Mary Lincoln Jewelry, etc. at Lincoln Heritage Museum

[Donna McCreary]

Roger -- are you telling me that you looked in something other than FASHIONABLE FIRST LADY for information about Mary's clothing?? Someone, please, hand me a bottle of smelling salts!

Mary did wear mourning longer than necessary for Willie. However, she also came out of mourning when the occasion required it such as on February 13, 1863 when she wore a pink silk gown to the wedding reception held in honor of Charles Sherwood Stratton (Tom Thumb) and his bride. By August 1863, Mary was completely out of mourning attire when she vacationed in the White Mountains and was wearing a chequered (sic) riding habit. Mary was forced back into mourning when her brother, Levi Todd (the only brother who supported the Union) died. Before she was out of mourning attire in honor of Levi, her uncle John Todd passed away. John had been a father figure to Mary when she moved to Springfield. Custom required wearing half mourning for each of these men. Mary was still wearing half-mourning when Lincoln was assassinated.
She chose to wear mourning for the remained of her life -- but so did many other women. Mary's half sister Emilie wore mourning for her husband Ben from his death in 1863 until her death in 1930.