First Ladies National Historic Site ⓘ

Who is this entity we call "First Lady"? Since 1789, when George Washington was inaugurated as the first United States president, our society has struggled with a title to describe the role of a presidential wife. A uniquely American institution, names like Presidentress, Mrs. President, Lady Ladyship, First Ladyship, and First Lady have been used to describe the position. Never declared an official government duty, the role of the First Lady has evolved into its own active, prominent position, as she performs duties and services recognized throughout the world. A director of social affairs, presidential liaison, symbol of strength, policy advocate, political reformer, keeper of "the People's House," partner, and confidant, the First Ladies of the United States have taken on numerous roles throughout American history. As the cultural milieu shifted, so did the expectations and responsibilities of a first lady. The extent of the activities, power, and influence of any first lady has been determined by each of these women and her spouse, based on the talent and desires of the first lady and the political and social climate of the era. While their choices may have been guided by political considerations and the evolving role of women in American society, whatever roles first ladies have assumed each contributed to the larger history of the American presidency in their own way.

Ida McKinley, the fifth of the seven Ohio first ladies, was born in Canton, Ohio, on June 8, 1847, to James and Kate Saxton. The Saxtons raised Ida in the Saxton-McKinley House with her two younger siblings, Mary and George. Ida grew up in a wealthy, progressive family and was exposed to abolition and the women’s rights movement. Additionally, Ida was encouraged by her father to pursue higher education, a rare occurrence for women at the time. Ida’s level of education would amount to a Master of Fine Arts degree today, and she excelled in advanced mathematics, literature, music, and foreign languages. As a young woman, Ida worked as a teller and manager at her father’s bank, even though the notion of a woman working such a job was controversial at the time. Ida was so skilled that she was given charge of the bank whenever her father left. In 1869, Ida went on a six-month “Grand Tour” of Europe with her sister Mary, which was an exhilarating and eye-opening experience for her. Ida and Mary extensively explored many European countries, including England, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Germany. The two young women found themselves engaging with artists across the continent, hiking in the Swiss Alps, and becoming frustrated with the poor conditions of female lace-makers in Belgium. In 1870, soon after returning from Europe with a fresh perspective on the world, Ida began courting the young lawyer William McKinley, and the two developed a deep romance. The couple married on January 25, 1871, at Christ Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio.

Ida and William McKinley rented a house from Ida’s father that was down the street from the Saxton House, Ida’s childhood home. The McKinleys had two daughters, Kate and little Ida, born in 1871 and 1873. Unfortunately, little Ida passed away only four months after her birth from an unknown illness; Kate passed away shortly before her fifth birthday, most likely from a childhood fever or a heart condition. These deaths, coupled with the passing of Ida’s mother and grandfather, a difficult pregnancy with little Ida, and a prior back and neck injury, took a toll on Ida’s health. She started to suffer from migraines and what is thought to have been petit mal epilepsy. These conditions would negatively impact her mobility throughout her life and limit her public involvement in William’s political career.

Ida lived with William in Washington, D.C., during his tenure as Representative and later in Columbus, Ohio, during his term as Governor; though, whenever the couple was in Canton, they lived in the Saxton House with Ida’s sister Mary and her family. William and Ida chose to no longer lived in their newlywed home, as the home held too many memories of their passed daughter. They ended the lease after little Ida’s death.

In 1895-1896, William conducted a successful presidential campaign, using his and Ida’s former newlywed house as the site of his front porch campaign; though, he and Ida still lived primarily at the Saxton House. The Campaign House served as a public facade, rather than a genuine residence. During William’s presidency (1897-1901), Ida generally played a more reserved role as First Lady due to her epilepsy. However, she still insisted on being visible to the public and involved in politics when possible. Throughout William’s political career, Ida made a habit of sitting outside his office and listening to his political meetings, later discussing the events with him and offering valuable advice and insight. As a supporter of woman suffrage, Ida frequently exchanged letters with and met suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony; when she was able to speak to organizations, chose to meet with those supporting women’s rights. When she was unable to speak for other charities and social causes, Ida crocheted slippers that were auctioned at charitable events. Over her lifetime, Ida would crochet over 3,000 slippers to be auctioned or given as personal gifts to friends and family. Unfortunately, Ida’s first ladyship and William’s second term in the White House were cut short in September of 1901. While greeting people at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, William was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz on September 6 and died from infection on September 14. Ida was at his side.

Ida returned to Canton with William’s body, but, for unknown reasons, chose not to attend his funeral. In the years following William’s death, Ida retired to the former Campaign House and made daily visits to the vault in West Lawn Cemetery where his body was held. She also supervised the construction of the Canton memorial for her husband. After two years of deep mourning, Ida continued her usual activities; she visited her sister’s family frequently and went to shows at Canton theatres, having been a lifelong patron of the theatre. Ida passed away, likely from the flu, on May 26th, 1907, shortly before her husband’s memorial was finished. Ida, William, and their two daughters are interred at the William McKinley National Memorial. The First Ladies National Historic Site celebrates her understated and determined tenure as First Lady amidst hardship and disability.

One of the most important functions of First Ladies National Historic Site and the National First Ladies Library is to house and make available the collection and library of materials about the first ladies. This library is the only one of its kind, focusing solely on the First Ladies of the United States. In addition to a variety of resources, First Ladies National Historic Site also owns and maintains two historically rich buildings, both of which are located in downtown Canton, Ohio.

Aside from being a beautiful Victorian building, the Saxton-McKinley House is the last remaining home with direct ties to Ida and William McKinley in their hometown of Canton, Ohio. Ida Saxton McKinley was born and raised in the home, and it remained in her family until 1919. Additionally, the house served as the primary residence for Mr. and Mrs. McKinley from 1878 to 1891 while William served in the United States House of Representatives.

As is the case with many historic residences, the Saxton-McKinley House was constructed in several parts. The rear of the home was built in 1841 by George Dewalt, Ida's maternal grandfather. George would later will the home to Ida's parents, Katherine Dewalt and John Saxton. In 1870, John added the front section onto the home to make room for his large family, which included Katherine, Ida and her two siblings, and their Grandfather Dewalt.

After Ida's 1871 marriage to Major William McKinley, a Civil War veteran, Ida and her husband would move into a house several blocks north. The house was a gift to the couple from Ida's father, who was a prominent Canton banker. The next six years would prove to be difficult for Ida, who had grown up quite happy and privileged. She had two children, but unfortunately lost both of her daughters at young ages. Additionally, the sudden loss of her mother weighed heavily upon Ida. It was at this time that several health conditions began to trouble her, including migraines and epilepsy - a disorder that was not well-understood at the time. The couple moved to the Saxton-McKinley House, as their family home held too many bad memories for Ida.

In 1877, the the McKinley's surroundings changed. When William was elected to Congress, the couple occupied a suite in Washington D.C. In 1890, William lost his Congressional seat, but in 1891, he was elected as the Governor of Ohio. Ida and William moved to Columbus.

Soon after, in 1895, William and Ida moved back to the home Ida's father had purchased for them in Canton. This residence was nicknamed the "Campaign House," as it was the location of William's front porch campaign for the United States presidency. However, the McKinleys did not reside in the home; rather, it served as a stage for William's campaign. The couple lived primarily at the Saxton-McKinley House with Mary Barber, Ida's sister, and her family. Ida did not move back to the "Campaign House" until after William's assassination in 1901. In total, the couple lived in the historic Saxton-McKinley House for 13 years; the home was their primary residence throughout the majority of the McKinley's married life.

In the more recent past, the Saxton-McKinley House became the home of the National First Ladies Library in 1998. The library was dedicated at a ceremony attended by former first lady Rosalynn Carter.

The library itself is unique, as is the story of the Saxton-McKinley House. The National First Ladies Library took great care in carefully restoring the home to the Victorian era with the help of Dr. Sheila Fisher. After leading the restoration process of the Saxton-McKinley House, Dr. Fisher described the job as being one of "historic restoration and historic renovation." In a book published by The National First Ladies Library titled This Elevated Position, Dr. Fisher states that, "Restoration has involved finding an actual item that was in the house - even if it is not in the best condition - that would be carefully restored to its best possible condition and then placed back just where it was. Renovating has been a process of reconstructing a room back to its approximate look and choosing furniture and furnishings that give it the look of the era without actually being the original items that were in that room."

Today, visiting the Saxton-McKinley House is like taking a step back in time. Furnished with authentic Victorian furniture - some of it belonging to the McKinleys - the house gives the public a vision of what the home looked like during the life and times of Ida and William McKinley. The décor, from wallpaper to accent pieces, reflects the opulence that the wealthy Saxton family would have accumulated and displayed.

The restored home is nothing short of impressive, considering the Saxton-McKinley House's humble beginnings and rough past. To see the Victorian restoration, take a tour of the Saxton-McKinley House. The guided tour takes visitors on all three floors of the home, teaching guests about one of our first ladies and highlighting the formal parlors, Ida's bedroom, and the third-floor ballroom.

First Ladies National Historic Site is the home to an extensive collection of stories, places, and artifacts. Representing all of the First Ladies of the United Staes - past and present - our site covers a large expanse of American history. Explore the "History and Culture" pages to learn more about the lives and legacies of the first ladies, the historic buildings at the park site, and our museum/archival collection.

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Ida McKinley proved to be influential in her role as First Lady, despite frequent hardship and history's portrayal of her as an invalid.

Aside from being a beautiful Victorian building, the Saxton-McKinley House is the last remaining home with direct ties to Ida and William McKinley in their hometown of Canton, Ohio.

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