Porcelain Miniatures of the First Ladies

Mrs. Rachetts made the Collection “in honor of America´s 200th birthday” as a part of the Spearfish “Americana” celebration and the BHSC (BHSU) Bicentennial activities. The premiere show was held at the Holiday Inn of the Northern Black Hills in Spearfish, in April of 1974. The Black Hills State College (University) Faculty Wives sponsored the premiere showing of the Ladies. The event was planned in cooperation with the Spearfish Community Celebrating America, Committee of the Spearfish Area Council on the Arts and Humanities.

Mrs. Rachetts spent “the major portion of the year” completing the china reproductions of the First Ladies dressed in the gowns which they wore at the Inaugural Balls of the respective United States Presidents. The actual labor in creating the Dresden porcelain Ladies consumed nearly 18 hours a day over a six month period, starting in July of 1973. However, Mrs. Rachetts had been involved in the process of collecting necessary materials for the dresses for more that 20 years. The total collection of “Ladies” includes 43 wives and other relatives who served with the 40 Presidents from 1776–1993. Mrs. Rachetts noted that various Presidents who served more than one term also had more that one First Lady due to death and illness.

It was Mrs. Rachetts´ wish that the collection be continued. Colleen Bennet (a former pupil of Mrs. Rachetts) has carried on the making of the Dresden porcelain dolls with the additions of Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush.

First Ladies

• Martha Washington 1789-1797
• Abigail Adams 1797-1801
• Martha Jefferson Randolph 1801-1809 (daughter of Thomas Jefferson)
• Dolly Madison 1809-1817
• Elizebeth Monroe 1817-1825
• Maria Gouverneur 1817-1825 (daughter of James Monroe)
• Louisa Adams 1825-1829
• Emily Donelson 1829-1836 (niece of Andrew Jackson)
• Sara Jackson 1836-1837
• Angelica Van Buren 1837-1841 (daughter-in-law)
• Jane Findlay Harrison 1841 (daughter-in-law)
• Julia Tyler 1844-1845
• Sara Polk 1845-1849
• Betty Tyler Bliss 1849-1850 (daughter of Zachary Taylor)
• Abigail Fillmore 1850-1853
• Jane Pierce 1853-1857
• Harriet Lane 1857-1861 (niece of James Buchanan)
• Mary Todd Lincoln 1861-1865
• Martha Johnson Patterson 1865-1869 (daughter of Andrew Jackson)
• Julia Grant 1869-1877
• Lucy Hayes 1877-1881
• Lucretia Garfield 1881
• Mary McElray 1881-1885 (sister of Chester Arthur)
• Frances Cleveland 1885-1889
• Caroline Harrison 1889-1892
• Mary McKee 1892 (daughter of Benjamin Harrison)
• Ida McKinley 1893-1897
• Ida McKinley 1897-1901
• Edith Roosevelt 1901-1909
• Helen Taft 1909-1913
• Ellen Wilson 1913-1914
• Edith Wilson 1915-1921
• Florence Harding 1921-1923
• Grace Coolidge 1923-1929
• Lou Hoover 1929-1933
• Eleanor Roosevelt 1933-1945
• Bess Truman 1945-1953
• Mamie Eisenhower 1953-1961
• Jacqueline Kennedy 1961-1963
• Lady Bird Johnson 1963-1969
• Patricia Nixon 1969-1974
• Betty Ford 1974-1977
• Rosalyn Cater 1977-1981
• Nancy Regan 1981-1989
• Barbara Bush 1989-1993

Porcelain Miniatures

The porcelain figures are formed in several steps. First, flesh colored porcelain is poured into molds to form the hand, face, and torso. When “set” the pieces are removed from the molds and cleaned to remove the seam lines. One of the most sensitive parts is making the dolls´ hands, as they are extremely fine and are very delicate.

The dolls are dressed in sections. Pieces of the fabric, tissue paper, or lace are dipped in the appropriate colored slip and attached to the figure. The arms are dressed before attaching. The hair is styled from cotton, yarn, fringe, or string that has been dipped in the slip and shaped.

The doll is then given its first firing which brings out the colors. In this “bisque” form if is fairly fragile. A spray gun or brush is used to apply a finishing glaze. However, flesh areas are not glazed as they are a natural flesh color after the first firing. After glazing the figure, it is fired a second time. Final touches of gold, silver, etc., and facial features are then added, and the figure is given its final firing.

Rowena Rachetts as “Poker Alice”

Mrs. Rachetts was a “proud, active Amercian.” The Alliance, Nebraska, native was a member of the All Angels Episcopal Church in Spearfish and played various roles in the famous Black Hills Passion Play. She became well-known throughout the Black Hills for her character role as “Poker Alice” during the annual Deadwood “Days of 76” celebration. In the many years which she served as the historic Poker Alice, Mrs. Rachetts greeted more than 150 foreign diplomats representing nations from every continent.