Mary's Reputation

[Donna McCreary]

While Jean Baker's book is considered to be one of the best biographies of ML, I must share information given to me many years ago: "Read with caution." A former curator of the Mary Todd Lincoln House once told me that she found over 100 mistakes in the first two chapters of the book. I confess, I have not found that many in the first two chapters; I have found about 60 problems. Some of the mistakes including the story that Mary "appeared, no doubt proudly . . before her stepmother" during the hoop skirt incident. In reality, Mary had managed to sneek out the door and was half way down the walk trying to avoid her stepmother. (this is well documented in a letter written by Mary's stepcousin, Elizabeth Humphries Norris) Another mistake of Baker's which has now been quoted by many historians is the story about Mary being called "Satan's Limb." According to Baker, ". . the epithet "Satan's limb" was so often applied by the wicked stepmother that the children came to use it ironically." Baker documents this story from the K. Helm book. However, according to Helm, "Satan's Limb" was a phrased used by Mammy Sally. While the term may still mean the same thing, there is a difference between being called "Satan's Limb" by a beloved, elderly mammy and one's stepmother.

Now, when I read the book, I mark it heavily with different colored highlighters. When I find something to be incorrect, I use a pink highlighter. There are far too many pink marks in my copy.

I still recommend reading the book, but if you plan to use it as a source, be sure to check the orginial source.