Elizabeth Keckley's "Behind the Scenes at the Lincoln White House

[L Verge]

It's a good horn to toot because he stuck with the project. For years, the cemetery said they couldn't find the records of what happened after Mrs. Keckly's body was removed from Columbian Harmony in D.C. and re-interred in National Harmony Memorial Park in Maryland. They either didn't know where to look or didn't want to.

However, about 4-5 years ago, they got some new, caring personnel; and Rich inquired yet again and immediately received the information right down to section and grave number. He then contacted me, and we convinced the Surratt Society to spearhead the movement to mark her grave. It became a joint effort between the Society, the Lincoln Forum, and the Fairfax, Virginia, chapter of Black Women United for Action. We raised $6000 for a bronze marker, and it was dedicated three years ago this spring. The ceremony received the attention of the Washington Post, and I soon had a phone call from the National Park Service's coordinator for the Trails to Freedom project. She wanted Mrs. Keckly voted into that project. Sandra Walia, our research librarian at the museum, prepared the papers, and it was a done deal!