49 Facts About Lucretia Garfield

Lucretia Garfield was the first lady of the United States from March to September 1881, as the wife of James A Garfield, the 20th president of the United States.

Highly educated and knowledgeable of Washington politics, Lucretia Garfield was a regular adviser for her husband, and she assisted him in his front porch campaign for the presidency.

Lucretia Garfield was well regarded during her brief period in the White House, but after only a few months contracted malaria and went to Long Branch, New Jersey, to recuperate.

Lucretia Garfield remained on his deathbed for months, during which time his wife stayed at his bedside and received much public sympathy.

Lucretia Garfield returned to her former residence in Ohio after being widowed, and she spent much of the rest of her life preserving her husband's papers and other materials, establishing what was effectively the first presidential library.

Lucretia Garfield "Crete" Rudolph was born in Garrettsville, Ohio, on April 19,1832.

Lucretia Garfield was the daughter of carpenter Zebulon Rudolph and Arabella Mason Rudolph, the first of four children.

Lucretia Garfield was raised as a member of the Disciples of Christ.

Lucretia Garfield's family was reserved, with very few outward shows of affection.

Lucretia Garfield then attended the Geauga Seminary in Chester Township, Ohio, at same time as James A Garfield.

Lucretia Garfield's father co-founded the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, and she began attending the school in 1850.

Rudolph and Lucretia Garfield began a personal correspondence in November 1853, and they agreed to marry in early 1854.

Lucretia Garfield first noticed her for her intelligence, though he discouraged her from overexerting herself in her studies.

The strength of their relationship fluctuated over the following years, as Lucretia Garfield lamented Rudolph's reserved demeanor.

At one point, Lucretia Garfield began a relationship with another woman, Rebecca Selleck, while he attended Williams College.

Only after returning home and being allowed to read Rudolph's diary did Lucretia Garfield realize the extent of her commitment.

Lucretia Rudolph and James Garfield married at Rudolph's home on November 11,1858.

Lucretia Garfield's life did not change significantly in the years after her marriage, during which she continued working as a teacher.

Lucretia Garfield's husband was rarely home, away as a preacher, as a state legislator, and then as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Lucretia Garfield kept living her life independently, maintaining her own social life and traveling without her husband.

Lucretia Garfield was hurt by the lack of attention he showed her, particularly after the birth of their first child, Eliza, in 1860.

When James went to war in 1861, Lucretia Garfield returned to her parents' home.

Lucretia Garfield remained in Ohio, where she again felt lonely as her husband was away.

Lucretia Garfield began visiting her husband in Washington in early 1864.

Lucretia Garfield had two more children during this time: she had her third child, James, in 1865 while she stayed in Washington, and she had her fourth child Mary, in 1867.

Lucretia Garfield had three more children while living here: Irvin in 1870, Abram in 1872, and Edward in 1874.

Lucretia Garfield agreed with the belief that women should live domestic lives, though she resented the idea.

Lucretia Garfield did not play a direct role in her husband's Congressional career, hosting and attending very few Washington social events.

Lucretia Garfield was dismayed when her husband was only raised as a compromise presidential candidate during the 1880 Republican National Convention; she wished that he would be nominated because he was the most popular choice.

Lucretia Garfield only learned that he was successfully nominated when the first visitors arrived with the news.

Lucretia Garfield became the first spouse of a presidential candidate to appear on a campaign poster, though she only allowed the one photo to be taken of her for the campaign.

Lucretia Garfield urged her husband not to trust the Stalwart faction of his party, insisting that he "fight them dead".

Lucretia Garfield became first lady on March 4,1881, after her husband was inaugurated as President of the United States.

Lucretia Garfield's hosting responsibilities as first lady went far beyond those that were expected of her when she was a Congressional wife, and she sought advice from Blaine's wife, Harriet.

Lucretia Garfield's interest was in the opportunity to meet prominent writers and artists, and she entered the White House with a list of names she wished to invite.

Lucretia Garfield paid more attention to political aspects of the role than the social aspects, and the president kept her updated on happenings in Washington that were not known to the public.

Unlike her predecessor, Lucy Webb Hayes, Lucretia Garfield did not have strong opinions about the temperance movement, and she resumed the serving of alcohol at White House events.

Lucretia Garfield dismissed the temperance advocates lobbying her to reinstate the ban, determining that alcohol in the White House was a small aspect of temperance receiving disproportionate attention.

Lucretia Garfield took particular interest in White House history, and she often visited the Library of Congress to research the building.

Lucretia Garfield participated in only one interview while she was first lady, in which she freely spoke about politics and her support for Blaine.

Only two months into her tenure as first lady, Lucretia Garfield was afflicted with a life-threatening case of malaria.

Lucretia Garfield insisted that her own personal physician, Susan Ann Edson, one of the country's first female physicians, was among those treating the president.

Lucretia Garfield organized her husband's public funeral and the creation of his tomb in Lake View Cemetery.

Lucretia Garfield worked with historian Theodore Clarke Smith to organize her husband's papers and to document her own memories of the presidency.

Lucretia Garfield became a prominent member of the community, and she attended the first Rose Parade.

Lucretia Garfield died of pneumonia at her winter home in South Pasadena, California, on March 19,1918.

Lucretia Garfield was buried with her husband in Lake View Cemetery.

Lucretia Garfield had one of the shortest tenures of any first lady, second only to Anna Harrison.

Lucretia Garfield was only the second of the first ladies to receive higher education.