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Behind the Scenes

Elizabeth Keckley

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Behind the Scenes | Elizabeth Keckley

Behind the Scenes

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This is the autobiography of Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave who bought her freedom with the money she earned as a seamstress. She eventually worked for Mary Lincoln. It is a fascinating book, filled with many recollections of her own life and her interactions with the Lincolns and other members of the government elite.
who have experienced the heart and soul tortures of a slave's life, can say to Mr. Jefferson Davis, "Peace! you have suffered! Go in peace."

In the winter of 1865 I was in Chicago, and one day visited the great charity fair held for the benefit of the families of those soldiers who were killed or wounded during the war. In one part of the building was a wax figure of Jefferson Davis, wearing over his other garments the dress in which it was reported that he was captured. There was always a great crowd around this figure, and I was naturally attracted towards it. I worked my way to the figure, and in examining the dress made the[Pg 33] pleasing discovery that it was one of the chintz wrappers that I had made for Mrs. Davis, a short time before she departed from Washington for the South. When it was announced that I recognized the dress as one that I had made for the wife of the late Confederate President there was great cheering and excitement, and I at once became the object of the deepest curiosity. Great crowds followed me, and in order to escape from the embarrassing situation I left the building.

I believe it now is pretty well established that Mr. Davis had on a water-proof cloak instead of a dress, as first reported, when he was captured. This does not invalidate any portion of my story. The dress on the wax figure at the fair in Chicago unquestionably was one of the chintz wrappers that I made for Mrs. Davis in January, 1860, in Washington; and I infer, since it was not found on the body of the fugitive President of the South, it was taken from the trunks of Mrs. Davis, captured at the same time. Be this as it may, the coincidence is none the less striking and curious.


[Pg 34]

CHAPTER V

KOMET 04/15/2022
This slim book, written by Elizabeth Keckley, onetime modiste of Mary Todd Lincoln during her husband's tenure in the White House, and subsequently her confidante, is a testament to a most remarkable woman. Keckley, who was born a slave in Virginia in 1818, generally speaks very openly about her ear
Julie 07/26/2020
Well. I am disgruntled. Dis. Gruntled. There are many reasons for my disgruntlement. To start, Keckley's life is 2000% more interesting than Mary Todd Lincoln's. There. I said it.

Perhaps it is owing to the moment in time in which we find ourselves, but the daughter of a slave-owning Lexingtonian wh
Lois 07/27/2018
This was interesting but far too much about Mary Todd Lincoln and her family struggles. I wish the beginning which dealt with Elizabeth's life in bondage had been expanded and that story fleshed out.
Much of Keckley's attitudes and feelings are bizarre to me. I don't understand why she wanted to pay
Sharyn 01/17/2017
I liked this autobiography WAY more than I expected to. It had an easy pace even while tackling such a historically painful time in our nation. Very personal writing, which I always prefer. The Lincoln White House, Washington and the pre-Civil War era seen from Elizabeth Keckley's (sometimes spelled
Amanda 04/01/2009
I bought this book when I went to the Lincoln Museum and home in Springfield, IL. I picked it up because - as you might be able to tell - I'm very interested in women's side of history.

This was written by Elizabeth Keckley, a former slave and the dressmaker and confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln. It is

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