Do we really need both First Ladies and Spouse of Presidents categories? [closed]

Question

There are two overlapping categories when, to me, it seems that one will do. The problem with "First Ladies" hasn't occured yet, but if/when the US gets a "First Husband" then he'd not fit in that category. So, no big deal yet.

But why Spouses of US Presidents then?

Could one category do?

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Spouses_of_US_Presidents

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:First_Ladies_of_the_United_States

(note: discovered during work with the profile of Rosalynn Carter)

Comments

[deleted as I didn’t see question was closed]

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It's OK, Donna. I saw your answer. I knew about Pres. Buchanan's niece, since I lived in Lancaster PA for several years (my siblings and mother are still living there) and a family friend was the curator at Wheatland, his home in the city.

Answer 1

For presidents who were married more than once, a first wife would not be included even though she would be the one most likely to have bore his children.

Comments

I see, but then most of the women in the Spouses category should be removed, as they WERE first ladies. And the category page needs that explanation.

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If it were looked at from a category perspective, there should be an overlap and two categories. As far as spouses, a First Husband would still be a spouse, but we would need a new category for First Husband. I would prefer a category for Mistresses.

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They should be listed as spouses as they were married to them and included in their natural profile.

They just would not have the TITLE First Spouse or First Lady if they were not married or living with them at the time in office.

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My 5th cousin, Ellen Lewis (Herndon) Arthur, died before her husband, Chester Arthur, became president. The White House still lists her as a First Lady as Chester never officially put someone else in that role.

But the White House officially changed the website earlier this year and changed the heading of the White House page from First Ladies to First Families. Ellen is number 22.

Answer 2

First Spouse would less cumbersome.

Allow First Lady as they existed.

At any heartbeat we could have a First Spouse. Mr. Emhoff is now called the Second Husband, officially. We would have to have multiple categories.

4 First Lady (archaic term for a woman) and First Husband and then Second Lady and now Second Husband.

Get down to 2 First Spouse and Second Spouse. Simple

Comments

Isn't Doug Emhoff called Second Gentleman, as the counterpart to Lady?

Using the word "husband" as part of this title or category name seems to be a path to confusion, similar to the difficulties that arise when place names like Ethiopia are also surnames.

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Well, we don't need a category yet, so there's time to think about it.

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It depends on who’s writing the title.

Trouble using husband is if they actually marry, are engaged. Spouse cover unmarried, also.