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 = 1940-1949
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie thanking her for Eleanor Roosevelt's autograph.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Graham W. Jackson to Elizabeth McDuffie, September 27, 1949
Date Created
1949-09-27
Description
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie thanking her for Eleanor Roosevelt's autograph.
Subject
African American musicians, Household employees, African American women, Presidents' spouses
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie regarding a newspaper clipping.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Warm Springs Memorial Commission to Elizabeth McDuffie, January
Date Created
1949-01-04
Description
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie regarding a newspaper clipping.
Subject
Associations, institutions, etc., African American women, Household employees
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie regarding her donation of President Franklin Roosevelt's shaving brush. Written on verso: Ans.; Call for Miss Tamie; Hemlock-4273-W.; Lola, Ve. 8905-1st Ring; 15; 6 o'clock.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Warm Springs Memorial Commission to Elizabeth McDuffie, December
Date Created
1948-12-08
Description
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie regarding her donation of President Franklin Roosevelt's shaving brush. Written on verso: Ans.; Call for Miss Tamie; Hemlock-4273-W.; Lola, Ve. 8905-1st Ring; 15; 6 o'clock.
Subject
Associations, institutions, etc., African American women, Household employees
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
South-View Cemetery Association Card for Sarah Stanfield, Elizabeth McDuffie's mother, noting her place of burial.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
South View Cemetery Association Card, October 20, 1948
Date Created
1948-10-20
Description
South-View Cemetery Association Card for Sarah Stanfield, Elizabeth McDuffie's mother, noting her place of burial.
Subject
African American women, Funeral rites and ceremonies
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A collection of telegrams offering condolences on the death of Sarah Stanfield, Elizabeth McDuffie's mother.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Condolence Telegrams, October 1948
Date Created
1948-10
Description
A collection of telegrams offering condolences on the death of Sarah Stanfield, Elizabeth McDuffie's mother.
Subject
African American women, Household employees, Funeral rites and ceremonies
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of two newspaper clippings. One describes a party hosted by Elizabeth McDuffie in 1948 for her friends from Washington. The other describes an event honoring Mrs. McDuffie around 1933.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Social Swirl", September 26, 1948
Date Created
1948-09-26
Description
Photocopy of two newspaper clippings. One describes a party hosted by Elizabeth McDuffie in 1948 for her friends from Washington. The other describes an event honoring Mrs. McDuffie around 1933.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
An employee record for Thomas A. Glass, a clerk with the United Sates Post office.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Statement of Employee's Record, June 30, 1947
Date Created
1947-06-30
Description
An employee record for Thomas A. Glass, a clerk with the United Sates Post office.
Subject
African Americans--Employment
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing President Franklin Roosevelt's rejection of other Democratic candidates for President.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Wallace Didn't Have 'It,' Farley Quotes 'Boss,'" June 27, 1947
Date Created
1947-06-27
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing President Franklin Roosevelt's rejection of other Democratic candidates for President.
Subject
Presidents, Political science, International relations
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping containing an article written by Henrietta Nesbitt in which she describes her time in the White House.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"My 13 Years in the White House", October 1946
Date Created
1946-10
Author
Nesbitt, Henrietta
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping containing an article written by Henrietta Nesbitt in which she describes her time in the White House.
Subject
Household employees, Presidents, International relations
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper article written by the Chief of the White House Secret Service, Michael F. Reilly, describing his work with President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"I Guarded FDR", Part Two, September 14, 1946
Date Created
1946-09-14
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper article written by the Chief of the White House Secret Service, Michael F. Reilly, describing his work with President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Presidents, Household employees
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper article written by the Chief of the White House Secret Service, Michael F. Reilly, describing his work with President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"I Guarded FDR", Part One, September 7, 1946
Date Created
1946-09-07
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper article written by the Chief of the White House Secret Service, Michael F. Reilly, describing his work with President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Presidents, Household employees
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A notice of settlement of claim for Irvin McDuffie.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Notice of Settlement of Claim, August 7, 1946
Date Created
1946-08-07
Description
A notice of settlement of claim for Irvin McDuffie.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, African Americans--Employment
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper article written by the Chief of the White House Secret Service, Michael F. Reilly, describing his work with President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"I Guarded FDR", Part Four, September 28, 1946
Date Created
1946-07-28
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper article written by the Chief of the White House Secret Service, Michael F. Reilly, describing his work with President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Presidents, Household employees
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper article written by the Chief of the White House Secret Service, Michael F. Reilly, describing his work with President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"I Guarded FDR", Part Three, September 21, 1946
Date Created
1946-07-21
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper article written by the Chief of the White House Secret Service, Michael F. Reilly, describing his work with President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Presidents, Household employees
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping paying tribute to President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Pays Tribute To Roosevelt", April 12, 1946
Date Created
1946-04-12
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping paying tribute to President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Presidents, Political science
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie offering condolences on the death of Irvin McDuffie and President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Arthur Turner to Elizabeth McDuffie, March 3, 1946
Date Created
1946-03-03
Description
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie offering condolences on the death of Irvin McDuffie and President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African American men, Presidents, African Americans--Health and hygiene
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping featuring a poem in memoriam of Irvin McDuffie.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"In Memoriam", January 30, 1946
Date Created
1946-01-30
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping featuring a poem in memoriam of Irvin McDuffie.
Subject
Household employees, African American men
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A journal featuring an article about Elizabeth McDuffie and her time with the Roosevelt's. 7 pages.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
New Vistas. Vol. 1, No. 6, January 1946
Date Created
1946-01
Description
A journal featuring an article about Elizabeth McDuffie and her time with the Roosevelt's. 7 pages.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter regarding Irvin's last days in Washington D.C. before returning to Atlanta.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Irvin McDuffie to Elizabeth McDuffie, June 26, 1945
Date Created
1945-06-26
Description
A letter regarding Irvin's last days in Washington D.C. before returning to Atlanta.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African American men
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping detailing Elizabeth McDuffie's last moments with President Franklin Roosevelt before his death.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Mrs. McDuffie Tells of Last Day with Roosevelt", April 28, 1945
Date Created
1945-04-28
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping detailing Elizabeth McDuffie's last moments with President Franklin Roosevelt before his death.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers