Mattie Ould: A Story of Portraits Series

Instead of following the archetypal life of the Southern Belle, Mattie Ould flipped southern family values on its head with lasting consequences. Feeling trapped in an engagement to one of her father’s associates, Ould packed her bags and ran off to elope with the dashing Oliver Schoolcraft. The two settled in Richmond, but tragically Mattie and her young daughter died shortly after in 1877, having never reconciled with her father. The Mattie Ould story has been retold for generations in Richmond.

Find out more about Mattie Ould and her tale in our current exhibition It’s All Relative: Richmond Families (1616-2016).

Portrait of Mattie Ould
c. 1871
G. Darbour
Gift of Mrs. W. Frank Powers
V.54.38  

Joey Fall
PR & Marketing Intern
The Valentine