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.