Sepia Saturday # 66-First Ladies

Sepia Saturday

First Ladies Official Dresses

As displayed in the 
U.S. National Museum,
Smithsonian Institution

Sarah Childress Polk
1803-1891
First Lady 1845 to 1849

From my new postcard collection 

On the back
Genuine Curteich-Chicago


I found a web site that has a guide for dating postcards published by the Curteich -Chicago Co
If it has .

1898- 1Cent postage

Sarah Childress Polk was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, the third of six children. Although raised in the rugged Western Frontier, Sarah grew up amidst wealth and refinement. Her father, Joel Childress, was a successful businessman and planter.
Although an education was scarce for frontier girls, Sarah attended a local school and, in 1817, was sent to Salem Academy in North Carolina. This school was considered one of the best in the South. The unusually strong curriculum included English grammar, Bible study, Greek and Roman literature, geography, music, drawing, and sewing. Sarah's education was cut short, however, by the death of her father.
While James K. Polk was a Tennessee Legislator, he began courting Miss Childress, and on January 1, 1824, James and Sarah were married at her parents' home near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The young couple moved to a cottage in Columbia, where Mr. Polk could concentrate on his law practice and political career.
Sarah's education would serve both her and her politically ambitious husband well. As James K. Polk embarked upon his long national political career, Sarah acted as his secretary by keeping her traveling husband aware of local political events. Because of her ability to intelligently converse about politics, she was respected and befriended by some of the great politicians of the day.
As First Lady, Sarah Childress Polk quickly endeared herself to the country. She was a strict Presbyterian, and changed the image of the President's House. She curbed the tradition of heavy drinking and dancing at White House social functions. In charge of completely remodeling the State floor of the President's House, she created an elegant setting befitting the highest office in the land.
After four years, Sarah looked forward to her husband's retirement where they could live quietly in their new home, Polk Place, in Nashville. Their quiet retirement did not last long, however, as James K. Polk died just three months after leaving Washington. A 45 year-old widow, Mrs. Polk donned the black clothes of mourning for the rest of her life.
Not long after James K. Polk's death, Sarah became the guardian of an orphaned great niece. This "adopted" daughter, Sally Polk Jetton, would remain with Sarah for the rest of her days. Mrs. Polk was honored at Polk Place throughout her life, and was considered the “grande dame” of Nashville for over four decades. After a short illness, Mrs. Polk died at Polk Place in 1891, just short of her 88th birthday, forty-two years beyond her illustrious husband.

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Way to go Kentucky!!!!!!!!!!


Go BIG BLUE WILDCATS !!!!!!!

Tea Time Thursday and Vintate Thingie Thursday

Tea Time Talk Thursday with Ruth

and

Vintage Thingie Thursday with Suzanne

makes for a good Thursday.

Tea on the deck today.

Acorns still on the deck table.



Having------Lemon Honey Chamomile by Disney Tea, The Official Unbirthday Tea.
1/2 grapefruit for snack.
Using my new cobalt blue tea cup with the sweet little blue bird on it.




Feeling------Sun is shining brightly. It is probably about 70 degrees. 
Feeling so encouraged and hope of warm weather.
HH and I like to sit in the sun about 10 a.m. every morning during the warm weather.


On my mind--------The sun makes me feel good and has helped ease my mind about this diabetic learning I need to do.
Messed up today and ate too much Grape Nuts cereal for lunch as I had overlooked the carbs factor.
My supplies came today and post lunch BS was way too high.
Now me knows.

~Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to
overcoming the consequence of any misfortune~

                                                                                                                        William James

 

Go here to join in the Tea Talk and meet some nice folks.

Vintage Thingie Thursday

I had said that I was finding myself interesting in old postcards since blogging and decide to start a search.

I visited two of my regular thrift haunts and did not find anything.

I went to my true favorite Mackin's Antiques in town and wala- did I ever hit the jackpot.

I approached the cards with expectations of having to pay dearly for a single card but found a large box of cards, mostly $1.00 each.

I came home with some treasures.

I first looked for ones with messages so as to establish a date and found a couple.

But I have some really neat ones.

Collecting postcards takes up a lot less room them some items I had been collecting.

This, of course, is The Barry Statue and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pa.

Very nice preserved card. 

Built in 1729-35 by the Province Of Pennsylvania as the Colonial State House.

In the foreground is shown the bronze statue of

Commodore Barry.

The more interesting side.

Now I don't know why this was only partly scanned but what is important is the date and where it was mailed from.

From a niece to her aunt and uncle in Ohio.

March 22,1917

I had blocked out the name and street address, but I guess her words were not to be sent out into cyberspace to be read. 

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