Presidential Historian
MARY LINCOLN'S FLANNEL PAJAMAS AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE FIRST LADIES CLOSET
Various STORIES about First Ladies between Martha & Mamie, centering on some items of their clothing, whether it is a gown, or a pair of shoes, a hat or piece jewelry. All stories are real stories; they are not a fiction. The clothing is either factual, actual or metaphorical.
These are some of the stories (all true) that have been told about some First Ladies you may have forgotten about - or never knew. The stories use an item of their clothing to propel the tale. It is history through the window not the keyhole!
You love their gowns at the Smithsonian; now you can love them better!
WHAT PEOPLE SAY:
"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.
"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
- ...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!
Great book for
your book club!
"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.
"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
PRESIDENTIAL DATES OF NOTE
Wedding Anniversaries and Birthdays
POTUS BIRTHDAYS
August 10, 1874 Herbert Hoover
August 19, 1946 Bill Clinton
August 20, 1833 Benjamin Harrison
August 27, 1908 Lyndon B Johnson
PRESIDENTIAL WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
August 22, 1848 – Ulysses and Julia Grant
FLOTUS BIRTHDAYS
(First Lady of the United States)
POTUS BIRTHDAYS
(President of the United States)
December 5, 1782 Martin Van Buren
December 28, 1856 Woodrow Wilson
December 29, 1808 Andrew Johnson
PRESIDENTIAL WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
December 02, 1886 – Theodore and Edith Roosevelt
December 18, 1915 – Woodrow and Edith Wilson (2nd marriage)
December 30, 1852 – Rutherford and Lucy Hayes
FLOTUS BIRTHDAYS
(First Lady of the United States)
December 12, 1912 – Lady Bird Johnson
December 13, 1818 – Mary Lincoln
POTUS BIRTHDAYS
(President of the United State)
January 7, 1800 Millard Fillmore
January 9, 1913 Richard M. Nixon
January 29, 1843 William McKinley
January 30, 1882 Franklin D. Roosevelt
FLOTUS BIRTHDAYS
(First Lady of the United States)
January 03, 1879 – Grace Coolidge
January 26, 1926 – Julia Grant
PRESIDENTIAL WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
January 01, 1824 – James and Sarah Polk
January 06, 1759 – George and Martha Washington
January 06, 1945 – George and Barbara Bush
January 25, 1871 – William and Ida McKinley
POTUS BIRTHDAYS
(President of the United States)
March 15, 1767 Andrew Jackson
March 16, 1751 James Madison
March 18, 1837 Grover Cleveland
March 29, 1790 John Tyler
FLOTUS BIRTHDAYS
(First Lady of the United State)
March 12, 1806 – Jane Pierce
March 13, 1798 – Abigail Fillmore
March 16, 1912 – Pat Nixon
March 29, 1875 – Lou Hoover
PRESIDENTIAL WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
March 04, 1952 – Ronald and Nancy Reagan
March 17, 1905 – Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt
March 29, 1813 – John and Letitia Tyler (1st marriage)
POTUS BIRTHDAYS
(President of the United States)
Hiram Ulysses Grant April 27, 1822
Thomas Jefferson
April 13, 1743
April 13, 1743James BuchananApril 23,1758
April 23,1758 James MonroeApril 28, 1758
April 28, 1758FLOTUS BIRTHDAYS
(First Lady of the United State)
Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Warren Ford April 8, 1918
Lucretia Garfield April 19, 1832
Mary Harrison McKee April 3, 1858
Margaret Woodrow Wilson April 16, 1886
June 02, 1886 – Grover and Frances Cleveland
June 19, 1886 – William and Nellie Taft
June 21, 1810 – Zachary and Margaret Taylor
June 21, 1940 – Richard and Pat Nixon
June 24, 1886 – Woodrow and Ellen Wilson (1st marriage)
June 26, 1844 – John and Julia Tyler (2nd marriage)
June 28, 1919 – Harry and Bess Truman
June 08, 1847 – Ida McKinley
June 08, 1924 – Barbara Bush
June 21, 1731 – Martha Washington
June 30, 1768 – Elizabeth Monroe
June 12, 1924 George Bush
POTUS BIRTHDAYS
August 10, 1874 Herbert Hoover
August 19, 1946 Bill Clinton
August 20, 1833 Benjamin Harrison
August 27, 1908 Lyndon B Johnson
PRESIDENTIAL WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
August 22, 1848 – Ulysses and Julia Grant
FLOTUS BIRTHDAYS
(First Lady of the United States)
POTUS BIRTHDAYS
October 1, 1924 Jimmy Carter
October 4, 1822 Rutherford B Hayes
October 5, 1829 Chester Arthur
October 14, 1890 Dwight D Eisenhower
October 27, 1858 Theodore Roosevelt
October 30, 1735 John Adams
PRESIDENTIAL WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
October 3, 1992 Barack and Michelle Obama
October 04, 1905 – Calvin and Grace Coolidge
October 11, 1975 – William and Hillary Clinton
October 15, 1948 – Gerald and Betty Ford
October 20, 1853 – Benjamin and Caroline Harrison
October 25, 1764 – John and Abigail Adams
FLOTUS BIRTHDAYS
(First Lady of the United States)
October 04, 1810 – Eliza Johnson
October 10, 1832 – Caroline Harrison
October 11, 1884 – Eleanor Roosevelt
October 15, 1872 – Edith Wilson
October 26, 1947 – Hillary Rodham Clinton
