The Millard Filmore Appreciation Society

Abigail Powers Filmore

By the time this portrait was made, Abigail was no longer the 21-year-old redheas who'd smitten young Millard, but she remained a remarkable lady in her own right. She was the first First Lady ever to hold a job after marriage. The job in question was that of a teacher, not the heading of a presidential commission. Although during the Filmore presidency she did receive a special appropriation from Congress for the purpose of stocking and arranging the White House library -- obviously not a task to be entrusted to someone with the dulled sensibilities of a President of the United States.