Jill Biden’s inaugural celebration coat, 2021
name: label: user
content: Biden, Jill
notes: label: Description
content: COVID-19 precautions meant that there was no inaugural ball. Dr. Biden wore this double-breasted ivory cashmere coat to watch the nationally televised inaugural concert and firework display. The hem is embroidered with the federal flowers of the states, territories, and District of Columbia to symbolize unity. Some of the flowers are embellished with beads and sequins. A cashmere patch with the quote “TELL ME AND I FORGET/TEACH ME AND I REMEMBER/INVOLVE ME AND I LEARN – Benjamin Franklin” embroidered in ivory thread is stitched in the lining of the coat above the wearer’s heart. The dress, coat, and matching mask were designed by Gabriela Hearst. They were made from existing fabrics to lessen the environmental impact.
label: Description
content: Jill Biden became first lady with years of experience serving as second lady during the Obama administration and quickly became a trailblazer as the first first lady to work outside the White House. Dr. Biden balances her official duties with her job as a professor at Northern Virginia Community College.
label: Description
content: As first lady she has relaunched her Joining Forces initiative to support military families, advocated for the administration’s legislative initiatives, promoted partnership with the United States on a trip to Latin America, supported athletes at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Japan, encouraged Americans to be vaccinated against COVID-19, met with victims of gun violence in Buffalo and Uvalde, and traveled to Ukraine to meet with first lady Olena Zelenska in a show of American support for the Ukrainian people.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: web subject
content: First Ladies
label: web subject
content: Inaugurations
label: related event
content: Presidential Inauguration of 2021
setName: label: See more items in
content: Political History: Political History, First Ladies Collection
label: See more items in
content: Government, Politics, and Reform
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Gabriela Hearst in honor of First Lady Jill Biden
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2022.0142.02
label: accession number
content: 2022.0142
label: catalog number
content: 2022.0142.02
objectType: label: Object Name
content: coat
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 130 cm x 77 cm; 51 3/16 in x 30 5/16 in