The Fanny Seward Story

Meet Fanny!

Frances Adeline Seward, or Fanny, was the youngest daughter of William Henry Seward and Frances Miller Seward. Loved by family and friends, Fanny grew up during the mid-19th century. She spoke about her thoughts and recorded the history happening around her. Dive into this exploration of a girl who lived during the Civil War and wrote her experience!

Fanny only lived to be 21 years old, but she lived through some big moments in American history. She wrote about everyday life, her family members, meetings with important people, and opinions of her favorite books. Reading her story helps us imagine a moment in time through the eyes of a young, privileged teen. Fanny’s experiences and thoughts about history are understandable and relatable. She helps us connect with the past in a personal and youthful way.

The photo to the left shows Fanny in a portrait, painted by Emanuel Leutze, after she passed away in 1866. Leutze painted “Washington Crossing the Delaware”, which is a very famous painting at the Met. Fanny is standing here in her favorite purple dress. She also wore this when she “entered” society (as young girls did at the time). The painting shows symbols of death, including an upside-down flower bouquet, a ghostly hand, and a gloomy sky background. There are also morning glory flowers behind her that represent a short life. Her sister-in-law, Anna, posed in the dress for this portrait, while Fanny’s face was copied from an earlier photograph!