Today in History: Elizabeth Keckley
Today in History–November 15–the Library of Congress features Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, whose emancipation deed was signed on this date in 1855. Although best known for her role as confidante and dressmaker to President Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd, Keckley was also an author and a generous philanthropist who assisted escapees from southern slavery. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access related resources.
Mention of Elizabeth Keckley in letter from Mary Todd Lincoln to Abraham Lincoln November 03, 1862
Select historical newspaper articles about Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley
- Book Notices (note: book review Behind the Scenes) The New York Herald, April 20, 1868
- Mrs. Keckly [sic] … has commenced legal proceedings against the publisher… The Bedford Gazette, November 04, 1869
- Gossip of the Capital New-York Tribune, December 08, 1901
- New Stories About the Personal Life of the Lincoln Family The Washington Times, September 04, 1904
- The Passing of of Mrs. Keckley, the Intimate of the Lincoln Household The Colorado Statesman, June 22, 1907
- Bizarre Lincoln story is traced Evening Star, November 11, 1935
- Ample proof of reality of Elizabeth Keckly [sic] Evening Star, November 15, 1935
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Writer explains error in case of Mrs Keckly [sic] Evening Star, November 26, 1935
- Mary T. Lincoln’s Book Stirs Row: Did her servant or abolitionist journalist write book on pretty clothes? Evening Star, December 01, 1935
More U.S. historical newspaper coverage of Elizabeth Keckley
Behind the Scenes: Thirty Years a Slave, and Four Years in the White House by Elizabeth Keckley
- Book summary Documenting the American South
- Former Slave Elizabeth Keckley and the “Contraband” of Washington DC, 1862 background and excerpt from Ms. Keckley’s autobiography, History Matters
Elizabeth Keckley: Brief Bio The Civil War in America exhibition
Elizabeth Keckley Biography National Women’s History Museum
From Slavery to the White House: The Extraordinary Life of Elizabeth Keckly [sic] The White House Historical Association
African American Fashion Designers – from the Lincolns to the Kennedys and Beyond Inside Adams August 3, 2020
Contraband of War primary source set
- Contraband of War The Civil War in America online exhibition items
- Contrabands of War African American Odyssey online exhibition items
- Contraband Relief The Civil War in America online exhibition items
- Report by the committee of the Contrabands’ relief commission of Cincinnati, Ohio 1863
- Historical U.S. newspaper articles mentioning the Contraband Relief Association
- Historical U.S. newspaper articles mentioning the Contraband Relief Commission
Related resources