www.history.ky.gov

Connections. Perspecitve. Inspiration.

100 West Broadway • Frankfort, Ky. • 40601 • 502.564.1792 • www.history.ky.gov

The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, on December 13, 1818, Mary Todd was descended from two of central Kentucky’s founding families—the Todds and the Parkers. After ten years of education in Lexington, Mary Todd followed her older sisters to Springfield, Illinois. In November 1842, she married Abraham Lincoln. They had four sons, Robert, Edward, William, and Thomas.

Mary Lincoln lived the typical domestic life of a nineteenth-century, middle-class woman, though she maintained an unusual interest in politics and in her husband’s career as a politician. Her great expectations for her husband were realized when he was elected president of the United States in November 1860.

After her husband’s assassination in 1865, Mary suffered periods of extreme grief, which further complicated longtime complaints of severe headaches and emotional disturbances. In 1875, her only surviving son, Robert, committed her to a private asylum, but after three months she managed to secure her own release. Mary lived in France from 1878 to 1882. She returned to Springfield and died on July 16, 1882.

In Back to the Bluegrass, Mary Todd has returned to Kentucky from Washington and encounters a group of well-wishers. The long trip by train, the strains of being wife to a congressman, and memories of her childhood make this an emotional homecoming.

Playwright/Mary Todd Lincoln - Donna E. Ison Ms. Ison is an actor and writer living in Lexington and currently serves as one of the resident playwrights for the Kentucky Historical Society. She develops shows for museums nationwide, including the Hunt-Morgan House, The Institute of Texan Cultures, Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and The Callahan Museum in Louisville. She recently completed her first novel entitled, The Miracle of Myrtle.

Director – Mike ThomasMike spent eight years as the KHS Museum Theatre coordinator and two years as director of the Capital Arts Center in Bowling Green, before returning to his hometown of Maysville as director of the Washington Opera House. Mike completed his theatre studies at Western Kentucky University and since that time has served as an arts administrator, educator, director, and performer for a variety of performing groups.

KHS Museum TheatreSince 1998, the Museum Theatre program has staged more than 40 original productions often inspired by the rich resources in the Kentucky Historical Society collection. Each play is presented within KHS exhibit spaces, and designed to connect audiences with the sights, sounds, and stories of the past. These professional productions provide museum visitors with a personal perspective of historical characters and encourage them to explore the exhibits to learn more. Audience members often find they relate to the story itself. What’s your story?

Photo credits: (cover) Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. (inside left) Mary Todd Lincoln, 1862 and President Abraham Lincoln, ca. 1864 courtesy of the KHS Special Collections. (inside right) “View of Lexington” and 1930 photo Robert S. Todd farm, “Buena Vista,” Franklin County, courtesy of the KHS Special Collections.Special Thanks: Darrell Meadows – KHS Project Historian, Mary Beth Williams – LJS Lincoln Project Assistant, Vicky Middleswarth – KHS Museum Education and School Programs Administrator, Annie Denny – KHS Museum Educator.

To learn more Mary Todd Lincoln, see the following:

Baker, Jean H. • Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography. New York, 1987.Fleishner, Jennifer. • Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Keckly: The Remarkable Story of the Friendship between a First Lady and a Former Slave. New York, 2003.Turner, Justin G., and Linda Levitt Turner eds., • Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life and Letters. New York, 1972.

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, on December 13, 1818, Mary Todd was descended from two of central Kentucky’s founding families—the Todds and the Parkers. After ten years of education in Lexington, Mary Todd followed her older sisters to Springfield, Illinois. In November 1842, she married Abraham Lincoln. They had four sons, Robert, Edward, William, and Thomas.

Mary Lincoln lived the typical domestic life of a nineteenth-century, middle-class woman, though she maintained an unusual interest in politics and in her husband’s career as a politician. Her great expectations for her husband were realized when he was elected president of the United States in November 1860.

After her husband’s assassination in 1865, Mary suffered periods of extreme grief, which further complicated longtime complaints of severe headaches and emotional disturbances. In 1875, her only surviving son, Robert, committed her to a private asylum, but after three months she managed to secure her own release. Mary lived in France from 1878 to 1882. She returned to Springfield and died on July 16, 1882.

In Back to the Bluegrass, Mary Todd has returned to Kentucky from Washington and encounters a group of well-wishers. The long trip by train, the strains of being wife to a congressman, and memories of her childhood make this an emotional homecoming.

Playwright/Mary Todd Lincoln - Donna E. Ison Ms. Ison is an actor and writer living in Lexington and currently serves as one of the resident playwrights for the Kentucky Historical Society. She develops shows for museums nationwide, including the Hunt-Morgan House, The Institute of Texan Cultures, Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and The Callahan Museum in Louisville. She recently completed her first novel entitled, The Miracle of Myrtle.

Director – Mike ThomasMike spent eight years as the KHS Museum Theatre coordinator and two years as director of the Capital Arts Center in Bowling Green, before returning to his hometown of Maysville as director of the Washington Opera House. Mike completed his theatre studies at Western Kentucky University and since that time has served as an arts administrator, educator, director, and performer for a variety of performing groups.

KHS Museum TheatreSince 1998, the Museum Theatre program has staged more than 40 original productions often inspired by the rich resources in the Kentucky Historical Society collection. Each play is presented within KHS exhibit spaces, and designed to connect audiences with the sights, sounds, and stories of the past. These professional productions provide museum visitors with a personal perspective of historical characters and encourage them to explore the exhibits to learn more. Audience members often find they relate to the story itself. What’s your story?

Photo credits: (cover) Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. (inside left) Mary Todd Lincoln, 1862 and President Abraham Lincoln, ca. 1864 courtesy of the KHS Special Collections. (inside right) “View of Lexington” and 1930 photo Robert S. Todd farm, “Buena Vista,” Franklin County, courtesy of the KHS Special Collections.Special Thanks: Darrell Meadows – KHS Project Historian, Mary Beth Williams – LJS Lincoln Project Assistant, Vicky Middleswarth – KHS Museum Education and School Programs Administrator, Annie Denny – KHS Museum Educator.

To learn more Mary Todd Lincoln, see the following:

Baker, Jean H. • Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography. New York, 1987.Fleishner, Jennifer. • Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Keckly: The Remarkable Story of the Friendship between a First Lady and a Former Slave. New York, 2003.Turner, Justin G., and Linda Levitt Turner eds., • Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life and Letters. New York, 1972.

www.history.ky.gov

Connections. Perspecitve. Inspiration.

100 West Broadway • Frankfort, Ky. • 40601 • 502.564.1792 • www.history.ky.gov

The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.