Sarah Sibley and the Mount Vernon Ladies Association
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U N T V E R T H E M O N O N L A A N D D I E S E Y A S I B L S O C H S I A T A I O S A R First Lady N of Preservation David M. Grabitske W hen Sarah Jane Sibley, wife of governor Henry H. Interest in historic preservation in the United States Sibley, agreed to head Minnesota’s branch of the national was, at first, very low. Thomas Jefferson, for example, effort to save Mount Vernon, the estate of George Wash- thought colonial buildings reflected the nation’s architec- ington in Virginia, she launched the state’s first historic tural immaturity; replacing preservation campaign. In 1858 Minnesota was in its in- fancy, and many roadblocks loomed in her path. Personal Sarah Steele Sibley, factors and forces far beyond her control would make Minnesota’s “first lady success elusive. Her effort to raise money for preservation of preservation,” shows just how closely the new state was tied to national about 1864; (below) events and crises. visitors enjoying a restored Mount Vernon, about 1890 407 them was to be encouraged. During regent, in turn, appointed “Lady the War of 1812, however, Americans Managers” to assist her in whatever began to look for solace and strength towns, counties, and localities she in the places associated with their deemed necessary. In April 1858 the first war with Great Britain. The tide MVLA signed a contract with John of feelings welling up from the War Washington and made a down pay- of 1812 centered on patriotism, and ment of $18,000 on the estate. historic preservation followed suit. In 1816 citizens saved Pennsylvania’s Old State House, restyled “Independence L ater that year, Cunningham’s Hall,” from threatened demolition. secretary learned from a Pennsylvan- Through the rest of the nineteenth ian living in Minnesota that “Mrs. century, successful preservation often Henry H. Sibley, wife of the governor depended on three factors: patriotism, of the State is admirably qualified for women’s leadership, and private the office” of vice-regent. The un- initiative.1 named gentleman was then asked to These factors were key to the offer her the position. Sarah Steele campaign to rescue Mount Vernon. Sibley was then 35 years old, the In 1853 Ann Pamela Cunningham, mother of four living children, and a South Carolinian, organized the the wife of Henry Sibley since 1843. Mount Vernon Ladies Association Patriotic imagery drawing on his- Her social position, education, and (MVLA) to save, restore, and pre- toric preservation from the MVLA’s family connections qualified her for serve the tomb and estate of George August 1858 issue of the monthly the job of vice-regent. Even before Washington. The dilapidated site Mount Vernon Record becoming First Lady, she was an was then in the hands of John A. acknowledged leader in the early Washington, the founding father’s through a patriotic endeavor headed society around Mendota, where her great-grandnephew, a slaveholder by women—who were thought to be, family lived. Her friends included who was hosting tourists at the plan- by nature, above politics. wives of Minnesota’s most promi- tation. Cunningham initially orga- In 1856 the group, by then called nent and influential men: Mary nized a small group of women, mostly the Mount Vernon Ladies Associa- Bronson Le Duc, Mathilda Whitall from Virginia and Georgia, to rescue tion of the Union, gained a charter Rice, and Anna Jenks Ramsey. the property not only from ruin but from the Virginia Assembly so that it Sarah’s family also provided her with also from the threat that northern could enter into a contract and hold impressive, patriotic credentials. Her capitalists might purchase it for a title to the estate. John Washington father and uncles had served in the resort. Soon, however, Cunningham had set the price for the mansion, American Revolution, and her sib- realized that northern women wanted tomb, outbuildings, and 200 acres at lings offered important local connec- to be included—and the organization $200,000 (equivalent to $4.1 million tions in business, politics, and soci- needed their help. As the contentious today). The women increased their ety. In addition, Sarah’s education issue of slavery resisted resolution, fundraising goal by an additional made her articulate, well organized, the preservation effort matured into $300,000 ($6.25 million) for and confident. She had learned in a cause with the added purpose of restoration and preservation costs.2 childhood to be generous with her healing the nation’s sectional rift Cunningham then set about time and talents and to govern her building her nationwide organiza- passions with Christian morality. She tion. She became the head, or regent, was well liked for her generosity, David Grabitske works with local of the Mount Vernon Ladies Associa- pleasant demeanor, and virtuous historical societies through the State tion. Working with a small personal life—all necessary tools for charitable Historic Preservation Office’s grants 3 and field programs at the Minnesota staff, she appointed suitable women fundraising. Historical Society. as vice-regents to direct fundraising Sarah accepted the position with in their respective states. Each vice- typical nineteenth-century disinter- 408 Minnesota History est, writing to Cunningham: “Among donors. Other obstacles faced her, T he first months of Sarah’s admin- the ladies of St. Paul you could have as well. Her foremost enemy was the istration were spent appointing lady found many more efficient co-work- lingering economic depression re- managers. By April, she told Cun- ers with you than myself, but I feel sulting from the Panic of 1857, when ningham, she had contacted 75 too deep an interest in the great and the land market crashed, banks women, explaining that she had to particular enterprise . to decline to closed, and hard currency all but appoint more women than was cus- do what I can to promote its suc- vanished. Too, the image of Mount tomary “since our counties are large cess.” She optimistically added, Vernon as a slave plantation over- and sparsely inhabited.” To her dis- “Every Minnesotian will be prompt shadowed it as an object of charity, a appointment, only one-third to respond, to the extent of his or her major stumbling block to donations responded, although most of these ability, to a call for pecuniary aid.” 4 in Minnesota as throughout the accepted. Among the appointees was Thus began the preservation North. Citizens had just as much Mary Le Duc. Sarah told her friend movement in Minnesota. Presciently, difficulty then as now in distinguish- in Hastings, “I wish you to bear the Sarah’s note hinted at one circum- ing worthiness for preservation from honors gracefully and becomingly. stance that would directly affect her veneration. In addition, Sarah’s (that is send me as much money as success. The Sibleys lived in Men- cause faced opposition on account of you can rake and scrape).” Mary’s dota, near Fort Snelling and the early her Democratic governor-husband’s husband William noted to Henry center of civilian culture in the area. policies and actions in an era of ris- Sibley later that spring that “Mrs. By the mid-1850s, however, this ing Republican strength and a falter- LeD. is just now Exercised upon the town had been eclipsed by newcom- ing economy. None of these prob- Mt. Vernon association quest,” tak- ers like St. Paul, six miles down and lems would compare to her struggle ing in $20 that month. Another across the Mississippi River. As vice- with a deadly ailment that ultimately friend, Ann Loomis North, however, regent, Sarah would have to over- stopped the Mount Vernon effort in refused to serve, writing that she come her distance from likely Minnesota for 20 years.5 “must conscientiously and respect- Burgeoning St. Paul, 1859 Winter 2003–04 409 Page 2 of Sarah’s letter to Mary Le Duc, asking her help in fundraising—and demonstrating Sarah’s mastery of the difficult art of cross-writing, a paper-saving skill taught to both girls and boys of her era fully decline. I can give no aid to and Democrat printed a letter from Sarah coordinated her appeal with such an object without the assurance Cunningham that spelled out the the Washington’s birthday festivities that it should no longer be a slave MVLA’s successes and fundraising planned by the St. Paul Mercantile plantation.” North may well have goals. Sarah then published a news- Library Association, which spon- declined for an additional reason: paper appeal to “The Ladies of Min- sored regular lectures and agreed to Her husband, John W., secretary of nesota” saying that although eastern make this day a benefit for Mount the Minneapolis and Cedar Valley women had started the project, “those Vernon. Although originally sched- Railroad, was frustrated with Gover- of Minnesota will not be backward in uled for the evening of February 22, nor Sibley’s opposition to the Five following their noble example.” She the event was hastily moved to 3 p.m. Million Loan—a proposed amend- extended the call to include the men to accommodate the Pioneer Guard ment to the state constitution that of “military companies, Masonic militia company. The guardsmen would stimulate railroad growth and lodges, and all other societies and had just received new uniforms and the state’s depressed economy. North organizations.” Acknowledging the were eager to show them off at a ball blamed the governor for the economic climate, Sarah assured that evening. Moving the patriotic railroad’s troubles.6 everyone that “the smallest offering exercise to midday gave the Guard an While appointing lady managers, will be thankfully received.” To prove additional chance to parade.8 Sarah initiated a publicity campaign the cause’s legitimacy, she announced Patriotic decorations, flags, and to coincide with Washington’s birth- that the organization had a statewide evergreen boughs lined the chancel day in 1859.