Thoughts on Our First Ladies

We take another break from travel stories to recognize Women’s History Month.

Long-time followers of this space will recall that my first photo pursuit was the Dead Presidents Quest. Like the vice presidents who are largely ignored during their service and in history, the wives of our presidents have often received little appreciation when many of them deserved accolades.

   

National Museum of American History (29 March 2023)

Among the museum gems just down the road in D.C. is the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. One of the most popular exhibits there is about the wives of the American presidents. By far, the main attraction of the exhibit is the collection of dresses the women wore at their husbands’ inaugural balls. On the wall opposite the gowns are place settings of the china patterns used while each family occupied the White House.

    

First Ladies’ Inauguration Gowns

National Museum of American History (29 March 2023)

First Ladies were not unimportant. I believe they were much more than escorts, hostesses and mothers to the children. Many were women of substance who did far more than they were given credit for. We tend to forget that the First Ladies were the first people the presidents spoke to in the morning and the last they were with at night. Especially after his life was popularized by the David McCullough book and TV miniseries, we knew that Abigail Adams was a critical influence and moderating presence on her husband John’s prickly nature.

Many presidential graves give equal space to their wives. The Adams’s, Grant and Hoover plots are prime examples. However, there are a few that give what I consider short shrift to their spouses. There are grave sites that seem to say, “Oh by the way, in addition to the Great Man, those other, smaller markers are for the little woman.”

To be fair, maybe it’s a second wife issue. Lifelong partners are one thing, but when the president is widowed and remarries after he has served, I should cut them some slack. Take Number 23, Benjamin Harrison. His poor wife, Caroline, died two weeks before the re-election that her husband lost. A well-educated woman, the artist and music teacher preferred to work with charities rather than serve as the White House hostess. She has a small headstone to one side of her husband while Wife # 2 has an equal-sized marker on the other side of him. At least the larger monument devotes equal space for their names, calling Caroline ‘beloved’ and Mary ‘devoted.’
   

Graves of Benjamin, Caroline and Mary Harrison,

Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana (21 October 2006)

It’s not just about equal billing in the internment space. I believe more should be told about some of the women who contributed materially to the success of their mates. So, I intend to use the considerable world-wide exposure of the Images and More platform to do just that.
   

Grave of Abigail Powers Fillmore,

Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, New York (21 May 2008)

The modest stone marker of the First Lady occupies a corner

within the fenced space that features a tall obelisk above the

grave of the thirteenth president and his second wife.

As a teenager, Millard Fillmore was a dirt-poor indentured apprentice with hardly any education. Abigail Powers, two years older, was his first teacher. She may have been the first presidential wife with a paying job, and she established the first White House library. Sadly, she caught pneumonia after attending the inauguration of Fillmore’s successor and died before returning to Buffalo.

Next Women’s History Month, I will share more stories about our presidents’ wives.
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PS -
This platform was established with my Dead Presidents Quest. Many of the stories of our Chief Executives were enlivened by the critical contributions of the First Ladies. A terrific source of information was the White House web site, where each First Lady had a page. I say ‘had’ because, in its infinite wisdom, Dear Leader’s team of MAGA sycophants has decided to eliminate all references to prior First Ladies. All you get is Melania. Type into the search bar “Historic First Ladies” or “First Ladies before Melania” and all you get is Melania.

Effing Despicable.

I understand that next month is Math Awareness Month…don’t expect any related post from me.

Adriatic Cruise Chronicles – Zagreb, Croatia

Back to the Cruise Chronicles. No sign of a boat yet. We took the train from Ljubljana and two hours later, we’re in another country to link up with the OAT (Overseas Adventure Travel) tour group. Our walkabouts in the central city revealed much of the country’s difficult recent history.

The region expects earthquakes every 120 years or so. There was a serious one in 1880. Then there were the two world wars and the civil war in the 1990’s. The next trembler happened just as Covid hit in 2020. On top of that, when Croatia joined the European Union in 2013, many talented locals moved to countries with better wages, etc. This explains why so many buildings have been under scaffolding for years.

Zagreb Cathedral (27 October 2025)

Zagreb Cathedral. Its soaring towers under scaffolding, the cathedral has been under repair since 2020 and is not yet open to the public. This current, neo-Gothic structure largely replaced the former, centuries-old cathedral that was severely damaged by the 1880 quake.

Open Air Market, Zagreb, Croatia (28 October 2025)

In big cities and small towns, much of the marketing is done in plazas where vendors sell everything from flowers to produce to baby clothes and toilet brushes.

Bust of Giulio Clovio,

Zrinjevac Park, Zagreb, Croatia (27 October 2025)

A few blocks from our hotel we discovered the charming Zrinjevac Park, a long narrow row of city blocks with big trees, fountains and busts of eminent Croatians. I like the way this shot came out so I had to learn who this guy was. Giulio Clovic was born in Croatia but trained and thrived in Italy as an illuminator, a designer and one who illustrates manuscripts…thus illuminating the writing. Always good to learn something new.

Ban and His Budgie

Zagreb, Croatia (28 October 2025)

“Now, Budgie, please fly home. I have a battle to fight

here and I can’t if you’re perched on my saber hand.”

Ban Jelacic Square is the heart of central Zagreb. There you will find a statue of the 19th-century leader. ‘Ban’ is the title of local rulers, and he is remembered for his military victories during the revolutions in 1848 and for eliminating serfdom in the country. Pigeons do have a way of sometimes making heroic statues look silly.

On this afternoon, OAT offered a little side trip that appealed to this grave hunter. Mirogoj Cemetery is the largest, most important burial ground in Zagreb.

Mirogoj Cemetery, Zagreb, Croatia (28 October 2025)

The cemetery was founded in the 1870’s. Due to funding shortfalls, the walls and copulas were constructed in fits and starts into the 1920’s. Damage from the 2020 earthquake is still evident.

Mirogoj Cemetery, Zagreb, Croatia (28 October 2025)

Many notable Croats are buried in the arcades of Mirogoj. The cemetery is city-owned and significant in that it inters people of all faiths.

Mirogoj Cemetery, Zagreb, Croatia (28 October 2025)

With All Saints Day around the corner, there was much activity sprucing up the graves with fresh flowers and candles.

Our full day in Zagreb ended with a group dinner at a local restaurant. We were served traditional dishes of pork, potatoes and cabbage-wrapped ground meat. Our tour group traveled by one of the many trams that traverse the city. I don’t know if Croatian youth are naturally more polite or if I just look old and needy but I was offered a seat twice.

Next stop – not on the boat yet.