Mr. and Mrs. H. Donald Nelson autograph collection of the First Ladies of the United States, circa 1789-2013

Access and use

Location of collection:
Colonial Williamsburg
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Douglas Mayo
Phone: (757) 565-8521
Phone: (757) 565-8520
Fax: (757) 565-8528

Summary

Extent:
2 boxes (108 items in two scrapbooks)
Creator:
Nelson Family
Abstract:
A collection of correspondence and autographs created by the First Ladies of the United States.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of correspondence, advertisements, pamplets, cards, autographs, and signed photographs either created by or pertaining to the first ladies of the United States during their lifetimes from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama. The First Ladies of the United States have had significant influence on the nation. Martha Washington (1731-1802) was the wife of George Washington, first president of the United States. She started the tradition of the President's wife acting as hostess for presidencial social events. This tradition continues to this day and the role has grown to have significant influence over social issues within the country. The First Lady of the United States now serves as an important public figure for the United States Government. Does not contain any material pertaining to Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Monroe, Letita Tyler, Margaret Taylor, Abigail Fillmore, Eliza Johnson, or Ellen Wilson. Nor does it contain any material for Emily Donelson who acted as first lady during the Administration of Andrew Jackson. The first box contains Martha Washington's signature and the second box contains two scrapbooks holding the rest of the collection.

Acquisition information:
Gift 2013
Arrangement:

Arranged in 2 boxes. The first box contains only Matha Washington's signature clipped from the original document. The second box contains the rest of the collection organized chronologically by when the women were First Lady of the United States within two scrapbooks.

Physical description:
.

Indexed terms

Indexes:

Index Terms

Washington, Martha, 1731-1802--Autographs.
Madison, Dolley, 1768-1849--Correspondence.
Adams, Louisa Catherine, 1775-1852--Correspondence.
Van Buren, Angelica Singleton, 1816-1877--Correspondence.
Harrison, Anna Tuthill Symmes, 1775-1864--Correspondence.
Tyler, Julia Gardiner, 1820-1889--Correspondence.
Polk, Sarah Childress, 1803-1891--Autographs.
Pierce, Jane M. (Jane Means), 1806-1863--Correspondence.
Lincoln, Mary Todd, 1818-1882--Correspondence.
Grant, Julia Dent, 1826-1902--Correspondence.
Hayes, Lucy Webb, 1831-1889--Autographs.
Garfield, Lucretia Rudolph, 1832-1918--Correspondence.
Cleveland, Frances Folsom, 1864-1947--Correspondence.
Cleveland, Rose Elizabeth, 1846-1918--Autographs.
Harrison, Caroline Lavinia Scott, 1832-1892--Autographs.
McKee, Mary Scott Harrison, 1858-1930--Autographs.
McKinley, Ida Saxton, 1847-1907--Autographs.
Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow, 1861-1948--Autographs.
Taft, Helen Herron, 1861-1943--Correspondence.
Wilson, Edith Bolling Galt, 1872-1961--Correspondence.
Harding, Florence Kling, 1860-1924--Autographs.
Coolidge, Grace Goodhue, 1879-1957--Correspondence.
Coolidge, Grace Goodhue, 1879-1957--Autographs.
Hoover, Lou Henry, 1874-1944--Autographs.
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962--Correspondence.
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962--Autographs.
Truman, Bess Wallace--Autographs.
Eisenhower, Mamie Doud, 1896-1979--Autographs.
Eisenhower, Mamie Doud, 1896-1979--Correspondence.
Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy, 1929-1994--Autographs.
Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy, 1929-1994--Correspondence.
Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy, 1929-1994--Photographs.
Johnson, Lady Bird, 1912-2007--Autographs.
Johnson, Lady Bird, 1912-2007--Correspondence.
Johnson, Lady Bird, 1912-2007--Photographs.
Nixon, Pat, 1912-1993--Autographs.
Ford, Betty, 1918-2011--Autographs.
Ford, Betty, 1918-2011--Photographs.
Carter, Rosalynn--Autographs.
Carter, Rosalynn,--Photographs.
Reagan, Nancy, 1921-2016--Autographs.
Reagan, Nancy, 1921-2016--Correspondence.
Reagan, Nancy, 1921-2016--Photographs.
Bush, Barbara, 1925- --Autographs.
Bush, Barbara, 1925- --Correspondence.
Bush, Barbara, 1925- --Photographs.
Clinton, Hillary Rodham--Autographs.
Clinton, Hillary Rodham--Photographs.
Bush, Laura Welch, 1946- --Autographs.
Bush, Laura Welch, 1946- --Photographs.
Obama, Michelle, 1964- --Autographs.
Obama, Michelle, 1964- --Photographs.
First ladies--Autographs.
First ladies--Correspondence
First ladies--Photographs.