First Ladies: Influence and Image

[Donna McCreary]

(04-23-2013 01:47 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Richard Norton Smith comes with some high credentials, including curating the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum when it first got off the ground. He is also quite good at being interviewed.

I never heard of Ms. Terborg-Penn. What is her specialty? I'm sorry to hear that it wasn't up to par because I have several of my museum guides who have really liked the series so far. It's a shame that the one First Lady that they really need to know about fell short on this segment.

As for the gloves, was it Donna McCreary on this forum or the Mary Lincoln Enigma book that pointed out that people of that day, especially the President who stood in so many receiving lines, soiled or wore out many pairs of gloves in just one night. Mary would not have known about germs, but I bet she was fastidious when it came to things being soiled and shabby.

Yes, Mary did indeed purchase many, many pairs of gloves. While we do not know if she actually purchased the 300 pairs between January to April, 1865 (no bills of sale exist), it would not have been unreasonable. When actress Sarah Bernhardt arrived in New York in 1881 (she was on the Amerique along with Mary Lincoln), the newspapers reported that her trunks contained 350 pairs of white gloves.

Due to the large crowds at White House entertainments, Lincoln used as many as five pairs of gloves during one reception. Mary would not have used as many. If she soiled as many as three pairs per reception, those 300 pairs of gloves would have lasted no longer than seven months.

Laurie is correct - Mary knew nothing about germs. But, I have a feeling she could spot a dirty glove from the other side of the room.