Does her face look familiar? If you’ve been with us for a while, you might remember reading about Elizabeth Keckley. Keckley was born into slavery in Dinwiddie County in 1818, but by 1855 had earned enough money from her sewing to buy her own freedom. In 1861, she became First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln’s personal seamstress. Keckley founded the Contraband Relief Association to help enslaved individuals seeking freedom in Union contraband camps. #HistoryTidbit. Unfortunately, conditions in the camps were oftentimes not ideal. The camps were overcrowded and had limited sanitation options. Diseases spread quickly, and many individuals lacked proper clothing. That’s where Keckley fits into the story. She, along with Black churches, raised funds to purchase items for the people in the contraband camps. They also collected donated goods to give away. According to BlackPast.org, “more than 80 large boxes of essential items were contributed exclusively by African American people in Boston.” In ...