Mary Todd Lincoln and Varina Banks Howell Davis experienced 19th-century political life at its highest levels. They shared similarities, as each was Southern-born, well-educated, and a gifted conversationalist. Both had their fair share of critics during their husbands’ time in office, and neither woman was one to sit back quietly. 

In addition to carrying out their public duties, they raised young children during a time when disease took a deadly toll on families and were forced to deal with stress and grief. Each survived her husband and sought to preserve his memory—and dealt with the numerous challenges in the war’s aftermath in her own way.

Kelly Hancock of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond examines the reasons.

General Information

• View Common FAQs and Policies about our Online Programs on Zoom.