Poems by First Ladies: The First-Ever Anthology
Edited by Michael Croland
Dover Publications, January 2026
“Well-written, well-researched, and chock-full of engaging personal background, Poems by First Ladies gives voice to what is in the hearts of these iconic women through their verse. A must read for history buffs and fans of First Ladies.” —Ronni Diamondstein, author of Jackie and the Books She Loved
“Poems by First Ladies is based on rigorous primary source research and reads as compelling, revealing storytelling.” —Carl Sferrazza Anthony, First Ladies historian and author of Camera Girl: The Coming of Age of Jackie Bouvier Kennedy
This first-ever anthology features captivating poems by fifteen First Ladies. Highlights include Louisa Adams’s verse about the passing of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson on the same day, Mary Todd Lincoln’s satirical poem that nearly led to her husband’s death in a duel, sonnets by Dolley Madison, and valentines by Eleanor Roosevelt and Michelle Obama.
Poems by First Ladies showcases the accomplishments of these remarkable women and their impact on the nation. Reflecting evolving gender norms, the selections document what life—with all of its peaks and valleys—was like for women throughout American history.
“What a literary cabinet of curiosities this book is! Poetry, history, literary criticism, even a musical score—editor Michael Croland has compiled a collection that is entertaining and inspiring, and often quite surprising.” —Jason Emerson, editor of Lincoln’s Lover: Mary Lincoln in Poetry
“Poems by First Ladies is a delight from first to last—and full of surprises. Meticulously researched and compiled by editor Croland.” —Feather Schwartz Foster, author of The Colonial First Ladies
“Whether it’s Louisa Adams, writing about her family, or Lucretia Garfield, capturing her White House view, the poems in this anthology reveal the personal side of America’s political life. When Grace Coolidge wrote about her deceased son, she said he made her feel ‘the gentle touch.’ This book will do the same for history buffs and poetry lovers alike.” —Craig Fehrman, author of Author in Chief
“This much-welcomed anthology gives a unique insight into the women, both well-known and underappreciated, who too served our country.” —Marilyn Singer, author of Have You Heard About Lady Bird? Poems About Our First Ladies
“With these poems, each First Lady is revealed as the private woman she was walking the halls of the White House of her time. In this book, we can almost hear them whispering deliciously to each other, sharing their most personal thoughts about the world and their lives and husbands.” —Greg Lawrence, author of Jackie as Editor
“Here is the beautiful raw material for a new presidential history, First Ladies’ accounts of their lives in meter, rhyme, and verse.” —William Kuhn, author of Reading Jackie
“For Louisa Catherine Adams, writing poetry was more than a means to while away the time. It gave her a space and form to explore the uneasy terrain a First Lady naturally found herself in. So it was with many others, who found humor and frustration and beauty in their unique situations. Through their poetry, this book offers an unusual and compelling reflection of American history.” —Louisa Thomas, author of Louisa
Contents
Introduction
Dolley Madison
Louisa Adams
Julia Tyler
Mary Todd Lincoln
Lucretia Garfield
Rose Elizabeth Cleveland
Caroline Harrison
Edith Roosevelt
Helen Taft
Edith Wilson
Florence Harding
Grace Coolidge
Lou Hoover
Eleanor Roosevelt
Michelle Obama
Appendix A: An Overview of Poetry by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Appendix B: “She Will Never Be a Poet”: Polarizing Poetics About Hillary Clinton
Appendix C: Close Calls for Eight Additional First Ladies
Appendix D: Rose Elizabeth Cleveland’s “George Eliot’s Poetry”
Appendix E: Maury Madison, the Would-Be First Anthologizer
Appendix F: Poems About First Ladies by Presidents
Selected Bibliography
Check out the bonus materials webpage for an untitled poem by Louisa Adams, six poems by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and a video of Michelle Obama’s recitation of her poem from Poems by First Ladies. Links are provided for a found poem based on Hillary Clinton’s emails plus two poems by Jimmy Carter about Rosalynn Carter.