Elizabeth Keckley - dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln

Updated Jul 31, 2020

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Elizabeth Keckley - dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln

Daniel Pinna 204 followers 8.97k+ favorites

06/17/2020

Elizabeth Keckley - dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln

Elizabeth Keckley- dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln. She was born into slavery and became a successful seamstress, civil activist, author and dressmaker to the First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln.

Date & Place: 1861

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AncientFaces 356k+ followers 399 favorites

06/19/2020

Elizabeth Keckley was born a slave and began working as a nursemaid at age 4; who persevered and bought her and her son's freedom; and who began a successful business & became seamstress to the Washington D.C. elite. Friend of the First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, Elizabeth established a relief association that assisted newly found freed people in getting situated after the ending of slavery.

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Tracy Thurman 89 favorites

06/19/2020

What a beautiful Lady 💗

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Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley Washington, D.C., District Of Columbia, United States Feb 1818 - May 26, 1907

Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, born into slavery and enduring hardships from the age of 4 through early adulthood, bought her & her son's freedom with funds from her dressmaking skills - thanks in large part to Mrs. Jefferson Davis, and became a successful businesswoman, author, and confidante to the First Lady Mary Ann (Todd) Lincoln. Elizabeth lost her son while he was fighting in the Union army. When the Lincoln's lost their son "Willie" it drew the two women even closer together. In fact, after the assassination of President Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln asked specifically for one person - Elizabeth Keckley. See Centennial Scrapbook: Westward Ho Year 1866 for details. Alive during the time of emancipation, she was a role model to those recently enslaved and released: Not only by sharing her successes (& struggles) in life, but through starting the Ladies' Freedmen and Soldier's Relief Association which provided food, shelter, clothing and medical care to recently freed slaves. Read more about Elizabeth's inspiring life at Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley: Personal Life

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