Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Wedding Wednesday: A White House Affair

President and Mrs. Cleveland, Littleton View Co., 1886.

In 1886, 21-year-old Frances Folsom married 49-year-old President Grover Cleveland, a bachelor. Frances became an instant style maven with young women copying her hairstyle. 

She was the daughter of one of Cleveland's friends, Oscar Folsom. At the time of the wedding,  Cleveland was the executor of her father's estate and was guiding her upbringing. Her mother approved of the marriage and so did the American public.   Frances was the youngest first lady.  

This stereoview commemorates their wedding. Littleton View Company of Littleton, New Hampshire and their distributor, Underwood and Underwood sold their cards around the world. The card's caption appears in both English and Spanish. 

Here's an interesting historical tidbit relating to the couple:
During the 1884 presidential campaign against James G. Blaine, Cleveland admitted paying child support to Maria Crofts Halpin for her son Oscar Folsom Cleveland.  It's an interesting name since it's a combination of his friend Oscar's name and the Cleveland surname. 

Library of Congress
Detractors of Cleveland's used this against him with a phrase, "Ma, Ma, Where's my pa?"


 
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