What would you ask?

[Jim Garrett]

(08-18-2012 12:36 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Thank you, Donna, for such a well-thought-out answer to both questions. As you may or may not know, Surratt House Museum and its wonderful volunteer affiliate, the Surratt Society, undertook the project of marking Elizabeth Keckly's grave in National Harmony Cemetery in 2010. Mrs. Keckly's remains had been removed to this new cemetery in the 1950s, but her tombstone did not come with her.

For years, we thought that she might be in a mass grave, in an unknown plot, or whatever - until Rich Smyth of this forum found a cooperative staff member at National Harmony who found the paperwork. He approached us, and the fundraising ($6000) began. We got support not only from our Society members, but also the Lincoln Forum and the Black Women United for Action of Fairfax, Virginia.

In the meantime, the research librarian at Surratt House did a monumental job of nailing down correct history on Mrs. Keckly. That effort has subsequently led to Surratt House nominating and winning recognition for Mrs. Keckly in the Network to Freedom Initiative of the National Park Service based on her help in feeding and clothing the contraband who poured into Washington during and after the war. Our help has also been sought recently by the proposed new Smithsonian museum on African American history as they prepare exhibits. Mrs. Keckly will be featured in the field of fashion design -- the route that bought her freedom and friendship within the Lincoln White House.

One more question: I believe that Mrs. Lincoln requested Keckly's presence at the Petersen House on the night of the assassination, but the courier could not find the lady's home. There was another friend of Mrs. Lincoln who did come, I think, but I can't remember her name. Who was she and what was her friendship like with Mary Lincoln?

Hi Laurie: MTL had requested Elizabeth Keckley who, did go to the White House looking for Mrs. Lincoln. Ms. Keckley didn't know where to find MTL, but when she finally went to the Petersen House, she couldn't either get near the house because of the crowd, or was not allowed admittance.

MTL was comforted by Elizabeth Dixon, wife of Sen. James Dixon of Connecticut and her sister, Mary Kinney. I think it was probably futile to try to comfort MTL. I believe she was almost catatonic by the time Mrs. Dixon and her sister arrive. MTL, by this time, had more grief than she could possibly begin to tolerate. I find her the most tragic first lady. At that moment, she was isolated from all, for the rest of her life.