Ellen - Peggy - Edith Wilson

Ellen, Peggy, Edith, and Tea Cakes

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First Ladies - 1900 to 2000

Ellen Axson Wilson*

Margaret "Peggy" Wilson (daughter)*

Edith Bolling Wilson*

President Woodrow Wilson*

Ellen, Peggy, Edith and President Woodrow Wilson
Ellen Wilson
First Lady - March 4, 1913 – August 6, 1914
Quote from Ellen - "I am naturally the most unambitious of women and life in the White House has no attractions for me."
​Factoid - Ellen designed the first Rose Garden on the White House grounds.
Bio - Ellen Axson Wilson was born in Georgia and met Woodrow Wilson when he was six and she was a baby!  She studied art and landscape painting for years. When Woodrow was a young lawyer, he met Ellen again and they were married.  For a time, she taught art at Bryn Mawr College and Wilson was a professor at Princeton. Before she became First Lady, she had an art show of 50 landscapes, donating the proceeds to charity. Ellen used her short time in the White House to campaign for the arts, education, social causes, and children. She also worked to clean up housing for African-Americans in Washington, D.C. and establish better living conditions. Sadly, Ellen's time as First Lady was cut short by her death to Bright's Disease in 1914.  Her last hope was that Wilson would marry again.

​Margaret "Peggy" Wilson
Acting First Lady - August 6, 1914 – December 18, 1915
Quote from Peggy - "It is certainly for the soul a return to the point of departure - I am persuaded that in the new life one lives consciously in God and needs to search nowhere."
​Factoid - Later in life, Peggy traveled to India on a spiritual journey.  Once there, she joined an ashram, and practiced both yoga and meditation.
Bio - Margaret Woodrow Wilson took over as Acting First Lady when her mother, Ellen passed away. During her time in the White House, she was active in the Women’s Suffragette Movement.  Peggy was also very musical, a pianist and a soprano, who made a recording of "The Star Spangled Banner"! She continued her hosting duties until he remarried in 1915.
Edith Boling Wilson
First Lady - December 18, 1915 – March 4, 1921
Quote from Edith - "I myself never made a single decision regarding the disposition of public affairs … The only decision that was mine was … when to present matters to my husband."
​Factoids - 

• Edith's heritage dated back to Pocahontas, Native American who married into the English settlement at Jamestown.
• Edith was the first President's wife to have her own Secret Service detail.

Bio - Edith was born in Virginia and lived near Washington, D.C, for good part of her life, although she didn't get involved in the political scene. Edith's first husband was an heir, who left her well-off after his death.  As a widow, Edith met Woodrow through a visit with his cousin to the White House.  As the story goes, Woodrow watched the elevator doors open and saw her - the rest was history! She charmed Woodrow with her vivacious personality and after a short courtship, they were married nine months after meeting. 
Edith often gave Woodrow political advice, even on confidential matters. World War I started and Edith immediately went into public service with the Red Cross, handing out food to servicemen leaving for Europe.  The stress of war resulted in Woodrow suffering a stroke.  Edith stayed at his side, as well as assuming many of his Presidential affairs while he healed.  Many called her the "Secret President".
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About Woodrow - Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president.  He introduced sweeping domestic reforms under his "New Freedom" program, including the Federal Reserve and antitrust legislation. He led the U.S. through World War I and proposed the League of Nations.  Woodrow suffered a debilitating stroke during his second term.

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Tea Cakes

Tea Cakes are classic Southern recipe.  Kinda like a cookie, kinda like a cake!  Many families pass their recipes down through generations. This recipe was inspired by one from  my Aunt Bernice of Natchez, Mississippi.

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Ingredients
1 stick (4 ounces) butter, softened to room temperature
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1 &1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla

Steps

1. In a bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.  
2. In a separate bowl, beat together sugar and softened butter until light and fluffy.  Add the egg and mix.  Next add the vanilla extract.
3. With mixer on low, gradually mix in the flour mixture until just combined.  Cover the bowl with a clean dishtowel or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare cookie sheets by greasing on lining with parchment paper.
5. With clean hands and a tablespoon, scoop dough into 2-tablespoon sized portions and roll into balls.
6. Put balls 3-inches apart on the cookie sheets. 
7. Bake in preheated oven one batch at a time for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies are golden brown around the edges and set well in middle.  Keep the 2nd batch in the refrigerator until ready to bake.  Let cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes or so.

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Portrait Credits*
Ellen Wilson - Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; formal in chair - Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Archives from Staunton, VA, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
Margaret Wilson (daughter) - headshot - Photographer Jane Reece, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; standing - Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Archives from Staunton, VA, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons
Edith Bolling Wilson - hands behind back - Harris & Ewing, photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; sitting - Emile Alexay, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Woodrow Wilson - Stephen Seymour Thomas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons