Lucy Webb Hayes Trivia Quiz

Answer: She was the first to obtain a higher education degree

As a girl Lucy attended the Miss Baskerville School and the Chillicothe Female School from 1837 to 1844. For about three years she attended what is now known as Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio before transferring to the Cincinnati Female Wesleyan College in 1847.

She graduated from there in 1850 earning a liberal arts degree. Though generally considered the first wife of a US president to have a college degree, some historians question that achievement. There is some uncertainty about the school being a bona fide college on par with other educational institutions for women at the time.

Answer: US Civil War

Rutherford B. Hayes served in the 23rd Ohio Regiment during the Civil War. The Brigadier General was wounded three times during the war and had four horses shot out from under him. During the war Lucy was known to visit the camps and became famous for her support of the soldiers.

She would care for their wounds, patch up their uniforms and provide encouragement. Caring for veterans and their families was a life long passion. As first lady of the state of Ohio she led an effort to open an orphanage for the children of Civil War veterans.

Answer: First Lady

Legend states that the phrase "first lady" was first used by President Zachary Taylor in an 1849 eulogy honoring Dolly Madison. Later the term was sometimes used in Washington DC social circles when referring to a president's wife. During the inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes a female reporter, Mary Ames, referred to Lucy as the "First Lady of the Land". Soon other reporters referred to her as the "first lady". Lucy's popularity, which led to extensive nationwide news coverage, caused the title to become a popular nationwide term. Since that time every wife of a US president has been given the title of "First Lady of the Land".

Answer: White House Easter egg roll

Easter egg rolling was a famous 19th century Washington DC tradition. However, in the early 1870s public Easter egg rolls were held on the Capitol grounds not the White House. In 1876, Congress, concerned about the children hurting the lawn, passed the Turf Protection Act prohibiting the use of the Capitol grounds for a playground. Rain did not allow the event to happen in 1877.

But in 1878, apparently under the direction of Lucy Hayes, the egg roll was moved to the lawn of the White House and the tradition of the White House Easter egg roll was born and continues.

Answer: Because of a White House ban on serving liquor during her husband's administration

Lucy was a life long abstainer of alcohol. Although President Hayes took the credit for the policy, many blamed Lucy for the alcohol ban placed in the White House. However, in spite of the controversy Lucy was recognized as a gracious White House hostess and the social events held there were usually well received. Reportedly the nickname "Lemonade Lucy" was not applied to Mrs. Hayes until after she left the White House.

Answer: Women's Christian Temperance Union

Although she was a strong supporter of temperance, Lucy Hayes rebuffed efforts by the WCTU to become a leader in their organization. Part of her reasoning may have been political, afraid that joining the movement would hurt her husband's political career. Early in her adult life she declared that she would not partake of alcoholic beverages and admitted that serving wine at parties was "sorrowful" but she chose not to publicly preach against drinking but persuade by example.

This strategy often put her at odds with the more militant members of the WCTU.

Answer: Abolition of slavery

Lucy Hayes' views on the abolition of slavery remained strong throughout her life. As a child her father, Dr. James Webb, inherited slaves from his family in Kentucky and quickly decided to set them free. However, on his return home to do so he reportedly died while treating those slaves and his family for cholera. Lucy was two years old at the time. Supposedly, when her now widowed mother was told to sell the slaves so she would have money to help support her family, Lucy's mother stated that they were not hers to sell and granted them their freedom.

As an adult, Lucy continued the family tradition of supporting abolitionism. She helped abandoned African-American children find safe havens, helped educate African-American women and spoke favorably of a racially-integrated Methodist Church service she attended in Montreal, Canada.

Her views led her to be a strong supporter of the newly formed Republican Party and many feel she influenced her husband to leave the Whig Party and join the Republican cause as well.

She was an active supporter of John C. Fremont in the 1856 election and worked in the two presidential campaigns for Abraham Lincoln.

Answer: 8

Lucy gave birth to seven sons and one daughter. Three of the sons died under the age of three years old. Her surviving sons grew into successful citizens. Birchard Austin Hayes was a successful attorney, Webb Cook Hayes was a successful businessman and a Medal of Honor recipient. Rutherford Platt Hayes was a respected librarian and Scott Russell Hayes was successful in business. Fanny Hayes Smith was the only daughter and after Lucy's death she was her father's constant companion until his death.

She was an active proponent of prison reform and education reform.

Answer: Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Church

The Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Church was established for the purpose of helping poor and destitute women. Lucy reluctantly agreed to serve as the group's leader and in that capacity attended conventions, made speeches and called for women to have greater opportunities to receive an education. With Rutherford's support she continued in this role until her death.

Answer: I know I am going where Lucy is.

Lucy and President Hayes were buried at a cemetery near their Spiegel Grove estate in Fremont, Ohio. However, in 1915 their remains were re-interred at Spiegel Grove at a spot just south of the family home. Rutherford was never the same after Lucy's death.

In his diary he wrote "The charm of my life left me when Lucy died." The couple was placed in a granite tomb and a marble headstone that Rutherford had designed for Lucy was also moved from their original burial place. The stone was so heavy that a temporary railroad line had to be built in order to move it.

At her death flags across the nation were flown at half mast and Lucy Hayes was honored as one of America's most popular first ladies.