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.
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  • Collection = Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
  • Decade = 1930-1939
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping regarding Irvin McDuffie visiting and speaking in Elberton, Georgia.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Roosevelt's Valet to Visit Old Home Here", April 1938
Date Created
1938-04
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping regarding Irvin McDuffie visiting and speaking in Elberton, Georgia.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping discussing President Franklin Roosevelt's early life as a state senator and as Assistant Secretary of the Navy during World War I.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Life Of Franklin D. Roosevelt", March 20, 1938
Date Created
1938-03-20
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping discussing President Franklin Roosevelt's early life as a state senator and as Assistant Secretary of the Navy during World War I.
Subject
Presidents, Presidents' spouses, Political science, World War (1914-1918)
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping and brochure about teacher and artist, C. Rosenberg Foster.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from C. Rosenberg Foster to Elizabeth McDuffie, March 4, 1938
Date Created
1938-03-04
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping and brochure about teacher and artist, C. Rosenberg Foster.
Subject
African American artists, African American teachers, African American women
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of four newspaper clipping describing Elizabeth McDuffie's screen tests for "Gone With the Wind" and incorrectly reporting that she was awarded the role.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"White House Upstairs Maid Gets a Fat Part in 'Gone,'" January 3, 1938
Date Created
1938-01-03
Description
Photocopy of four newspaper clipping describing Elizabeth McDuffie's screen tests for "Gone With the Wind" and incorrectly reporting that she was awarded the role.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African Americans actors
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of telegrams and letters regarding Elizabeth McDuffie's screen tests for "Gone With the Wind".
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Gone With the Wind" Clippings, January 1938
Date Created
1938-01
Description
Photocopy of telegrams and letters regarding Elizabeth McDuffie's screen tests for "Gone With the Wind".
Subject
African American women, African American actors, Motion picture industry, Household employees
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to the Dunbar School.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt Visits Kentucky School", 1938
Date Created
1938
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to the Dunbar School.
Subject
Presidents' spouses, African Americans--Education
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing a stay at the White House.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Over The Coffee", 1938
Date Created
1938
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing a stay at the White House.
Subject
Presidents' spouses, Presidents, Interior decoration
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping of an imagined conversation between President Franklin Roosevelt and President Theodore Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Over The Coffee", 1938
Date Created
1938
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping of an imagined conversation between President Franklin Roosevelt and President Theodore Roosevelt.
Subject
Presidents, Political science, International relations
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the dedication of a new bridge in Chicago.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"President Franklin Roosevelt Says Good-Bye To Chicago", October 9, 1937
Date Created
1937-10-09
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the dedication of a new bridge in Chicago.
Subject
Presidents, Political science, Transportation
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A copy of a statement made by President Franklin Roosevelt discussing the Department of the Interior Appropriation Bill.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Statement By The President, August 10, 1937
Date Created
1937-08-10
Description
A copy of a statement made by President Franklin Roosevelt discussing the Department of the Interior Appropriation Bill.
Subject
Presidents, Political science
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie asking if she would visit Margaret Mitchell at her home.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Margaret Mitchell to Elizabeth McDuffie, July 30, 1937
Date Created
1937-07-30
Description
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie asking if she would visit Margaret Mitchell at her home.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, Authors, Motion picture industry
Collection
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.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
White House Employee Trip of the President Card, June 30, 1937
Date Created
1937-06-30
Description
A card stating that Elizabeth McDuffie will be traveling to Wilmington, Delaware and Hyde Park, New York with President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing a visit by Ras Desta Damtew.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Prince Demtu As He Appeared in Washington", March 6, 1937
Date Created
1937-03-06
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing a visit by Ras Desta Damtew.
Subject
International relations, Presidents, African Americans--Politics and government, African American men
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Eleanor Roosevelt leans over and smiles at unidentified children. Written on recto: Los Angeles Cal. March 1937
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Eleanor Roosevelt with Children, March 1937
Date Created
1937-03
Description
Eleanor Roosevelt leans over and smiles at unidentified children. Written on recto: Los Angeles Cal. March 1937
Subject
Presidents' spouses, Portraits and people, Children
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Elizabeth McDuffie (fourth from left) at first anniversary event of the United Government Employees.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
United Government Employees First Anniversary, 1937
Date Created
1937
Description
Elizabeth McDuffie (fourth from left) at first anniversary event of the United Government Employees.
Subject
African American women, Associations, institutions, etc.
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping of Eleanor Roosevelts column describing Chandler Roosevelt, age three, wandering around the White House.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Mrs. Roosevelt's Column", 1937
Date Created
1937
Author
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping of Eleanor Roosevelts column describing Chandler Roosevelt, age three, wandering around the White House.
Subject
Presidents' spouses, Children, International relations, Special events
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Lincoln Lives In White House Yet", 1937
Date Created
1937
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation.
Subject
Presidents' spouses, Presidents, American Civil War (United States : 1861-1865), Political science
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping showing a photo of Eleanor Roosevelt in an evening gown.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"An Inaugural Style Note", 1937
Date Created
1937
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping showing a photo of Eleanor Roosevelt in an evening gown.
Subject
Presidents' spouses, Special events
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing preparations for the Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Roosevelt Sails From Rio Harbor", November 28, 1936
Date Created
1936-11-28
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing preparations for the Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace.
Subject
Presidents, Political science, International relations
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping regarding Elizabeth McDuffie campaigning for President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Listen to Wife of Roosevelt Valet", November 2, 1936
Date Created
1936-11-02
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping regarding Elizabeth McDuffie campaigning for President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers