Relevant History welcomes Barbara Schlichting, author of the “First Ladies” mystery series. Barbara has an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in special education. She studied at Bemidji State University and currently resides in Bemidji with her husband. Dolley Madison: The Blood Spangled Banner, a mystery that ties modern-day clues with historical features, follows a descendant of Dolley Madison who owns the First Lady White House Dollhouse Store in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Look for the release of Mary Lincoln: Words Can Kill in the fall of 2016. To learn more about Barbara and her books, visit her web site, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
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As a substitute in the local school district, it is apparent to me that students nowadays have more to learn than I did at their age. Unfortunately, so much of what was learned and memorized in my day is not being taught today. Also because of cell phones and other electronic devices, information is easily researched and soon forgotten. I wanted to make history relevant and fun as well as bringing it alive, which I hope to do with this series.
Our nation’s first First Lady
Dolley Madison was the most quintessential, bipartisan first lady to have ever lived in the White House. Her term began with Thomas Jefferson while her husband James Madison was secretary of state. She became Jefferson’s hostess for all state dinners and official functions since he was a widower. Jefferson called Dolley his first lady, which is how the title originated.
In the Madisons’ Washington home plus in her beloved Montpelier, Dolley opened her doors to all politicians, treating them equal. Her parties or soirees were famous, and people came from miles around to attend. All things were discussed, and because of her open-door policy, much was accomplished in the Senate and the Congress.
When Madison became president, Dolley moved her soirees to the White House. She entertained by serving cakes and wine, which made her famous around the world. Dolley’s humanity shined through, embracing everyone. She hosted the first inaugural ball. (Dolley did like a nip of snuff and alcohol). She taught everyone how to be civil and to respect each other by showing love to all.
By commandeering a wagon during the War of 1812, she saved vital state documents, the Presidents’ papers, silver, and china plus Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of George Washington. When the soldiers began singing our national anthem, they sang it for Dolley. After the war was over and the Madisons returned to Washington, Dolley rallied citizens and politicians by continuing with the soirees and promoting national unity.
After President Madison’s death, poverty forced her to sell her home, Montpelier, but she was happy to return to Washington, where she opened her doors again to politicians to discuss the day’s business.
The House of Representatives commemorated Dolley with a version of the Medal of Honor for her role in the War of 1812. The medal was cast in silver. When the telegraph was first invented, and Samuel Morse sent his famous message, “what hath God wrought?” Dolley was beside him. She was asked if she’d like to send a telegraph to the recipient, who was the wife of a U.S. Representative and a Baltimore cousin. Dolley asked Morse to send: “Message from Mrs. Madison. She sends her love to Mrs. Wethered.” This made her the first person to send a personal message. With Alexander Hamilton’s widow, Dolley attended the ceremony to lay the cornerstone for the Washington Monument. She passed away a year later and was eulogized as America’s First Lady.
Relatable history
My main character, Liv Anderson, treats the dolls as if they’re human by greeting them in the morning and saying “good night” in the evening. In between, she asks the dolls questions about what the president did or said during the day. I also relate the styles of clothes, the décor of the White House, and how it changed over time. In Dolley Madison: The Blood Spangled Banner, Liv comes up against a greedy killer who will stop at nothing to locate the original manuscript of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
I hope I’ve accomplished my goal in getting the reader to enjoy history and the love of the First Ladies. They’ve played a major role in the forming of this new nation and still are of great importance in today’s world.
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A big thanks to Barbara Schlichting. She’ll give away a trade paperback copy of Dolley Madison: The Blood Spangled Banner to someone who contributes a comment on my blog this week. I’ll choose the winner from among those who comment by Friday at 6 p.m. ET. Delivery is available in the U.S. only.
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I read a historical novel a couple of years ago about the period of time when the Constitution was being drafted. It was during that time that Mr. Madison met Dolley, who was married to her first husband. An opportunity to read about her and other First Ladies sounds wonderful! The only thing I really ever learned about her was the preserving of Washington’s portrait.
June, I think Dolley Madison was the existential First Lady. It was fun learning so much about her. I’m not sure how true it is about being the first to serve ice cream in the White Housebut I wouldn’t be surprised!
So glad to know there are more of us who wish to make history come alive for young people. You are correct in that answers are readily available and quickly forgotten without any critical thinking. We need more books like yours.
Carole, thank you so much. There’s times that I mention her name and the kids don’t know who she is. It’s a shame.
I loved this post! This tidbit of history about Dolley Madison came alive for me as I read about Barbara’s knowledge of the era in relation to her newest book. While reading, I thought about how boring my history classes had been when I was in school and all the time I spent “memorizing” dates, but if something like this about Dolley had been taught, I probably would’ve enjoyed the class more, and paid more attention to, my history teacher. Thanks for enriching history for me!
Alice, Thankyou so much for the nice compliment. School is so different today. Enjoy!
Love this historical fiction, and I learn something new every time I read it. For instance, I didn’t know the correct spelling of her name, and now I do. Thanks and best wishes for great sales and marvelous reviews.
Marilyn, Thankyou. Her name was actually Dorthea, I think, but she always signed Dolley.
Thank you for this information! I just picked this book for an upcoming trek where I will be “off the grid” for 10 days. As a girl, I read every historical biography I could get my hands on in my small-town elementary school, and fondly remember that Dolley Madison was among them. I don’t get much of an opportunity to read and really look forward to your book!
Karen,
Thankyou for the compliments. Enjoy! Dolley was fun.
Good morning I talk to history for a number of years and I’ve already it’s this morning learned some history that I didn’t know. Thank you for the mini history lesson which was presented in a very interesting way. I always tried to make history interesting for my students sometimes standing on the table other times on the floor and always trying to act out the parts. Again thank you for acting out the parts in such an enjoyable way.
Thanks! I’m a substitute teacher and I hope that some of the students I’ve taught will also enjoy reading it. Enjoy!
Good grief Charlie Brown. I love the way the computer tries to correct words. In my previous comment I meant to say I thought history no talk history no not history……good grief…I taught history… and yes i did stand on the floor, however I also would lay down on the floor to teach so bah humbug to the automatic spell-check on my phone
I know. My phone drives me nuts from doing spellcheck.
Really enjoyed reading the article. I love reading about the early history of our country. So glad someone wrote a book about this subject.
Thankyou. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did writing it.
She was a fascinating woman, a great contrast and partner for introverted little James. But then almost every first lady has been a remarkable woman, and many of them married men few people thought would ever succeed.
Great idea for a series.
Thanks. Mr. Madison was so smitten with her that he couldn’t hardly be without her. They were a very loving couple.
The idea of a mystery series about the First Ladies is simply inspired! I wish I’d thought of it first, but probably wouldn’t have done as good a job as Schlicting. Not only a cracking good read (if The Blood Spangled Banner is any example) but a painless way to learn history, which is so woefully under-taught in our schools today. Schlicting is a genius to have thought of it. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Janis, Thankyou so much for the compliments. You’re an inspiration! It just so happens that my next First Ladies mystery will be published later in the year. First Lady Mary Lincoln: Words Can Kill. So stay tuned.
Thankyou again.
One of the few lasting accomplishments of the 1976 American Revolution Bicentennial (my go-to for anticlimactic commemoration) was a new appreciation for the behind-the-scenes influence of the Founding Mothers – specifically Abgail Adams. Unfortunate that the War of 1812 200th did not do the same for Dolley Madison’s historical appreciation. 1812 has always been the poor cousin to the Revolution, of course, but it would be fitting if in this time of breaking gender barriers in the national leadership if Dolley could be elevated to the McCullough-Ambrose biography and TV miniseries level. – Tate Jones, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History, Fort Missoula, Mt.
Dolley was the quintessential First Lady. She held this Republic together with a tight fist. Teddy Roosevelt would’ve said to quote him, “Walk softly and carry a big stick”, and she did by being kind to everyone.
Thankyou.