- Title
- Behind the scenes, or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House ; Behind the scenes ; Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House
- https://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:883292
- Keckley, Elizabeth, approximately 1818-1907, creator
G.W. Carleton & Co, publisher.
New York Printing Company, printer. - by Elizabeth Keckley.
- 1868
- New York (State)
New York - G.W. Carleton
- Behind the Scenes is the life story of Elizabeth Keckley, a shrewd entrepreneur who, while enslaved, raised enough money to purchase freedom for herself and her son. Keckley moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked as a seamstress and dressmaker for the wives of influential politicians. She eventually became a close confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln. Several years after President Lincoln's assassination, when Mrs. Lincoln's financial situation had worsened, Keckley helped organize an auction of the former first lady's dresses, eliciting strong criticism from members of the Washington elite. Behind the Scenes is, therefore, both a slave narrative and Keckley's attempt to defend the motives behind the auction. However, the book's publication prompted an even greater public outcry, with the added racial subtext of white society's disdain for Keckley's audacity in publishing details of the Lincolns' private lives. Keckley's dressmaking business failed, the Lincoln family cut all ties with her, and she lived out her final days in a home for the indigent. Scholars have acknowledged the book's valuable account of slave life as well as its intimate view into the Lincoln White House. Biographers of the Lincolns have quoted extensively from Keckley's text.
- 371 p., [1] leaf of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.
- English
- Biography
Autobiographies
Slave narratives - Where I was born -- Girlhood and its sorrows -- How I gained my freedom -- In the family of Senator Jefferson Davis -- My introduction to Mrs. Lincoln -- Willie Lincoln's death-bed -- Washington in 1862-3 -- Candid opinions -- Behind the scenes -- The second inauguration -- The assassination of President Lincoln -- Mrs. Lincoln leaves the White House -- The origin of the rivalry between Mr. Douglas and Mr. Lincoln -- Old friends -- The secret history of Mrs. Lincoln's wardrobe in New York.
- Lincoln, Mary Todd--Employees
Lincoln, Abraham--Employees
Keckley, Elizabeth
Lincoln, Abraham
Lincoln, Mary Todd
African American women--Biography
Women slaves--United States--Biography
Slaves--United States--Biography - United States--New York--New York
- Microfilm. Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard College Library Imaging Services, 2005. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
- Slavery, Abolition, Emancipation, and Freedom: Primary Sources from Houghton Library
Open Collections Program at Harvard University
Open Collections Program at Harvard University. 01658
Black women writers series - E457.15 .K26
- Houghton Library, Harvard University
Master Microforms, Harvard University
Widener Library, Harvard University - 990055485350203941
- Title
- Behind the scenes, or, Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House ; Behind the scenes ; Thirty years a slave and four years in the White House
- Additional Digital Items
- https://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:883292
- Creator / Contributor
- Keckley, Elizabeth, approximately 1818-1907, creator
G.W. Carleton & Co, publisher.
New York Printing Company, printer. - Attribution
- by Elizabeth Keckley.
- Date
- 1868
- Place Of Origin
- New York (State)
New York - Publisher
- G.W. Carleton
- Description
- Behind the Scenes is the life story of Elizabeth Keckley, a shrewd entrepreneur who, while enslaved, raised enough money to purchase freedom for herself and her son. Keckley moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked as a seamstress and dressmaker for the wives of influential politicians. She eventually became a close confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln. Several years after President Lincoln's assassination, when Mrs. Lincoln's financial situation had worsened, Keckley helped organize an auction of the former first lady's dresses, eliciting strong criticism from members of the Washington elite. Behind the Scenes is, therefore, both a slave narrative and Keckley's attempt to defend the motives behind the auction. However, the book's publication prompted an even greater public outcry, with the added racial subtext of white society's disdain for Keckley's audacity in publishing details of the Lincolns' private lives. Keckley's dressmaking business failed, the Lincoln family cut all ties with her, and she lived out her final days in a home for the indigent. Scholars have acknowledged the book's valuable account of slave life as well as its intimate view into the Lincoln White House. Biographers of the Lincolns have quoted extensively from Keckley's text.
- Extent
- 371 p., [1] leaf of plates : ill. ; 19 cm.
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Biography
Autobiographies
Slave narratives - Contents
- Where I was born -- Girlhood and its sorrows -- How I gained my freedom -- In the family of Senator Jefferson Davis -- My introduction to Mrs. Lincoln -- Willie Lincoln's death-bed -- Washington in 1862-3 -- Candid opinions -- Behind the scenes -- The second inauguration -- The assassination of President Lincoln -- Mrs. Lincoln leaves the White House -- The origin of the rivalry between Mr. Douglas and Mr. Lincoln -- Old friends -- The secret history of Mrs. Lincoln's wardrobe in New York.
- Subjects
- Lincoln, Mary Todd--Employees
Lincoln, Abraham--Employees
Keckley, Elizabeth
Lincoln, Abraham
Lincoln, Mary Todd
African American women--Biography
Women slaves--United States--Biography
Slaves--United States--Biography - Places
- United States--New York--New York
- Notes
- Microfilm. Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard College Library Imaging Services, 2005. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
- Series
- Slavery, Abolition, Emancipation, and Freedom: Primary Sources from Houghton Library
Open Collections Program at Harvard University
Open Collections Program at Harvard University. 01658
Black women writers series - Classification
- E457.15 .K26
- Repository
- Houghton Library, Harvard University
Master Microforms, Harvard University
Widener Library, Harvard University - Record ID
- 990055485350203941
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