The Smithsonian First Ladies Collection
by Lisa Kathleen Graddy, Amy Pastan
The Smithsonian First Ladies Collection- now fully updated to 2024 to include every US first lady to date-is a beautifully illustrated book inspired by one of the most popular attractions at the Smithsonian- the first ladies exhibit at the National Museum of American History. This striking book showcases the treasures from first ladies throughout history, ranging from Martha Washington's silk dress and dressing mirror to Michelle Obama's 2009 inaugural gown and jewelry. These and many other unforgettable objects--including gowns, tableware, and invitations from beloved first ladies such as Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, Barbara Bush, Hilary Clinton, and more--tell the story of the first ladies as public and private figures. They illustrate how these women, thrust into an influential and visible role by happenstance of marriage, adapted themselves and the role of first lady by taking on responsibilities as campaigners, hostesses, and policy advocates.The Smithsonian First Ladies Collection features many treasures not on view at the exhibit. Complete with an insider's look at the acquisition, conservation, and exhibition of the pieces as well as a timeline of all forty-six first ladies, this is a must-have for anyone fascinated by these incredible women and their roles in American culture and political life.Admire the nationally famous collection of first ladies' gowns and learn about the contributions made by the women who wore themThe Smithsonian First Ladies Collection is a beautifully illustrated book inspired by one of the most popular attractions at the Smithsonian- the first ladies exhibit at the National Museum of American History. This striking book showcases the treasures from first ladies throughout history, ranging from Martha Washington's silk dress and dressing mirror to Michelle Obama's 2009 inaugural gown and jewelry. These and many other unforgettable objects--including gowns, tableware, and invitations from beloved first ladies such as Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Kennedy, Barbara Bush, Hilary Clinton, and more--tell the story of the first ladies as public and private figures. They illustrate how these women, thrust into an influential and visible role by happenstance of marriage, adapted themselves and the role of first lady by taking on responsibilities as campaigners, hostesses, and policy advocates.The Smithsonian First Ladies Collection features many treasures not on view at the exhibit. Complete with an insider's look at the acquisition, conservation, and exhibition of the pieces as well as a timeline of all forty-six first ladies, this is a must-have for anyone fascinated by these incredible women and their roles in American culture and political life.
Paperback
English
Brand New
Author Biography
LISA KATHLEEN GRADDY is deputy chair of the Division of Political History at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. She is the curator of the first ladies exhibit and the collection of woman suffrage and women's political history. AMY PASTAN is a Washington, DC-based author, editor, and photo researcher. A former staff editor at the Smithsonian Institution, she currently writes and produces books for both adults and children. Among her recent titles is The Smithsonian Book of Presidential Trivia.
Table of Contents
The First Ladies Collection (Introduction)
Who Is a First Lady?
The First Ladies Gowns: A Look Behind the Scenes
1 - Michelle Robinson Obama
2 - Laura Welch Bush
3 - Hillary Rodham Clinton
4 - Barbara Pierce Bush
5 - Nancy Davis Reagan
6 - Rosalynn Smith Carter
7 - Elizabeth Bloomer Ford
8 - Thelma Ryan Nixon
9 - Claudia Taylor Johnson
10 - Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy
11 - Mamie Doud Eisenhower
12 - Elizabeth Wallace Truman
13 - Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
14 - Lou Henry Hoover
15 - Grace Goodhue Coolidge
16 - Florence Kling Harding
17 - Edith Bolling Galt Wilson
18 - Ellen Axson Wilson
19 - Helen Herron Taft
20 - Edith Carow Roosevelt
21 - Ida Saxton McKinley
22 - Caroline Scott Harrison
23 - Frances Folsom Cleveland
24 - Lucretia Rudolph Garfield
25 - Lucy Webb Hayes
26 - Julia Dent Grant
27 - Mary Todd Lincoln
28 - Harriet Rebecca Lane
29 - Jane Appleton Pierce
30 - Abigail Powers Fillmore
31 - Sarah Childress Polk
32 - Julia Gardiner Tyler
33 - Letitia Christian Tyler
34 - Louisa Johnson Adams
35 - Elizabeth Kortright Monroe
36 - Dolley Payne Todd Madison
37 - Abigail Smith Adams
38 - Martha Dandridge Custis Washington
First Ladies Timeline
Object List
Notes and Photo Credits
Review
"The Smithsonian First Ladies Collection, a slim but lavishly illustrated paperbound book, attempts to juggle that national obsession with dress and the weightier elements of a first lady's role, in both her husband's administration and the larger society... Still, it's the dresses, in the end, that make this book, just as the clothes have made the Smithsonian exhibit a must-see for more than a century. There's something about gazing at these gowns, captured in all their glory in full-color studio photographs, that's almost hypnotic." -Chicago Tribune
Review Quote
" The Smithsonian First Ladies Collection , a slim but lavishly illustrated paperbound book, attempts to juggle that national obsession with dress and the weightier elements of a first lady's role, in both her husband's administration and the larger society... Still, it's the dresses, in the end, that make this book, just as the clothes have made the Smithsonian exhibit a must-see for more than a century. There's something about gazing at these gowns, captured in all their glory in full-color studio photographs, that's almost hypnotic." - Chicago Tribune
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