Elizabeth Keckley

Elizabeth Keckley

14 books
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About the Author

Elizabeth Keckley was a remarkable figure of 19th-century America, born into slavery in 1818 in Virginia, where she endured years of hardship and abuse before purchasing her freedom in 1855 through her exceptional skills as a dressmaker. Rising to prominence in Washington, D.C., she became the personal modiste to Mary Todd Lincoln, crafting elegant gowns for the First Lady during a tumultuous era marked by the Civil War and presidential assassination. Keckley's intimate proximity to the White House afforded her unique insights into the Lincoln family, which she later chronicled in her candid memoir, Behind the Scenes (1868), offering a rare African American perspective on national history. Beyond her literary contributions, she was a philanthropist and activist, founding the Home for Destitute Colored Women and Children, embodying resilience and quiet defiance against systemic oppression.

Common genres
Abolitionism African American History African American Literature African American Studies Anthology Biography civil rights Historical Memoirs historical nonfiction History Literary Anthology memoir memoir anthology Poetry Short Stories Slavery Narratives
Writing style
Intimate Observant Resilient

Books by Elizabeth Keckley