Mary Lincoln's Flannel Pajamas: And Other Stories From the First Ladies' Closet

by Feather Foster

Overview

Did Mary Lincoln really wear flannel pajamas?

Why was Martha Washington’s “dress” turned into a pincushion?

How did Julia Grant’s hat show support for the Confederacy?

Did Edith Wilson really track mud onto the White House carpets?

These are some of the stories (all true) that have been told about some of the First Ladies you may have forgotten about—or never knew. The stories are either factual, actual or “metaphorical” using an item of their clothing to propel the tale.

You love their gowns at the Smithsonian; now you can love them better!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633932180
Publisher:	Koehler Books
Publication date:	02/22/2016
Pages:	258
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.58(d)
Age Range:	13 - 11 Years

About the Author

Feather Schwartz Foster is an author/historian by avocation, specializing in the First Ladies between Martha Washington and Mamie Eisenhower. She has published four books, has been a guest on NPR-Radio stations, and featured on C-SPAN's series on the First Ladies. She has a substantive Presidential Library of more than 1500 books, and has made more than 300 presentations, programs and lectures. She has been an instructor at the Christopher Wren society (the adult ed arm of William & Mary) and also for the adult ed wing of Christopher Newport University.

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Martha Washington 8
A Dress Story 9
The Speckled Apron 12
Plantation Mistress 13

Abigail Adams 16
Traveling Clothes 17
Abigail's Veils 22
The Laundry Backstory 27

Dolley Madison 30
A Quaker Fashionista 31
The Buff Inaugural Gown 35
Turban Hats 38
The Old Clothes Story 40

Elizabeth Monroe 44
The Shadows and The Rouge 45

Louisa Adams 50
An Inherited Veil 51
Louisa's Non-Gown Story 55
The Warm Cloak 58

Rachel Jackson 62
Inaugural Gown 63

Julia Tyler 66
Miss G's Shopping Bag 67

Sarah Polk 70
Fans 71

Jane Pierce 76
Handkerchiefs 77

Harriet Johnston 82
An Open Purse 83

Mary Lincoln 88
Wardrobe Mis-functions 89
Mary's Bad Hat Story 93
Seed Pearls 95
Mary Lincoln's Flannel Pajamas 99

Julia Grant 102
Julia's Bad Hat Story 103
The Suitcase 106

Lucy Hayes 110
The Old-Fashionista 111
The Burgundy Gown 115

Frances Cleveland 118
The Wedding Gowns Story 119
Bustle Stories 123

Caroline Harrison 126
Carrie's White Glove 127

Ida McKinley 132
Bedroom Slippers 133
White House Trousseau 137

Edith Roosevelt 140
The Cartwheel Hat 141

Helen Taft 146
The Edwardian Gown Story 147
The Silver Chest 151

Ellen Wilson 156
Artist Smock 157
Ellen's Brown Dress 161

Edith Wilson 166
The Muddy Boots 167
Edith in Uniform 171
Lalique Brooch 174

Florence Harding 178
Thick Veils and a Velvet Collar 179

Grace Coolidge 184
Hat, Purse and Thwarted Jodhpurs 185
The Red Dress 189

Lou Hoover 192
The Hitching Skirt 193
Lou Hoover's Uniform 196

Eleanor Roosevelt 200
The Bad Dress Story 201
Eleanor's Uniform 204
Mrs. R's Valise 208

Bess Truman 212
Botanical Garden of Hats 213

Mamie Eisenhower 218
A Pink Bed Jacket­-and
Other Pink Stuff 219

Acknowledgments 226

Author's Notes 228

Bibliography 232

Editorial Reviews

"A delightful read. Hats off to author and presidential historian Feather Schwartz Foster!"

-Karen L. Schnitzspahn, author of Remarkable Women of the New Jersey Shore and other books.

"You'll never again think the same of first ladies."
-Chip Bishop, author of Quentin and Flora and New York Times Bestseller The Lion and the Journalist.

"Feather Schwartz Foster has always had a fun, easy and unique way of writing about this group of women that is so near and dear to my heart - The First Ladies of the United States of America. She has an amazing ability to dig up the most interesting and rarely heard stories, and tells them in her own way, which makes them endlessly enjoyable. This latest compilation of tales is no exception."

-Andrew Och, The First Ladies Man, Author of Unusual For Their Time Contracted Producer for the C-SPAN series First Ladies: Influence and Image

"A delightful read. Fashion has always made a statement and the first ladies' clothing reflects not only their tastes but the times they lived in. These short stories featuring specific items such as a hat or an apron, gowns or jewelry, are both amusing and enlightening. Hats off to author and presidential historian Feather Schwartz Foster!" ­

-Karen L. Schnitzspahn, author of Remarkable Women of the New Jersey Shore and other books.

"There are few contemporary chroniclers of America's first ladies more adept than Feather Schwartz Foster. Her ability to penetrate the obvious and predictable has made for some endearing and revealing profiles. How comes her latest, Mary Lincoln's Flannel Pajamas and other stories from the First Ladies' Closet, which takes the reader deep into the persona of the women who shared their husbands (and others) with history. It's a warm and insightful look behind the scenes. You'll never again think the same of first ladies."

-Chip Bishop, author of Quentin and Flora and New York Times Bestseller The Lion and the Journalist.

"I found the stories from the First Ladies' Closet fascinating and entertaining. Fashions pertaining to First Ladies are intriguing. These fun-loving stories of the world of fashion of First Ladies are insightful and are sure to make you smile!"

-Farron W. Smith, Founder, Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation & Museum

"Feather Schwartz Foster has written a unique and enjoyable book in which the personalities and demeanor of the First Ladies comes into sharp focus. Reading Foster's well-written and engaging stories about the clothing of presidential wives creates an intimate bond between the reader and these remarkable women, who lived at the center of American history. This book combines presidential and First Lady history with fashion and clothing choices, and in the process breathes new life and vibrancy into women who are sometimes forgotten or viewed as distant historical figures. And significantly, Foster's unique contribution to the literature of First Lady history also opens windows of insight into the lives of the presidents."

-Mike Purdy, Presidential Historian and Author at www.PresidentialHistory.com

From the Publisher