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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26 Objects displayed
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  2. Archival Collections
  3. Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
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  • Subjects = Household employees
  • Subjects = African American men
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 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
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping regarding the McDuffie's plans to write a book about their time in the White House.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Late FDR's Aides Plan to Write Book on Experiences", circa 1945
Date Created
1940/1950
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping regarding the McDuffie's plans to write a book about their time in the White House.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African American men, African Americans--Politics and government
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
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
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
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
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
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 about an award given to Irvin McDuffie from the Washington Herald.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Is Given Award by Newspaper as 'Key Cog,'" March 19, 1938
Date Created
1938-03-19
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping about an award given to Irvin McDuffie from the Washington Herald.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter from Irvin McDuffie in which he recounts his travels aboard the U.S.S. Indianapolis with President Franklin Roosevelt. Of note is McDuffie's account of being left at the port in Rio de Janiero as well as the ceremony marking the crossing of the equator and the subsequent "visit" by Neptunus Rex.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Irvin McDuffie to Elizabeth McDuffie, 1936
Date Created
1936
Description
A letter from Irvin McDuffie in which he recounts his travels aboard the U.S.S. Indianapolis with President Franklin Roosevelt. Of note is McDuffie's account of being left at the port in Rio de Janiero as well as the ceremony marking the crossing of the equator and the subsequent "visit" by Neptunus Rex.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, Presidents, Travel
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A card with a poem that would accompany a bouquet sent from George D. Riley.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Blackistone Bouquet Card, circa 1938
Date Created
1933/1943
Description
A card with a poem that would accompany a bouquet sent from George D. Riley.
Subject
Household employees, African American men
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A birthday card sent to Elizabeth McDuffie.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Irvin McDuffie to Elizabeth McDuffie, September 13, 1933
Date Created
1933-09-13
Description
A birthday card sent to Elizabeth McDuffie.
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 with President Franklin Roosevelt. Written on recto: discrepancies.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"The President's Valet", 1933
Date Created
1933
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping detailing Irvin McDuffie's career with President Franklin Roosevelt. Written on recto: discrepancies.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the life and job of Alonzo Fields, chief butler at the White House.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"What It Means to be The White House Butler", circa 1937
Date Created
1932/1942
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the life and job of Alonzo Fields, chief butler at the White House.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of two newspaper clippings. The first, from 1932, explains that Irvin McDuffie will go to the White House as President Franklin Roosevelt's valet while the other, from 1936, details a visit by McDuffie and Roosevelt to the tomb of Abraham Lincoln.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Roosevelt Hero to his Negro Valet", December 30, 1932
Date Created
1932-12-30
Description
Photocopy of two newspaper clippings. The first, from 1932, explains that Irvin McDuffie will go to the White House as President Franklin Roosevelt's valet while the other, from 1936, details a visit by McDuffie and Roosevelt to the tomb of Abraham Lincoln.
Subject
Household employees, African American men, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers