room in the south wing of the mansion that was started in 1775 right before george washington left to participate in the continental congress and the revolutionary war. george washington always referred to it as open quote mrs. washington's chamber" and -- as "mrs. washington's chamber" and it is always referred to as her area. she spent time in that chamber, doing her hour of spiritual meditation. perhaps later in the date writing letters, talking with her coax -- her cooks to plan menus for the day, giving assignments she also use that room for teaching the children, elling them stories. you can imagine how wonderful it would have been in that

room. one of the most notable pieces is the bed in that bed chamber. that is the bed on which george washington died. but we also know that martha washington's had a role in acquiring that bad. another piece in the room had a very close connection with martha washington, her desk. although very little of the correspondence between george and washington -- george and martha washington has survived, because they savored their private correspondence. wo letters had been found that had slipped behind one of the

drawers in that desk. that is the preserver of that little bit of very personal correspondence. it is not just the place where she slept. i can't picture her sitting in her easy chair by the fire -- i can really picture her sitting in her easy chair by the fire with her grandchildren around. and i imagine it must've been very comfortable for her. >> before she became first lady in 1797 and during her early married life, abigail adams spent her time in quincy, massachusetts. > the story of abigail adams in the revolutionary war is a story of sacrifice, commitment to country, and abigail rose to the occasion. for the first 10 years of their married life, john and abigail lived in this home from 1764-1774. t is where they raised their four children. that was the birthplace of their second child, john quincy

adams, who went on to become the sixth president of the united states. it was also an important home because the primary link between she and john adams, who was serving in philadelphia at with the second continental congress was the letter writing. it was from this house that she was provided a window back here -- that he was provided a window back here of what was happening in the colonies during the war. he would report to him about the militia. during the battle of bunker hill and emptied 75, she took her young son to the high point -- the in 1775, she took her young son to the high point of the hill and would watch the battle. she would report to john adams about what was happening. she was literally the eyes of the colony in that area. this room in particular could be considered the classroom for abigail, the schoolmistress, and her four children. one must remember that the schools were closed down. the children did not benefit from a formal education. instead it was up to abigail to teach the lessons.

not only of arithmetic and french, but also plurality, literature, and what was going on in the revolutionary war. he was there educator and this was the room where many of those losses would have taken place. she reported to john adams during the revolution are at -- revolution at one point that she began to take up the works of lawless into history. -- rollins ancient history. i know if anyone has ever read it, but for a 7-year-old boy to accomplish this, he had a very good instructor in abigail adams. ever the patriot, abigail adams pened a home next door, john adams's birthplace, for refugees. she rented out the house to a farmer, mr. hayden, and his son.

they would provide for her here. she reported in one of the letters that she met with have -- with very ill treatment. she asked mr. hayden to share his house with the refugees, ut he refused. by the time she received a response from john adams, like many things, she had taken care of the problem. she had paid mr. hayden to leave the premises and therefore, could provide for the refugees herself in the house. she reports to john that again -- young john quincy is arching out behind house behind the militia. she welcomed these militiamen to her home and supported the revolutionary war with her actions. in 77, abigail realize they have outgrown their battle college -- cottage. she began to negotiate with her cousin to purchase the house you're standing in front of right now. john adams enjoyed a lot of peace and tranquility in this

home, as did abigail, so he christened it peace field. there were two smaller bedrooms on the third floor and a small kitchen at the back of the house. there were about seven and a half rooms to this home essentially. this was their home base. before becoming first lady, have a bill would spend nine years in this house. the first year, she was essentially setting up the ouse after just returning from europe. she had remembered this house as one of the grand houses in quincy, but her perception of grand had changed since living in europe. she began making plans for a way to enlarge the house. she wanted to improve on the size and height of the ceilings and the size of the space. he would tell her daughter not o wear any of her large hats because the ceilings were too low.

she began working with architects to enlarge the size of the home, in effect, doubling the size, adding a long haul and along entertainment room where she would receive her guests. the sensitivity to the architecture on the outside and the flow of the home, she had the builder dig down so they could lower the floors and get the high ceilings that she desired without disrupting the architecture on the outside of the house. you step down two steps and you are in a different world. a typical day for abigail would be to rise at 5:00 a.m. she had many chores to do and much of her child -- a time was pent attending the farm, taking care of the orchard, and taking care of the house. she also loved those early morning hours to spend by herself, preparing herself for the day. but most importantly, having a chance to indulge in one of her novels. although this is a presidential home, it is the home of a family.

abigail, instead of having servants do the work for her, even as the first lady, she would also be contributing to the kitchen and the running of the household. this is something she continued throughout her life, no matter what her position was. she was very involved. she had children and grandchildren visiting her here and this was a very active and lively household. she also spent a great deal of her time writing, because their misfortune in being a part was our fortune. in one letter, when he is asking her to come to a philadelphia, have a deal with right of the room she was in and the window and the view that she saw. the beauty that unfolds outside of the window of which are now ight tensley to forget the past, an indication that while she was back at peace field, she was on a new beginning as the first lady of the united states, as the wife of the president, and still as a mother. she would describe life here at peace field so romantically that john adams would reply in one of his letters, oh, sweet little farm, what i would do to

enjoy the thee without interruption. >> the lettis letter is one that everyone associates with abigail adams. what is lesser-known and fascinating about the letter is the comments that come quite far down in the letter. the first section of her letter to john is questioning and voicing her concerns about va's role in the revolutionary war. she writes, "what sort of defense virginia can make against our common enemy, whether it is those situated as to make enable the fence, but are not the gentry lords and common people baffles, are there unlike the gentry?" and she points out more. of this i am certain, that it is not founded upon that

generous and christian principle of doing to others as we would that others should do unto us. >> brought up as a quicker, dolly madison was known for her warm hospitality, social graces, and sense of elegance and style. >> if you were a visitor, you would enter at the front door and be shown immediately into the madison's great drawing room. mrs. madison had many lady friends that she would invite your. margaret bayard smith was a favorite of hers, and the daughter of thomas jefferson

were also frequent visitors. it also include her own family, her sister's especially, anna and lucy. they were always welcome guests, who often stayed for extended visit here at mount year. -- montpelier. in the drawing room, you see many of the faces of american states mint, but also entities like the bust of athena, the declaration of independence, and the nurture of homework, and they need -- a miniature of homer, and then you have a painting that was 200 years old even when it madisons purchase it. in blending the classic and the american, they are trying to place in america in the important role of history. this is where they would have dinner. they would have a chance to meet one another, conversed socially and casually, and then hey might be invited to dine

in the dining room. after supper, the ladies would then adjourn back into the drawing room. aybe they would serve some coffee and tea. this was the social center of the house. if you were an invited guest of the madisons or part of the intimate circle of family or friends, you would be invited into the dining room from the drawing room. and here, dolly madison would in an unusual setting for the timeframe set at the head of the table and her husband, james, would sit at the center of the table. dolly would direct in, it -- with direct the conversation and james would be able to engage in intimate conversation with the people immediately to his right and left. this table today is that for eight people, but there could be as many as 20 people served in the dining room. that would not be unusual. and indeed, dolly madison considered dining at maag pier to be so much more relaxing

than entertaining in washington. she said she would rather serve 100 people here than 25 in washington. many historical figures were here with the medicines. james monroe is here, general lafayette, henry clay, margaret bayard smith, dolly madison's good friend and writer from washington. once, the vice president offered to do the honors for her what she was sitting at the head of the table. and she responded, oh, no, watch with what each i'd do it, and indeed he said, -- he had to admit the ease with which she did it. it was if, he said, that she was born in paris. here we have very creation of something that we still have. this is typically of -- typical of the style of the day. a jazz classic lines, a simple trade, and a much more simple and elegant fashion than that either before or after it.

this is what she would have worn while she was the first lady. t was the regency style. but many of the dresses were more elegant. this represents what she wore at her inaugural. this was james madison's first inaugural. and it is described as a symbol of velvet. and she wore pearls -- simple, obhof velva it. and she wore pearls. it was an indication of the dining that you would find in the courts of europe. dolly was setting a style that was unique to american fashion. a lot of people think that dolly set the fashion of the turban. and that is not quite true. it began in persia, and it moved through france and england.

but dolly popularized the style and it was considered her top -- a classic look, to where some extravagant turbaned often topped with feathers on top of her head. and sometimes, they thought her fashion was a little too regal. there is one instance where she wore something that was lined in hermine. and she had some guilt edging in her turban. and people said this was overstepping things. she looked to rebuild, to queenly. and they were afraid thatqueen dolly" was setting -- they were afraid that "queen dolly" with setting the wrong town for america. many people felt that she was the last matriarch of this generation. ut others felt that because of the growing tender in her life, she did not have the money to

buy the latest fashions. she had to where many of the old clothes. she is often wearing the same thing. >> the james monroe museum in fredericksburg shows a unique perspective of the first lady for her personal belongings. >> elizabeth monroe was a true partner in her husband's career and was a good sounding board for many of the policies and issues he had to be involved with. he was some one her husband to go to for valuable advice. we go through an art of elizabeth monroe's life. mrs. monroe had a very

well-developed sense of style, a heritage of it. she had shoes that she inherited from her mother that she continued to wear into her lifetime. as the is -- the mistress of oak hill, she was responsible for maintaining the household accounts. and she did it on a small ivory memo pad. they are ivory pieces with days of the week inscribed on them. and whatever to do list that she might have could be written on here with a charcoal pencil and then be wiped off. it reflects someone with organized, busy, and making use of a very practical item in her life. the relationship that mrs. monroe had with her sister was a strong bond. in very much the style of the time in giving a gift of sisterly love, she presented to

one of her sister in the 1790's jewelry made from her own hair. joe were made from human hair became very commonplace in the 1800's. later in the 19th century it is associated with memorializing dead loved ones. it is a sign of mourning. but it can also be a sign of affection, a very personal gift. music was a very important part of elizabeth monroe's upbringing and life. she was trained in playing the piano. we have a -- and astor pianoforte a circa 1790. elizabeth did not have as well developed a budget as her style. due to the long years of public service that her husband put in. they were able to make some pretty good deals on a variety of items. her jewelry is a reflection of that. rs. monroe sought to combine

elements of high-quality with versatility. we have your necklaces and associated other jewelry that are in aquamarine and citrine, and each could be worn with or without a pennant. you have a couple of different ses. a bracelet or a joker is possible with the amethyst jewelry. there is a coral tiara. it gives you several different options in creating her jewelry accommodations. >> the blue room is the monroes' and one of the most authentic in the house. you can go back to one -- if i could go back to one time in the white house, i would probably go back to the monroe timeframe in the white house, because the wheels of history begin to come to life. and of course, monroe felt that the era of good feeling, as it was called, would last forever. people began moving west in big numbers.

i would like to be listening to what was going on. in furnishing the house, james onroe and his wife were very into french everything. they spoke french at home and they lived in french -- france. they spent a lot of money on things, such as these clocks. these things are still in use, any of them. many of the things he acquired are still in use. when you see our earliest things, many of them are in the blue room. we have these wonderful gilt chairs and sofas. their work -- they were acquired by president monroe from france. he was criticized for buying french things and not american. and in 18 20's, the white house

assed a law that the white house for a juror had to be of american manufacturer. this room is much more of a period room in that sense. it is a place where the munro's would probably feel the most comfortable, too, like teddy roosevelt in the east room. they would walk in and say, i understand this room. and this is wallpaper that is of our vintage. >> the only first lady born outside the u.s., lisa katherine adams, had to adjust to her new life in america, and the family of her husband, john quincy adams. >> when louisa and john quincy first came to than old house, they had just landed in europe in washington, d.c., and made the journey of two old currency. the journey was very difficult.

she was brought to this house to meet her father and mother in law and of that moment she would write, had i stepped on to know was arc, i could not have been more utterly astonished. she had a challenge in winning over abigail adams. john adams was easy. he took to her right away. she always felt very comfortable with him and very well-liked by him. abigail was more skeptical, perhaps due to john quincy t.d. in. he only give abigail a little bit of information about his wife, and was not forthright in his intentions. in many ways, it was a surprise that he married her so quickly. and abigail did not get a hance to know her. she was quite concerned that although she was an american citizen, she had never stepped foot on american soil. this is not what she intended for her son, john quincy adams. but through time, she learned to grow and love and understand lisa -- lisa and a forged a strong relationship. she described abigail adams at

the end of her life as the planet around which all revolved. unlike john adams, john quincy adams did not live at peace field year round. they would return in the summer months to get a break from the politics of washington. her grandson, henry adams, remembered louisa catherine fondly. he describes her and her relationship with the family. he always felt that she was the odd one out because she was born in england and educated in france. she remained a foreign personality to many of the items, itemsthe adamses, but ot to henry. his fondest recollection is of her entertaining at t in this room. john quincy adams and louisa would inherit this room from john adams. they thought about selling the

house, but after discussion they decided it was important to the family story, to hold on to this house for future generations. >> during andrew jackson's brief hiatus from the military in the early 1800's, rachel jackson entertained family and friends at their home, the hermitage. >> they came to this property in 1804. he was just retiring for a while. when they first moved here, he spent a lot of time at

home. the primary people who would have visited prior to 18 -- the war of 1812 would have been friends and relations in the area. rachel had a huge family and they all had lots of kids. there were a lot of them and they were in and out all the time. rachel was very close to her family. jackson being an orphan, grew very close to rachels family. after the war of 1812 when he has become this national hero, there were people here all the time. basically, they were acknowledged to be nice horses, very cordial and very welcoming. -- nytes hostess, very cordial and very welcoming. they have lots and lots of company for the rest of rachel's life. they had many dinner parties and things here at the hermitage. there used to findings in the city, so they -- fine things in the city, so they acquired a good deal of those things, too. they had quite a bit of silver, such as these punch cups used. they would add some highly liquor out punch. she had very nice things with this dual image of her as this

from the country lady. -- frumpy country they. jim was not so much that. -- she was not so much that. i think it was more about living in the country than anything about her appearance or clothing. during the war of 1812, there re letters from her that say things like, yes, do not let fame and fortune blind you to the fact that you have a wife and i am home and i need you. i think he knew pretty well that she would have preferred him just to stay home and the

plantation owner and jackson. this is the earliest letter that we have that jackson wrote to rachel. it was written in 1796. referred to her "my dearest heart." it says, with greatest pleasure i sit down to right with you -- rite to you, though i am absent from you. i will be restored your arms, there to spend my days in domestic sweetness with you, the companion of my life, never to be separated from you again during this transitory and in fluctuate -- and fluctuating life. there were lots of comments and visitors about her flower gathering and picking. one lady was here on her honeymoon and she and her husband were indicted tuesday. she mentioned -- to step --

were invited to stay. she and her husband mentioned the garden. she walked through the garden with rachel and rachel gathered flowers for them before they left. we don't know what kind of health rachel was in overall. it is apparent that throughout the fall of 1828 her health was not very good. but the campaign for president that jackson was going through have a huge effect on her health. this is the letter that jackson wrote on the day rachel actually died, december 22, 1828. he is writing to his friend, richard keith carl. in his letter, he describes the onset of her final illness. he says that she was a few days hence, suddenly violently attacked with pains in her left shoulder and breast and such was the contraction at her

breast that suffocation was apprehended. it was clear that she was very -- in very serious condition. he talks about going to washington, like he is assuming she will get better, and off we will go. unfortunately, she did pass later in the day. according to the stories of her death, jackson called for her to be bled when she died. he was a big believer in heroic medicine, basically that the medicine that did not hear you -- did not kill you would cure you. even though was clear that she was not alive anymore, he asked that dr. to believe her. supposedly, there is a little stain that came out when the doctor did try to bleed her. and then some things about his morning -- if mourning, a calling card that he printed in black, suggesting he is in mourning. and then a book that was given

to him by a friend of his, mrs. rutledge, that had the wrong inscription in it. it was a book to help him, come for him, to help him along. -- comfort him, to help him along. jackson was completely devastated. he was preparing plans to go to washington on a steamboat and it was up more than he could eal with almost. this is something with her picture on it that he had with him pretty much all the ime. it would be on a chain or strap that he could wear around his neck, on his bedside table at night so that he could see it in the morning when he

awakened. nd she was with him pretty much all the time, even though she had passed away. this is the book that was very important to jackson. this was rachel's songbook, and she made this cross stitch cover for her book, so it would keep the book nice. after her death, jackson kept a number of things like this very close at hand, so we could refer to them. another way of keeping rachel close. jackson had abbott after rachel died of purchasing were using were keeping the things that reminded him of her. this is a central hallway of the hermitage manchin. although the house burned after rachel's death, jackson insisted that they repurchase the same wallpaper that rachel had chosen for this space. she had liked it. it reminded him of her, and he

wanted it here. this is jackson's bedroom. after rachel's death, she was never far away from him. he kept many mementos of her around. in the early 1830's, he had a portrait that was a special favor of his copy, so that he could have hanging over the fireplace so that it would be the first thing he saw in the morning and the last thing he saw at night, according to the traditional stories passed down in the family. he would go out to her tomb every evening and spend some time out there. >> educated in the graces of society, angelica van buren was well-suited for the white house. later at his retirement in kidder hook, n.y.. >> angelica them during would spend the summer months here. occasionally, also the winter months, but they would spend the summer months here. in the dining room, angelica van buren would serve as a hostess. van buren had many social events, political events. nd during those times, angelico would be hostess for those occasions, just as she as at the white house.

she was quite refined, being that she was a wealthy and had all the appropriate social graces of the time, so much so that the ambassador from france who was purdue the critical of american social graces complimented her. later, he added another 100 acres on to the 130 acres they had here. typically, the women in the house would engage in a variety of activities, polite conversation, read or recite from memory to one another. they would often play parlor games in here. anjelica was trained in philadelphia on the heart. there were occasions she would have played a part for the

other female guests here in the greenroom. this is the breakfast room ere. it is a much more intimate room compared to the main hall. it is the place where the family had their daily meals. the china you see here monogrammed here"vb" is the daily china. angelica could be seen serving some one -- someone here. she suffered a miscarriage, and we know from letters that she wrote that during that time, he convalesced on this couch here in the main hall. earlier, while she was serving as host is in the white house, she had another baby girl -- as an infant.

-- to die as an infant. here on the second floor, they ould have spent a great deal of time while bought -- while visiting her father-in-law, president van buren. it is easy to imagine her wearing one of the stresses here, or even at the white house as she hosted president van buren. the parasol is likely would use while strolling the grounds in the summer months on the air -- on their large farm of 240 acres. they had a very close relationship. he was a very amiable man, which was why he was so successful in politics. and she was trained in the social graces of the time. i think they genuinely care for one another. >> while her husband, john, rebuild his political career, letitia tyler managed the kids and the plantation. >> he and his wife, latisha, and their family moved here to

williamsburg to establish the law practice. he constructed his law office, and the foundry. the house they live in is no longer here, but here in williamsburg, it was perfectly to traded at the center of the legal part of the town. the courthouse was right across the street. this is sort of the beating heart of williamsburg, even in the 1830's. all of the political activity, the social activity, they are really living at the center of it. nd this fantastic 18th-century house that they were living in, as john tyler was resurrecting his political year -- career. latisha was operating out of the house and running the various plantations all over the place. t is right here that she suffered a stroke in 1839 that partly paralyzed her, although she was still able to retain control on the family accounts, of all of the family business, while john tyler was actually getting involved again in the

business. it was here that he learned he was elected vice president and also in the spring of night -- of 1841, it was here that he became the next president of the united states. and it was here that she was informed she was the next first lady of the united states. > julia tyler -- julia gardner as 30 years younger than him. >> when they got to for belvedere, they had put a barge in the bay. verybody was very pleased. he ship turned around and went

back to washington. a hard core few wanted to fire the gun again. they sent a request down to the captain. it was turned down. but at that point, somebody looked over and as they are passing, the request was changed to stop the ship and honor -- and fire the gun in honor of the first passenger appeared when they could not do that, the governor fired a cannon. the right breach blew out and killed seven people, among them senator gardner. also the secretary of state, and the secretary of the navy. everybody downstairs thought the ship had exploded.

all of those handsome young officers that were surrounding my grandmother who was 23 years old at the time, but very beautiful, my grandfather had been trying to talk to her because of -- but could not because of all the handsome young males. they all rushed to do what they had to do and left her standing there. she knew her father wasn't there, so she followed behind them. i've grandfather followed behind. -- my grandfather followed behind. and he was calling out, "don't let ms. gardner find her father is dead." and when she heard that, she fainted right back into the arms of my grandfather. he caught her tenderly. he picked her up and carried her. she came to, and later, she wrote her mother sang the first thing she remembered was going down the gangplank in the arms of the president, and she struggled and her head fell over so she could look up into his eyes. and she wrote her mother that she relies for the first time that the president of media elite. >> she had parties at the white

house. she was immensely dedicated to the concept of the annexation of texas to the union. during that time, she was able to sway john c. calhoun, who was a contemporary of my mother's from south carolina, and she was able to sway him to vote for the annexation of texas. and she worked on henry clay, but i don't know whether she was really successful. biji took henry clay out to dinner. and this is a woman without a chaperon, a president's wife, alone having dinner with henry clay, and she did not mind at all. and she wrote her mother a

letter, which i think it's priceless. she said, mother, mr. clay was a little insulting. when i told him that my husband wanted him to vote for the annexation of texas, he said to me, i am wide taxes should not be an efficient -- and next but i -- and i replied, my husband is oth. john tyler was born in charles city county. he purchased his house and came down here once before he retired from the presidency. e and julia gardner were

married. she said, the hand of god and nature have been kind to my sherwood forest, but i can improve upon it. and she did. she had the moldings imported from italy. shad the mantelpiece is brought in from italy. and the knocker on the front door, it has been meticulous the polished through the years. that was one of her contributions to the house. julia and her mother were very close. and we are exceedingly fortunate to have many letters written between juliet and her mother from his plantation. this house is only one room wide because you want the breezes to go from the north to the south and from the south to the north. they would sit in the hall quite frequently. she sat in the open doorway that led to the south porch and wrote letters to her mother. and quite frequently, she

ommented on the president, who kept his feet on the banister and would read his newspaper and throw it on the floor. in the gray room is a table, and it is the table on which we are told john tyler fed her breakfast in her bedroom after he had been around the house. after his horseback ride, he ould go to that table and have breakfast with his wife, which he would personally carry in on a tray, because she was still in bed. also, her mother writes her and says commanders stand from other people who believe that you sleep until 9:00 in the morning, and the president brings you breakfast in bed. and she says, please, do not take advantage of an elderly gentleman who dotes upon you. in the afternoons, julia rights to her mother frequently what she is doing on his plantation. she records almost every piece of furniture in the house.

her brothers -- brothers visited, and became her buying gents. hey bought and you're from a store and when it comes, they found cuts on the bottom edge of the mayor. her mother writes her back and said, don't be so picky of minutia. we have record of a ball that she had in honor of her sister margaret, who came here very frequently. and the portrait is a portrait of julia ann margaret. -- julia and margaret. you can see the water in the ackground. the ball that she had for

argaret started at 9:00. and then, she says, they danced the virginia rail and the waltz ntil the sun rose, and the finest champagne flowed unceasingly. among one thing that julia did here for entertainment was, they allowed all of the house serving children to play continuously with the children of the big house. in her letters, julia tyler speaks of her children playing with the children in the yard. nd she speaks of their dancing with the children in the yard. the supervision of the house servants, and there were many, there were a total of almost 90 slaves on the plantation. i think there were 13 house servants.

they would care for her as well as the others on the plantation. they were happy. and she loved it. she refers to the melody of his voice. she always refers to his intelligence. she had a wonderful time here. >> sarah polec took a much more active role as first lady, just as she had done throughout her husband's political career as a congressman, speaker of the house, and governor. >> the traveling desk is indicative of sarah's life with james k. polk, mainly as his health made. he had no staff, so sarah took a hand on attitude toward being his wife. the traveling desk she took with her on her long trips to washington, d.c. as she traveled twice a year, these are troops that could take 30 days. she is communicating with her family and friends back home,

so she wrote tens of thousands of letters during her ifetime. the portraits are painted by ralph earl when james and sarah were in washington as congress and lady. is there was a helpmate to him throughout his political career. when he was writing speeches, she would complete them for him. daly, they would read the newspaper and she would underlined passages she thought he should read. she was a fixture in the gallery in congress. it was a great time of speeches of politicians. henry clay and calhoun and others were giving their famous speeches of the day. 14 members of the house of representatives, and the last four or the speaker of the house. and he was the only speaker at that time to become president. it brings a whole new social status to washington, d.c., and sarah played one of the hostesses in washington.

typically, congress would act -- enact a memorial officially thanking him for his service. the congress was so widely divided when he left the that they refuse to do that, but it is interesting. a number of politicians wrote poems in honor of sarah at the time that she left. supreme court justice joseph story road a palm mourning the loss of her in washington this society. >> how sarah looked was >> how sarah looked was important to her and how she was perceived by the public. she saw it as a reflection on the presidency itself here she was known for having beautiful dresses and looking incredible in a white house that was equally beautiful. the blue dress was purchased in paris in 1847 by mrs. polk. it's a robe.

it would be the undress dress costume of a first lady if she was taking visitors before she was properly dressed.t eh the white dress is a ball gown. high end fashion for the 1840's. v-cut, it was a style that she used again and again. she found a style that she liked and kept with it. it was a beautiful gown in silk and satin. it has a great deal of lace attached to it. polk often purchased dresses and would buy material to go along with them so she could change the way they look. so instead of having to buy five or six gowns, she would buy a single one, and buy extra material to make them look differently. wonderfulhad a collection of handbags and purses and ready tools. -- and reticules.

her jewelry was of the american mode. it was un-american for women to wear precious stones. she would wear gold and silver and french paste and enamelware. so few of these headdresses have survived from this time because they are made out of silk and satin that tended to get worn out. we have a wonderful collection of headdresses. a turbine, which by the 1840's would have fallen out of fashion, but dolly madison was a regular visitor. we wonder if sarah polk did not adopt that style after mrs. madison. this is the inaugural fan. it was a gift from president- elect polk to his wife sarah. she carried it with her on the day of his inauguration. it is gilt paper with a bone style. it features the lithographic image of the signingf