• Mary Scott Harrison McKee
    Unknown
    portrait
    first family
    This photograph of Mary Scott Harrison McKee was taken between 1920 and 1930. Mary Scott Harrison McKee was the daughter of President Benjamin Harrison and First Lady Caroline Harrison. She was born in Indiana in 1858 and married James Mckee in 1884. The couple had two children who became national darlings when the McKee family moved to the White House upon Harrison’s election to the presidency in 1888. First Lady Caroline Harrison tragically died in 1892, so Mary assumed the role of White House hostess until the end of her father’s term. After leaving the White House, President Harrison and his children became estranged, caused by their dissatisfaction with his subsequent remarriage.
  • Benjamin Harrison, White House Collection
    Charles Henry Niehaus
    busts
    sculptures
    White House Collection
    likeness
    This bronze plaster bust of President Benjamin Harrison was crafted by Charles Henry Niehaus in the late 19th century. Niehaus also crafted a statue of Harrison that stands at the Indiana World War Memorial Plaza.
  • Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison, White House Collection
    Daniel Huntington
    White House Collection
    portraits
    paintings
    This portrait of First Lady Caroline Harrison was done by Daniel Huntington. Born in Ohio, Caroline was an accomplished musician and amateur painter. During her years in the White House she pushed to renovate and preserve the mansion, and she also served as the first president general of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Sadly, she died of tuberculosis at the White House on October 25, 1892, before her husband's term in office ended the following March.
  • Benjamin Harrison
    Bureau of Engraving and Printing
    portrait
    engraving
    This engraving of President Benjamin Harrison was produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. President Harrison served as the 23rd president of the United States from 1889-1893. Before the presidency, he fought as an officer for the Union during the Civil War and as a United States Senator from the state of Indiana. Harrison was the grandson of former President William Henry Harrison.
  • Caroline Harrison and "Baby McKee," White House Collection
    Unknown
    White House Collection
    portraits
    South Portico
    This photograph is of First Lady Caroline Scott Harrison with her grandson Benjamin Harrison McKee, known fondly as "Baby McKee." She was married to President Benjamin Harrison and served as first lady until her death in 1892. In this photograph, the two are located on the South Portico of the White House.
  • Benjamin Harrison
    Unknown
    portrait
    This is a photograph of future president Benjamin Harrison in 1854 at the age of 21. He had married his wife, Caroline Lavinia Scott, a year before this photograph was taken. After a short stay in Cincinnati, the couple moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where Harrison continued his practice of law. By 1855 he had entered into a partnership with William Wallace to open their own law practice.
  • Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison's Diploma
    Oxford Female Institute
    award
    This is Caroline Scott Harrison's diploma from the Oxford Female Institute, where she graduated on June 22, 1852. The future first lady's focused her studies on language, music, and drawing. Harrison's father, Dr. John Scott, was a professor who broke off from Miami University (Ohio) to start the Oxford Female Institute in 1849.
  • Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison
    Unknown
    portrait
    This is a photograph of First Lady Caroline Scott Harrison. During her time in the White House, Mrs. Harrison started a catalog of the historic china services of the White House. Mrs. Harrison was influential in the establishment of the White House China collection, showcased in the China Room of the White House. This photograph was taken at Gardner's Gallery in Washington, D.C. during the remaining years of her life, while she was still first lady.
  • Caroline Harrison's Painting Supplies
    Unknown
    hobby
    This is a photograph of the watercolor paint supplies owned by First Lady Caroline Scott Harrison. She enjoyed watercolor painting and many of her pieces still exist today. This satin lined mahogany box held all of her brushes and other tools needed for her paintings.
  • "Floral and Poetical Album" Title Page
    Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison
    book
    This is the title page of future first lady Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison's "Floral and Poetical Album." She illustrated this page with a ribbon in the letter C entwined with a variety of flowers. This book foreshadowed her interest in nature. Harrison in her later life painted watercolors and decorated china with depictions of nature.
  • Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison
    Unknown
    portrait
    This is a portrait of future first lady Caroline Scott Harrison when she was 33 years old. As first lady, Caroline Harrison oversaw the installation of electricity in the White House. She also helped make china painting popular during that time. Harrison held china painting classes taught by her friend, and artist, Paul Putzki that were open to anyone who wanted to learn the art. Harrison's love of art started from a young age and stayed with her throughout her life.
  • Caroline Harrison's Painting Supplies
    Unknown
    hobby
    This is a photograph of the watercolor paint supplies owned by First Lady Caroline Scott Harrison. The paints she used were the Peerless Japanese Transparent Watercolors. Also part of this set are kakiemon cups, tacks, a sponge, glass muller and a sponge. Caroline Harrison enjoyed watercolor painting and many of her pieces still exist today.
  • Benjamin Harrison, White House Collection
    T. C. Steele
    White House Collection
    portraits
    paintings
    This portrait of President Benjamin Harrison was done by American Impressionist painter Theodore Clement Steele in 1901. Steele, professionally known as T. C. Steele, was an acclaimed artist best known for his Indiana landscape paintings.
  • Benjamin Harrison, White House Collection
    Eastman Johnson
    portrait
    White House Collection
    This oil on canvas portrait of President Benjamin Harrison was done by Eastman Johnson. Johnson's career covered several subjects including portraits of famous Americans and Native American communities. Benjamin Harrison was the grandson of William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States. He was a Senator prior to serving as president from March 4, 1889 until March 4, 1893.
  • Benjamin Harrison
    Pach Brothers
    portrait
    This is a photograph of President Benjamin Harrison was possibly taken by the Pach Brothers in 1896, after he had left the White House. The copyright on the image is printed as 1896, but the Pach Brothers studio was destroyed by fire 1895. This photograph could possibly be a reprint.
  • Four Generations of Caroline Harrison's Family
    Charles Parker
    portrait
    First Family
    This photograph by Charles Parker shows four generations of First Lady Caroline Harrison's family. Left to right: Caroline Harrison; her grandson Benjamin Harrison McKee; her daughter Mary Scott Harrison McKee; her granddaughter Mary Lodge McKee; and her father, the Rev. Dr. John Scott.
  • Caroline Harrison's Pet Collie, Dash
    Frances Benjamin Johnston
    pets
    This photograph by Frances Benjamin Johnston shows First Lady Caroline Harrison's dog, a collie mix named Dash. Johnston was one of the earliest female photojournalists and had a studio in Washington, D.C.
  • Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison, Blair House Collection
    Adolphe Yvon
    portrait
    This portrait of First Lady Caroline Harrison was done by Adolphe Yvon. Yvon is best known for his paintings of the Napoleonic Wars. Mrs. Harrison served as first lady from 1889 until her death on October 25, 1892. Her daughter, Mary Scott Harrison McKee, subsequently took over as White House hostess after Mrs. Harrison's passing.
  • Baby McKee and "His Whiskers"
    Frances Benjamin Johnston
    South Grounds
    This is a photograph of Benjamin Harrison McKee, affectionately nicknamed "Baby McKee" by the press, holding the reigns of "His Whiskers," a goat presented to him by his grandfather President Benjamin Harrison. Also pictured from left to right are his uncle, Russell Harrison, son of the president, Russell's daughter Marthena Harrison, the dog Jack, and sister Mary Lodge McKee. Mary Scott Harrison McKee, "Baby McKee" and Mary's mother, took over as White House hostess upon the death of her mother, First Lady Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison in 1892.