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 = Presidents
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping discussing the life and policies of President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"F.D.R. Died 10 Years Ago Was He a Genius? Did He Sell Out Democracy?", April 10, 1955
Date Created
1955-04-10
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping discussing the life and policies of President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Presidents, Political science, World War (1914-1918), World War (1939-1945)
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the industry and economics of the South.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"In 1938 FDR Said", circa 1959
Date Created
1954/1964
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the industry and economics of the South.
Subject
Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie thanking her for a Roosevelt medal.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Robert W. Woodruff to Elizabeth McDuffie, March 30, 1953
Date Created
1953-03-30
Description
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie thanking her for a Roosevelt medal.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie regarding an article about her in Ebony.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Correspondence from Mary Jane Hillyer to Elizabeth McDuffie, April 15, 1952
Date Created
1952-04-15
Description
A letter to Elizabeth McDuffie regarding an article about her in Ebony.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Three blank postcards displaying buildings at the Little White House in Warm Springs.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Little White House, Warm Springs Postcards, 1952
Date Created
1952
Description
Three blank postcards displaying buildings at the Little White House in Warm Springs.
Subject
Presidents, Buildings and grounds
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the fifth year anniversary of President Franklin Roosevelt's death.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Warm Springs Observes Anniversary of Tragedy", April 13, 1950
Date Created
1950-04-13
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the fifth year anniversary of President Franklin Roosevelt's death.
Subject
Presidents, Associations, institutions, etc., International relations
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping commenting on the legacy of President Franklin Roosevelt.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"History Will Give the Final Verdict", April 1950
Date Created
1950-04
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping commenting on the legacy of President Franklin Roosevelt.
Subject
Presidents, Political science
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping in which Eleanor Roosevelt wrote answers to reader's questions.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"If You Ask Me", circa 1952
Date Created
1947/1957
Author
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping in which Eleanor Roosevelt wrote answers to reader's questions.
Subject
Presidents' spouses, Presidents, Children, Political science
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
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
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
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping in which Elizabeth McDuffie discusses the late President Franklin Roosevelt's reluctance to run for a third term.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Lizzie Has Insight into Life of FDR", circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping in which Elizabeth McDuffie discusses the late President Franklin Roosevelt's reluctance to run for a third term.
Subject
Household employees, African American women, African Americans--Politics and government, Presidents
Collection
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the Roosevelt mansion at the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.
Elizabeth and Irvin McDuffie Papers
"Half Million A Year Visit FDR's Hyde Park Home", circa 1950
Date Created
1945/1955
Description
Photocopy of a newspaper clipping describing the Roosevelt mansion at the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.
Subject
Presidents, Interior decoration
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