Irvin
Nov 21, 2022

Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers

Irvin "Mac" Henry McDuffie and his wife Elizabeth "Lizzie" Hall McDuffie were domestics in their hometown of Atlanta and later in the employ of Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his presidency. Born in Elberton, Georgia, Irvin moved to Atlanta to be a barber and eventually manage the McDuffie-Herndon Barbershop financed by Alonzo Herndon of the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Upon the recommendation of a customer, Roosevelt interviewed McDuffie to be his valet at his retreat at Warm Springs, Georgia. McDuffie continued on with Roosevelt through his governorship in New York and his presidency, until McDuffie suffered a nervous breakdown in 1939. Elizabeth worked for 23 years as a maid with the prominent Atlanta family of Edward H. Inman. In 1933 she moved to Washington, D.C. to join her husband and became a maid in the White House where she remained until Roosevelt's death in 1945.

At the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library we are always striving to improve our digital collections. We welcome additional information about people, places, or events depicted in any of the works in this collection. To submit information, please contact us at DSD@auctr.edu.

For:
  • Institution = Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library
  • Geographic Location = New York (State)--Hyde Park (Dutchess County)
1945/1955
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the Roosevelt mansion at the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.
Presidents, Interior decoration
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the Roosevelt mansion at the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.
1941/1951
Elizabeth McDuffie holds a child who sits on a sun dial. Written on verso: Sun Dial in Hyde Park - Scene of Pres. Roosevelt Grave.
African American women, Children, Portraits and people, Cemeteries
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Elizabeth McDuffie holds a child who sits on a sun dial. Written on verso: Sun Dial in Hyde Park - Scene of Pres. Roosevelt Grave.
1937-06-30
A card stating that Elizabeth McDuffie will be traveling to Wilmington, Delaware and Hyde Park, New York with President Franklin Roosevelt.
Household employees, African American women, Presidents
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A card stating that Elizabeth McDuffie will be traveling to Wilmington, Delaware and Hyde Park, New York with President Franklin Roosevelt.
1935/1945
Elizabeth McDuffie reaches for a fruit tree. Written on verso: Hyde Park.
African American women, Portraits and people
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Elizabeth McDuffie reaches for a fruit tree. Written on verso: Hyde Park.
1935/1945
Elizabeth McDuffie sits in a garden. Written on verso: Hyde Park.
African American women, Portraits and people
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Elizabeth McDuffie sits in a garden. Written on verso: Hyde Park.
1934/1944
Irvin McDuffie stands in a garden. Written on recto: Mac - In the garden at Hyde Park.
African American men
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Irvin McDuffie stands in a garden. Written on recto: Mac - In the garden at Hyde Park.
1934/1944
Elizabeth McDuffie stands in a garden. Written on verso: [Hyde Park]
African American women
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Elizabeth McDuffie stands in a garden. Written on verso: [Hyde Park]
1934/1944
Elizabeth McDuffie sits in a garden. Written on verso: Hyde Park.
African American women, Portraits and people
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Elizabeth McDuffie sits in a garden. Written on verso: Hyde Park.
1934/1944
Elizabeth McDuffie walks through a garden. Written on verso: Hyde Park.
African American women, Portraits and people
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Elizabeth McDuffie walks through a garden. Written on verso: Hyde Park.