Presidents Lincoln and Davis at Home

William Seale, an independent scholar specializing in writing about and in the restoration of historic American buildings, compared the two White Houses in the nation between 1861 and 1865. He talked about the history and architecture of the White House in Washington, D.C., and the residence of the Confederate president in Richmond, Virginia. Then he detailed the daily lives there of President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis, including the political aspects. He focused on the moving in process, the redecorating done by both Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Davis, the social events held, and the staff. Mr. Seale responded to questions from members of the audience.

The 2009 Elizabeth Roller Bottimore Lecture, “Presidents Lincoln and Davis at Home,” was presented by the Richmond University Department of History Thursday, September 24, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. in Tyler Haynes Commons. The Museum of the Confederacy was the co-sponsor. close