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.

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19 Objects displayed
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  3. Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
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  • Decade = 1910-1919
Title Date Created Description Subject Collection
Postcard from Mae Turner Baker to Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie, September 14, 1916 1916-09-14 A postcard from Mae Turner Baker to the McDuffies describing her vacation in Europe. Travel, African American women, Household employees Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Girl on Stool, circa 1915 1910/1920 A girl sits on a stool. Written on recto: The Light of This Home. African American children Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Man, circa 1915 1910/1920 Portrait of an unidentified man in a military uniform. African American men, Armed Forces, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Man, circa 1915 1910/1920 Portrait of an unidentified man sitting on a stool. African American men, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Man, circa 1915 1910/1920 Portrait of an unidentified man. African American men, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Man, circa 1915 1910/1920 Portrait of an unidentified man. African American men, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Ethiopia Awakening, circa 1914 1909/1919 A picture of Meta Warrick Fuller's sculpture, Ethiopia Awakening. Art, African American arts Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Irvin McDuffie, circa 1912 1907/1917 Portrait of Irvin McDuffie standing next to a table. African American men, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Laura Brown, circa 1911 1906/1916 Laura Brown sits looking over her shoulder. Written on verso: Jan. 7, 191[illegible] Mrs. Laura Brown 4682 Jackwanna St., Frankford, Phila., Pa. African American women, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Barbershop Interior, circa 1910 1905/1915 View of the interior of a barbershop. African Americans--Health and hygiene, African American men Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Musicians, circa 1910 1905/1915 A group of unidentified musicians sit outside holding their instruments. African American musicians, African American men, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Couple, circa 1910 1905/1915 Portrait of an unidentified couple. African American men, African American women, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Irvin McDuffie with Others, circa 1910 1905/1915 Irvin McDuffie (back row, center) stands with other unidentified people. Written on verso: above: (?) Henry McDuffie; 75 (or 175) Randolph St. Atlanta Ga. African American men, African American women, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Women, circa 1910 1905/1915 An unidentified woman sits on a stool while an unidentified girl behind her stands. African American women, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Women, circa 1910 1905/1915 Portrait of unidentified women standing in a row. African American women, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Postcard of Irvin McDuffie, circa 1910 1905/1915 Portrait of Irvin McDuffie. African American men, Household employees, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Girl, circa 1910 1905/1915 Portrait of an unidentified girl standing next to a pedestal. Children, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Portrait of a Woman, circa 1910 1905/1915 Portrait of an unidentified woman, possibly Elizabeth McDuffie. African American women, Portraits and people Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
New York Zoological Park Postcards, circa 1910 1905/1915 Three blank postcards displaying various animals at the New York Zoological Park, now the Bronx Zoo. Associations, institutions, etc. Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers