Martha Johnson Patterson

This photograph is of an engraving of Martha Johnson Patterson who was the daughter of President Andrew Johnson and First Lady Eliza Johnson. With her mother citing poor health, Martha — and sometimes her sister Mary Johnson Stover — took the duties of White House hostess or first lady. During her tenure as hostess, Patterson used her $30,000 budget on improvements to the White House which had fallen into a state of disrepair. She purchased new wallpaper, slipcovers for old furniture, and muslin cloth to cover carpets during receptions. The original engraving was made in 1881 by J.C. Buttre.