Guardian of a Nation's Heritage

Selina Gray lived there with her husband and their eight children. She served as Mrs. Lee's personal maid and later as head housekeeper. Because her parents had been Mount Vernon slaves, she grew up immersed in the lore of George Washington. In May 1861, on the eve of the Civil War, Mrs. Lee left her home and gave the household keys to Mrs. Gray, entrusting her with the "Washington Treasury," cherished heirlooms that had belonged to George and Martha Washington, Mrs. Lee's great grandmother. By taking responsibility for these revered artifacts, Mrs. Gray became, in a broad sense, a guardian of the young nation's heritage.

Arlington, Virginia · United States