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Welcoming the World to the President's House

Memoirs from the First Social Secretary

Isabella Hagner is considered the first official social secretary at the White House. First Lady Edith Roosevelt hired Ms. Hagner in 1901. She also worked during the Woodrow Wilson administration. Isabella was an active participant in shaping different elements of White House entertaining, procedures, and protocol, detailing it all in her memoir—a portion of which is published here.

Introduction to Isabella Hagner