Posted by Tania Kindersley.
How to be a Retronaut has been on fire lately. I subscribe to his site, and every single entry in my Google Reader has been a hit in the last few days. For some reason, today’s collection of portraits of American First Ladies, has keenly caught my interest. I’m not quite sure why. Anyway, I’ve been thinking lately that I should do more of putting up enchanting things from the internet, rather than just banging on about the thoughts which scramble about in my own head, so this is very much in the spirit of that.
Have a look here.
I just adore Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, and am intrigued as to why Grace Anna Goodhue Coolidge appears to be holding a racoon. The expression on her face suggests she's under duress.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tania!
ReplyDeleteI just learned that James Buchanan was a "bachelor" president. (Harriet Lane was his niece, ward & eventual acting First Lady).
We NEVER studied any of the First Ladies in American History (maybe that's why it's called HIStory???)
First First Lady I remember was Mamie Eisenhower. Didn't like her hair then, still don't. (Ah me.)
The things poor mesdames Taylor, Fillmore and Pierce had to wear-- the attire of Victorian domestic angels looks literally as if it is choking them. Meanwhile, Mrs. Harding looks nothing like the husband-poisoning femme fatale I was brought up to think that she was, and the more I learn about the personality of the Coolidges, the better I like them, in a bitter sort of way. Not a fan of the Coolidge policies, but there has to be something to be said for a man whose idea of fun was to stand upon the trailing skirts of ladies at parties and watch what happened, and his wife who is willing to be photographed holding a raccoon. Pleased to see that Mrs. Hoover has a nice dog, as well.
ReplyDeletePoor Lady Bird looks trapped in the shell of her hair. We love her around here-- we've named a lake for her and we are forever planting flowers in her name, which I hope she likes. Mrs. Obama is both objectively stunning, and emotionally stunning to come upon at the very end of this series. Thank you!
Oh, my, I hope you saw these: http://www.howtobearetronaut.com/2011/02/young-barack-obama/
ReplyDeleteThey made my heart stop.