Mrs. Lincoln’s Salon: Her Form Inclines To Stoutness

[Donna McCreary]

When I was at the Chicago History Museum examining items which belonged to Mary Lincoln, the curator said that all of the dresses in their collection are "attributed" to Mary. There is not one that that has enough provenance to be certain Mary actual owned it and wore it in the style it has today. The black and white taffeta in their collection has undergone extensive, structural alterations. None of the trim on the dress appears to be original, and the waist has been completely remade.

I think Katherine Helm is probably closer to the truth than any of the others. Mary probably weighed about 130 lbs upon entering the White House. Her weight escalated after Lincoln's death. Then while living in France, she lost her girth and more, thus only weighing 100 lbs when she died.

[Anita]

Very interesting information Donna. From my last post " Joanna Johnston found a dress at the Chicago History Museum and worked with collection manager Meghan Smith to measure it in detail." I wonder which dress was used and what its provenance was?

I'd also like to know how Taper came up with Mary's height being 5'4".

[RJNorton]

I'd also like to know how Taper came up with Mary's height being 5'4".

I am curious, too, Anita. Artist Francis B. Carpenter measured Abraham's height in the White House. Lincoln measured six feet three and three-quarter inches in his stocking feet. I do not think I have ever read that Mary's height was actually measured.

[L Verge]

Knowing the depth and breadth of Louise Taper's original collection, I would hazard a guess that she had an original letter or even dressmaker notes that cited 5'4".

[Gene C]

If she weighed 130 pounds when she entered the White House, I guess when they squeezed her in one of those corsets, all those innards had to go some where, so it just made her taller.

[Anita]

If she weighed 130 pounds when she entered the White House, I guess when they squeezed her in one of those corsets, all those innards had to go some where, so it just made her taller.

Maybe I'll have to go back to wearing a girdle !

[RJNorton]

Here is a screenshot of what Google thinks:

[Eva Elisabeth]

Then while living in France, she lost her girth and more, thus only weighing 100 lbs when she died.

Yes, obviously due to the insufficiencies of French cuisine - she complained to her grand-nephew Lewis Baker: "How much I long to...have a taste of your dear grandmother's good food—waffles, batter cakes, egg corn bread are all unknown here— as to biscuits, light rolls they have never been dreamed of, not to speak of buckwheat cake."
Escargots and froglegs are probably less nourishing and substantial!

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Here is a screenshot of what Google thinks:

Google is omniscient...
From this table you can see that even at 5'1" (and 130lbs) she wouldn't have been considered overweight, only at 5'0" or less, according to the WHO definition: