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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  • Subjects = African American men
A picture of George Wallace presenting a plaque to John Edison Sloane with an image caption and brief note to Elizabeth McDuffie.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from George H. Wallace to Elizabeth McDuffie, September 9, 1958
Date Created
1958-09-09
Description
A picture of George Wallace presenting a plaque to John Edison Sloane with an image caption and brief note to Elizabeth McDuffie.
Subject
Associations, institutions, etc., African American men, Special events
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A group of unidentified people eat at a table.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Group, March 1958
Date Created
1958-03
Description
A group of unidentified people eat at a table.
Subject
African American men, African American women
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A flier announcing the arrival and speaking engagements for Reverend Howard Jones.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Rev. Howard Jones Announcement, November 1957
Date Created
1957-11
Description
A flier announcing the arrival and speaking engagements for Reverend Howard Jones.
Subject
African American clergy, African American men
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A Christmas card from Kemper Harreld to Elizabeth McDuffie.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Kemper Harreld to Elizabeth McDuffie, circa 1955
Date Created
1950/1960
Description
A Christmas card from Kemper Harreld to Elizabeth McDuffie.
Subject
African American musicians, African American men, African American women
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
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 group of unidentified people sit and stand around a banquet table.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Group, circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
A group of unidentified people sit and stand around a banquet table.
Subject
African American men, African American women
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A group of four women and one man stand together outside.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Group, circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
A group of four women and one man stand together outside.
Subject
African American men, African American women
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A group of two women and one man stand together outside a house.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Group, circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
A group of two women and one man stand together outside a house.
Subject
African American men, African American women
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
An unidentified woman sits and leans against a brick structure while an unidentified man stands next to her.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Couple, circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
An unidentified woman sits and leans against a brick structure while an unidentified man stands next to her.
Subject
African American men, African American women
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
An unidentified family stand in front of a mirror.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Family, circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
An unidentified family stand in front of a mirror.
Subject
African American men, African American children, Portraits and people
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
An unidentified couple stand near a stage at an event.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Couple, circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
An unidentified couple stand near a stage at an event.
Subject
African American men, African American women
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Portrait of a couple on their wedding day.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Bride and Groom, circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
Portrait of a couple on their wedding day.
Subject
African American men, African American women, Special events, Portraits and people
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 Irvin McDuffie's career.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Roosevelt 'Wore Him Out,' ex Valet Admits", July 8, 1944
Date Created
1944-07-08
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping detailing Irvin McDuffie's career.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A scrapbook containing telegrams and clippings related to the deaths of Irvin McDuffie and Elizabeth McDuffie's mother, Sarah Stanfield. 55 pages.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Scrapbook, circa 1946
Date Created
1941/1951
Description
A scrapbook containing telegrams and clippings related to the deaths of Irvin McDuffie and Elizabeth McDuffie's mother, Sarah Stanfield. 55 pages.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African American men, Funeral rites and ceremonies
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Writings related to Irvin McDuffie's experience working for President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Legs", circa 1946
Date Created
1941/1951
Author
McDuffie, Elizabeth S.
Description
Writings related to Irvin McDuffie's experience working for President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
African American authors, Household employees, African American men
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A couple stand together on steps.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Couple, May 24, 1941
Date Created
1941-05-24
Description
A couple stand together on steps.
Subject
African American men, African American women
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A group of people pose for a picture in front of two large trees.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Unidentified Group, circa 1945
Date Created
1940/1950
Description
A group of people pose for a picture in front of two large trees.
Subject
African American men, African American women
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers