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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  • Decade = 1930-1939
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping stating that Irvin McDuffie left his position as valet.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"McDuffie Out as F.D.R. Valet", December 16, 1939
Date Created
1939-12-16
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping stating that Irvin McDuffie left his position as valet.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping discussing President Franklin Roosevelt's possible third term in office.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"National Affairs", October 9, 1939
Date Created
1939-10-09
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping discussing President Franklin Roosevelt's possible third term in office.
Subject
Presidents, Political science, World War (1939-1945)
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping containing the full text of a speech given by President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Text Of Roosevelt's Address To Graduates At West Point", June 13, 1939
Date Created
1939-06-13
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping containing the full text of a speech given by President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Presidents, Political science, Armed Forces
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the arrival of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Their Gracious Majesties", June 10, 1939
Date Created
1939-06-10
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the arrival of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I.
Subject
Presidents, International relations, Travel
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping of Eleanor Roosevelt's column.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"My Day", June 9, 1939
Date Created
1939-06-09
Author
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping of Eleanor Roosevelt's column.
Subject
Presidents' spouses, International relations, Interior decoration
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the arrival of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I at the White House.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Royalty Passes Up", June 8, 1939
Date Created
1939-06-08
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the arrival of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I at the White House.
Subject
Presidents, International relations, Travel
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Anything For a View of Royalty", June 8, 1939
Date Created
1939-06-08
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I.
Subject
Presidents, International relations, Travel
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping containing photos of Elizabeth McDuffie and Incarnation Rodriguez on the occasion of a state dinner for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Served English Royalty", June 1939
Date Created
1939-06
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping containing photos of Elizabeth McDuffie and Incarnation Rodriguez on the occasion of a state dinner for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, International relations
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter to Irvin McDuffie discussing President Franklin Roosevelt and the upcoming election.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from William J. Thompkins to Irvin McDuffie, April 4, 1939
Date Created
1939-04-04
Description
A letter to Irvin McDuffie discussing President Franklin Roosevelt and the upcoming election.
Subject
Presidents, African Americans--Politics and government, African American men
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing President Franklin Roosevelt's visit to the Tuskegee Institute.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Roosevelt Kept 30 Year Promise In His Visit To Tuskegee Institute", March 31, 1939
Date Created
1939-03-31
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing President Franklin Roosevelt's visit to the Tuskegee Institute.
Subject
Presidents, African American universities and colleges, African Americans--Education
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Portrait of W.C. Handy. Written on recto: To Mr[?] I McDuffy; Best Wishes; W C Handy 2-6-39.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
W. C. Handy, February 6, 1939
Date Created
1939-02-06
Description
Portrait of W.C. Handy. Written on recto: To Mr[?] I McDuffy; Best Wishes; W C Handy 2-6-39.
Subject
African American men, Portraits and people, African American composers, African American musicians
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping showing a medicine cabinet taken from the White House in 1814.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Roosevelt Receives Medicine Chest Taken From White House in 1814 by British Tar", 1939
Date Created
1939
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping showing a medicine cabinet taken from the White House in 1814.
Subject
Presidents, Political science, International relations
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Copies of correspondences to the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation from Irene Lloyd asking for words of encouragement.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Georgia Warm Springs Foundation Correspondences, December 29, 1938
Date Created
1938-12-29
Description
Copies of correspondences to the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation from Irene Lloyd asking for words of encouragement.
Subject
Associations, institutions, etc.
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter to President Franklin Roosevelt commending Elizabeth McDuffie for her campaign work in Ohio.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from the Ohio State Democratic League to President Franklin Roosevelt, November 17, 1938
Date Created
1938-11-17
Description
A letter to President Franklin Roosevelt commending Elizabeth McDuffie for her campaign work in Ohio.
Subject
African American women, Household employees, African Americans--Politics and government, Associations, institutions, etc., Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A fragment of a letter to Elizabeth McDuffie on the occasion of her and Irvin's wedding anniversary.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Irvin McDuffie to Elizabeth McDuffie, November 6, 1938
Date Created
1938-11-06
Description
A fragment of a letter to Elizabeth McDuffie on the occasion of her and Irvin's wedding anniversary.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African American men, Special events
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping regarding an speech given by Elizabeth McDuffie at a cocktail hour sponsored by the Negro Democratic Council.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Mrs. Elizabeth McDuffie Speaks for Sawyer and Bulkley at Cleveland", October 29, 1938
Date Created
1938-10-29
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping regarding an speech given by Elizabeth McDuffie at a cocktail hour sponsored by the Negro Democratic Council.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of two newspaper clippings. One details Elizabeth McDuffie's involvement in the United Government Employees while the other describes the policies and funding advocated by the U.G.E..
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Practical Philanthropist", September 11, 1938
Date Created
1938-09-11
Description
Photocopy of two newspaper clippings. One details Elizabeth McDuffie's involvement in the United Government Employees while the other describes the policies and funding advocated by the U.G.E..
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter to Irvin McDuffie asking if President Franklin Roosevelt could visit the offices of the Improved Order of Good Samaritans on a visit to Athens, Georgia.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Improved Order of Samaritans to Irvin McDuffie, August 6, 1938
Date Created
1938-08-06
Description
A letter to Irvin McDuffie asking if President Franklin Roosevelt could visit the offices of the Improved Order of Good Samaritans on a visit to Athens, Georgia.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, Presidents, Associations, institutions, etc.
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
An image and caption describing a meeting between President Franklin Roosevelt and Civil War veterans.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Roosevelt At 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1938
Date Created
1938-07-03
Description
An image and caption describing a meeting between President Franklin Roosevelt and Civil War veterans.
Subject
American Civil War (United States : 1861-1865), Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of newspaper clippings regarding the McDuffie's visit to Elberton, Georgia.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"FDR Interested in Masses, Says Irvin McDuffie", April 6, 1938
Date Created
1938-04-06
Description
Photocopy of newspaper clippings regarding the McDuffie's visit to Elberton, Georgia.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, African American women, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers