#31: Abigail Fillmore

Abigail Fillmore assumed the mantle of First Lady from 1850 to 1853, thrust into the role when her husband, Millard Fillmore, ascended to the presidency following President Zachary Taylor’s demise. A teacher and scholar by profession, she was taken aback by the absence of a library within the White House upon their arrival.

Undaunted, Abigail Fillmore championed the cause and secured a Congressional appropriation of $2,000. With this funding, she curated a collection of books, giving birth to the White House library, and inaugurated a captivating literary salon, leaving her mark on the presidential residence.