LIZZY'S STORY
LIZZY is a gripping tale of survival, art, and resistance set in the brutal landscape of the Deep South during America’s darkest days of slavery. From the shackles of enslavement to the heights of fashion, Lizzy’s journey defies the odds. Born into bondage, she uses her extraordinary skills as a modiste to craft not only garments but a path toward freedom. Through unwavering courage and artistry, Lizzy becomes the most sought-after couturier in America, and in the heart of the nation's turmoil, she forges a powerful, intimate bond with First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln.
Her friendship with the Lincolns thrusts Lizzy into the inner circles of power, making her a trusted confidante to the First Family and a respected figure within the President’s Cabinet. Amidst the bloodshed of the Civil War, Lizzy creates beauty where there is none, turning darkness into light through her work. A fierce abolitionist, she weaponizes her craft to fight for the freedom of her people, risking her life for a mission that could change the course of history.
In a time of unimaginable suffering, Lizzy's story is one of resilience, transformation, and the unbreakable bond between art and liberation. This is the tale of a woman who, through her vision and defiance, helped shape the nation’s future and found freedom on her own terms.
Elizabeth (Lizzy) Hobbs Keckley circa 1861.
Moorland-Spingarn Research Center,
Howard University
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"Elizabeth Keckley was a prolific woman whose work left a spectacular and profound legacy of staying power. What she accomplished during her lifetime is astounding. ​Her story is one of Faith, Courage, and Perseverance. She dedicated her life to clearing paths and paving the way for future generations."
- Carmen Evelyn G. Nuyda -
L-R: Violet Velvet Gown: 1861-1862. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Portrait of Mrs. Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley,
Credit: Documenting the American South of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Libraries
