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Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day": Causes
Eleanor Roosevelt (ER) considered herself a resident of Washington, D.C. and took an active part in the city's life during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Her activism stemmed from her conviction that the nation's capital belonged "to every citizen of the United States" and should be a place where "people . . . [who] have an interest in certain social questions . . ." could "
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An Activist First Lady in Traditional Washington
The following excerpt is from Nancy Beck Young’s Lou Hoover: Activist First Lady, University of Kansas Press, 2004. The White House Historical Association provided a grant to support the book project.Despite all her preparation and planning, Lou Henry Hoover encountered controversy over the issue of race and White House protocol. On June 12, 1929, Jessie DePriest was a White House guest at
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Millard Fillmore's Musical Family
President Millard Fillmore and his family were particularly musical. Mrs. Fillmore, the former Abigail Powers, made certain the White House had not only a music room, but also three pianos. For relaxation Mrs. Fillmore enjoyed playing duets with her talented daughter, Mary Abigail, a fine amateur musician, proficient on the piano, harp and guitar. During the Fillmore administration, the famous
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Musical Heritage at the White House
In June 2001, President Bush proclaimed the month of June, “Black Music Month,” encouraging “all Americans to learn more about the contributions of black artists to America's musical heritage and to celebrate their remarkable role in shaping our history and culture.” Performers Lionel Hampton, Shirley Caesar, Bobby Jones, James Brown, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the Harlem Jazz Museum Artists attended
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Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
From the streets of Selma to the walls of the White House, Martin Luther King, Jr. worked tirelessly for the civil rights of African-Americans, and ultimately human rights for everyone. Enjoy a flickr slideshow of photographs that document his influence on four presidential administrations.
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The Working White House: A Mirror - The 20th Century
Twentieth-century historical forces and social movements left their marks on the working White House. In 1900, nearly 87,000 inhabitants (almost a third of the population) of Washington, D.C., were black, forming the largest urban community of African Americans anywhere in the United States. However, racial segregation, as a formal policy, was endorsed and enforced in the Taft White House (1909-13), and
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The Working White House: A Mirror - The 19th Century
The occupational culture and management of the 19th-century White House reflected the social climate and ethnic composition of Washington, D.C. The White House staff, like that of many elite Washington households, was racially and ethnically mixed. Because managerial roles were usually assigned to white employees, tensions sometimes developed between white stewards and African American house workers. The Executive Mansion
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Emancipators
On April 2, 1814 British Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane issued a proclamation stating that "all persons who may be disposed" to escape to and seek refuge on a British warship would receive their freedom and land in a British colony. In response, an estimated 3,400 enslaved people in Chesapeake coastal areas welcomed the invading British troops as emancipators and ran away from slavery
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Presidential Valets
Throughout the history of the presidency, a president’s clothing choices have been influenced by a number of factors. Personal background, economics, regional influences, direction from the first lady, and advice from other family members and staff have all contributed to the sartorial style of the nation’s leader. Perhaps no one knew the presidential wardrobe, and the man himself, as i
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To the Depositors of the Freedmen's Savings & Trust Co.
TO THE DEPOSITORS OF THE Freeman's Savings and Trust Co. The recent legislation of Congress, so amending the charter of of [sic] the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company, as to place the institution upon a broader and firmer basis, and give to its Trustees a larger measure of discretion and control of its management, may be well enough made the
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Dividends for Freedmen Claimants
[The Washington Post Jun 15, 1881; pg. 2]DIVIDENDS FOR FREEDMEN. ---- Claimants Wanted for Funds – Sixty Per Cent. To be Paid. THE POST published, a few weeks since, an interview with Comptroller Knox regarding the progress of the settlement of the affairs of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company. In this was given a general idea by Mr. Knox of the position of
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Monument of a Crime
MONUMENT OF A CRIME Department of Justice Deserts a Fateful Building Washington Post 25 June 1899 FAILURE OF FREEDMAN'S BANK Big Brown-stone Building Across from the Treasury Was Once the Depository of the Savings of Thousands of ex-Slaves – Real Estate Speculation Ruined the Institution, with Which Many Noted Names Were Connected – Caused Much Distress.Within a few days bids will be advertised for