Edith Bolling Galt Wilson’s personally-owned and -worn brooch, given to her by her husband, President Woodrow Wilson, on their wedding day. Enamel and sterling silver brooch measures 2.25″ wide, with a large eagle in the center with a red, white, and blue shield, all encircled with blue enamel and stars. Reverse is expertly hand-engraved, “W. W. to E. B. G, December 18, 1915.” Accompanied by a 1982 letter of provenance, on White House letterhead, by Lillian Rogers Parks, who was a best selling author as well as housekeeper and seamstress at the White House for over 30 years, from President Hoover through President Eisenhower. Letter reads, in part: “The lovely enamel and sterling silver broach [sic] was a gift from President Woodrow Wilson to Edith Bolling Galt Wilson on December 18, 1915…This was their wedding day just prior to the end of his first term…This lovely sterling and blue and red enamel pen [sic] was one of the gifts from the President to the new First Lady on their wedding day…It is a lovely piece and was worn by the First Lady when in the company of the President on some special days…When the President and Mrs. Wilson were packing to leave the White House…Mrs. Wilson gave several things to my mother, Maggie Rogers, who was to become the First Maid of the White House [often placing her in close proximity to our nation’s first families]. We think the First Lady did not mean to part with such a personal item…But in all the rush to move one family out of the White House and another one in it may or may not have been a mistake.” In fine condition.
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