Martha Washington 1872

This is Currier and Ives' chromolithograph of Martha Washington, created sometime between 1857 and 1907. As First Lady, Martha Washington navigated a newly defined role, one without precedent and fraught with expectations. Here, she embodies both authority and domesticity, traits carefully cultivated to reassure a young nation. Yet, behind the carefully constructed image lies a complex history. Martha’s wealth, derived from her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis, was inextricably linked to the labor of enslaved people. She inherited these enslaved people and brought them to her marriage with George Washington. The print reflects the societal norms of its time, where the contributions and experiences of marginalized individuals were often obscured. It invites us to consider the full story, acknowledging the uncomfortable truths alongside the celebrated narratives. It's a reminder that history is rarely simple, and the figures we elevate are often entangled in systems of power and oppression.