PUBLIC "-//Colonial Williamsburg Foundation//TEXT (US::ViWC::ViWC00603::A Guide to the Mr. and Mrs. H. Donald Nelson autograph collection of the First Ladies of the United States, circa 1789-2013)//EN" "ViWC00603.xml" A Guide to the Mr. and Mrs. H. Donald Nelson autograph collection of the First Ladies of the United States, circa 1789-2013 MS 2013.10 Nelson Family Colonial Williamsburg Foundation © 2017 By The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. All rights reserved. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MARC record, created by Teresa Finn, 2 June 2017 Description is in English A Guide to the Mr. and Mrs. H. Donald Nelson autograph collection of the First Ladies of the United States, circa 1789-2013 A Collection in The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation MS 2013.10

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation 2017 Special Collections Staff Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Descriptive Summary Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Mr. and Mrs. H. Donald Nelson autograph collection of the First Ladies of the United States, circa 1789-2013 MS 2013.10 2 boxes (108 items in two scrapbooks). English A collection of correspondence and autographs created by the First Ladies of the United States. Nelson Family Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Librarian, and the holder of the copyright, if not the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library at Colonial Williamsburg.

Preferred Citation

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Nelson autograph collection of the First Ladies of the United States, circa 1789-2009, MS 2013.10, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Acquisition Information

Gift 2013

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.

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.

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. Contents List 1 1 item

Contains a single clipped Martha Washington Signature.

2, Circa 1731-2013 2 scrapbooks (107 items)

Contains the majority of the collection in two scrapbooks. 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. 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.

 Circa 1731-1944. 1 1 Scrapbook (51 Items)

1 scrapbook containing the collected correspondence, advertisments, cards, and autographs pertaining to the First Ladies of the United States. Covers Martha Washington to Lou Henry Hoover

Engraving of Martha Washington by J. Rogers, 3 portrait, 27 cm Washington Family, 4 illustration, 19 cm Signed letter to Mary E. Cutts, 1845 August 1 5 1 page, 26 cm Engraving of Dolly Madison by D. Edwin, 6 potrait, 35 cm Letter to Mr. Durand, 1835 September 25 7 19 cm Signed letter, October 24 9-10 2 pages, 17 cm Signed letter to Charles Brodhead, 1847 April 8 11 1 page, 19cm Signed black bordered letter, 1864 April 30 13-14 4 pages,21 cm Signed card, 15 5 cm Signed letter, 1838 December 1 16 3 pages, 25 cm Signed Black Bordered Envelope, February 28 17 8 cm Engraving of Mary Todd Lincoln, portrait, 11 cm Engraving of Abraham Lincoln, portrait, 11 cm Grant Family Card, 19 illustration, 10 cm Signed black bordered letter to "Nellie," 1895 January 25 19-20 18 cm Autograph, 21 11 cm Signed black bordered letter to C. J. Kemper, 1882 June 26 23 2 pages, 16 cm Mrs. J. A. Garfield, photograph, 17 cm Sulphur Bitters advertisement, 24 illustration, 16 cm Mrs. Grover Cleveland by J.E. Hale, 25 photograph, 17 cm Signed letter to "Ida," 1893 March 6 1 page, 19 cm The Cleveland Family, photograph, 11 cm Signature, 1886 March 5 26 21 cm Dress Lini department advertisement, illustration, 8 cm Signed Letter to Mrs. Bateman, 1898 January 27 27 4 pages, 17 cm Signed letter to Dr. Bowegs, 1936 March 21 28 1 page, 24 cm Image of Mrs. Harrison, 29 photograph,17 cm Image of President and Mrs. Harrison with White House, photograph, 17 cm Autograph, 4 cm Photocopy of autographs "Ben Harrison and Caroline Scott Harrison," 1891 March 30 30 10 cm Signed Note to T. Butler, 1937 June 23 31 1 page, 17 cm Signed Who's Who content approval, 1945 February 1 32 2 pages, 27 cm Franked black bordered envelope addressed to James H. Kennedy, 1905 December 29 33 9 cm Franked Envelope addressed to Wade Chance Esqr., 1920 December 31 35 10 cm Signed note to Miss White, 1940 October 16 2 pages,9 cm The Roosevelt Family, 1903 illustration, 9 cm Franked Envelope addressed to Miss Christina White, 1940 October 17 10 cm Unsigned note, November 28 36 1 page, 18 cm Signed Letter to Mr. Warts, 1936 March 13 37 2 pages, 10 cm Autograph Card, 38 9 cm Signed letter to Mrs. Warren, 39 3 pages Portrait of Florence Kling Harding signed to Mr. Jackson, 41 photograph, 14 cm Signed Note to Charles P. Kling, 1923 April, 2 1 page, 20 cm Autographed White House card, 43 illustration, 11 cm Signed black bordered card to Mrs. Durning, 2 pages, 9 cm Autograph card, 7 cm Signed portrait of Grace Goodhue Coolidge signed to Mrs. George Wuppermann, 1927 October 16 44 photograph, 38 cm Signed letter to Mr. Junge, 1931 May 26 45 1 page, 26 cm Signed portrait of Lou Henry Hoover to Norma Mannix, 47 photograph, 35 cm Unsigned invitation to Senater and Mrs. Lewis for 1931 May 7, 48 2 pages Signed White House card, 7 cm 1945-2013 2 56 items

Covers Eleanor Roosevelt to Michelle Obama.

Signed letter to Basil "Doc" O'Connor, 1945 June 21 1 1 page, 20 cm Autographed card, 2 8 cm Fanked envelope to Mr. Derek Collett-White, 1954 July 24 10 cm Three White House Cards from Lewis Collection, 6 cm Vinette of President Harry Truman signed by Bess Truman, 3 portrait, 30 cm Invitation to White House for Mrs. James Hamilton Lewis on 1951 April 11 with evelope, 1951 April 4 4 9 cm Invitation to White House for Mrs. James Hamilton Lewis on 1952 May 16, 9 cm Invitation to White House for Mrs. James Hamilton Lewis on 1949 January 20, 12 cm Vingette of President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed by Mamie Doud Eisenhower, 5 portrait, 30 cm Invitation to White House on 11 May 1957 to Mrs Robert King with envelope, 1957 April 25 6 10 cm Invitation to White House on 1953 June 1 to Mrs. Lewis, 11 cm Signed Note to Mrs. Jane E. Smith, 1968 May 8 1 page, 18 cm Franked envelope addressed to Mrs. Jane E. Smith, 1969 July 9 10cm Signed note to Mrs. Clarence Mingin, 1978 February 11 7-8 1 page, 23 cm Franked envelope addressed to Mrs. Clarence Mingin, 1978 February 11 12 cm Signed letter to Mr. Robert Six, 1964 October 21 9 1 page, 27 cm Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy at White House, 11 photograph, 21 cm John Kennedy Jr., 12 photograph, 26 cm Kennedy Family at Hyanms Port Chapel, 13 photograph, 26 cm Jacqueline and John Kennedy Jr., 14 photograph, 21 cm Signed letter to Mr Myer (Mike) Feldman of Stephen Girard Memorial Committee, 1989 June 14 15 1 page, 27 cm Signed pamphlet of Telephone call story, 16 21 cm Photograph of Johnson Family, photograph, 21 cm Signed letter to Mrs. Audrey Six, 1987 February 19 17 1 page, 28 cm Signed Christmas card, illustration, 9 cm Letter from Mrs. Audrey Six, 1987 March 26 18 1 page, 28 cm Vingnette of President Lyndon B. Johnson signed by Lady Bird Johnson, 19 ilustration, 30 cm Signed White House card, 1969 20 illustration, 6 cm Invitation to White House for Mrs. Lewis on 1969 May 19, 10 cm Vingnette of President Richard Nixon signed by Pat Nixon, 21 illustration, 30 cm Betty Ford portrait signed to George Sanders, 22 color photograph, 26 cm Vingnette of President Gerald R. Ford signed by Betty Ford to Selwyn C. Gamble, 23 illustration, 30 cm Rosalyn Carter portrait signed to Nancy Buchie, 25 color photograph, 26 cm Carter Christmas Card, 26 illustration, 14 cm Vingnette of President Jimmy Carter signed by Rosalynn Carter, 27 illlustration, 30 cm Signed Carter Christmas card of White House, 28 illustration, 14 cm Signed Carter Christmas Card of White House, illustration, 14 cm Signed letter to Mr. Robert Six, 1983 February 22 29 1 page, 27 cm Signed Portrait of Nancy Reagan in Red Room of White House, 30 illutration, 26 cm Magazine clipping of Nancy Reagan (Nancy Davis), 31 illustration, 11 cm Magazine clipping of Nancy Reagaon, 2000 illustration, 27 cm President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan signed by President Ronald Reagan, 32 illustration, 24 cm Signed portrait, 33 illustration, 26 cm Letter to Mayor Timothy A. Curtin of Forrest OH, 1983 November 17 34 1 page, 22 cm Envelope addressed to Timothy A. Curtin, 1983 November 18 11 cm Photograph of Barbara Bush speaking with Audry Meadows signed to Audrey Six, 35 illustration, 26 cm Three blank decorative cards and signed card from George Bush Presidential Library Foundation, 36 illustrations, 12 cm Signed portrait to Don, 37 illustration, 26 cm Signed portrait of President Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton to H.D. Nelson, 38 illustration, 28 cm Signed portrait to Don Nelson, 39 illustration, 26 cm Signed Good Housekeeping cover of Laura Bush, 2002 January 40 illustration, 28 cm President George W. Bush and Laura Bush signed by President George W. Bush to H.D. Nelson, illustration, 27 cm Signed letter to H.D. Nelson, 2004 May 19 41 2 pages, 26 cm Signed portrait, 42 illustration, 26 cm Six living First Ladies taken at Reagan Library with signatures, 1991 November 4 43 illustration, 21 cm First Ladies and their Presidents taken at Reagan Library with signatures, 1991 November 4 44 illustrations, 21 cm