781426303784 (library binding : alk. paper)
ISBN	1426303785 (library binding : alk. paper)