Elizabeth Keckley

Biography

Elizabeth Keckley (1818–1907) became renowned as a skilled seamstress who served First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and as a courageous author who shared her life in the memoir Behind the Scenes, showing the world the resilience of a Black woman navigating freedom and service.

Her faithfulness to others, commitment to lifting up her community, and her literary voice endure at National Harmony Memorial Park, where she rests among fellow seekers of justice.