A ‘Bird’s’ Eye View
A ‘Bird’s’ Eye View
Watch live: Athena, a great horned owl, back for its 14th year nesting at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, last week welcomed back one of its most dedicated visitors—a great horned owl named Athena that has returned to the center for its 14th consecutive year to nest.
People from around the world can watch Athena’s nesting activities live on a video stream installed through a collaboration with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, according to the center.
The nest is located in a highly visible spot above the entrance to the Wildflower Center’s courtyard. When the conditions are right, according to the center, her eggs will hatch into owlets for all to view up close.
Watch: Athena the Great Horned Owl Live Cam.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is part of The University of Texas at Austin and welcomes more than 245,000 guests to its 284 acres of gardens, trails, and exhibitions each year, fulfilling its mission to inspire the conservation of native plants. Read more
New Issue: White House History Quarterly “On the Move”
The White House Historical Association last week released the 72nd issue of its magazine, White House History Quarterly, “On the Move,” a collection of stories of the historic journeys made by both people and things to and from the White House.
On the morning of May 16, 1978, First Lady Rosalynn Carter crossed Pennsylvania Avenue and walked through Lafayette Park to board the subway at McPherson Square. She rode nine stops to D.C. General Hospital where she donned a smock and helped to lay on a fresh coat of paint to brighten the emergency room. The photos of her trip on the Metro are a fitting opening for White House History Quarterly #72, “On the Move."
The issue, according to a WHHA press release, also features stories about or related to former first ladies including:
“Joanna Rucker’s Extended Stay in the White House and the Nation’s Capital: A First Lady’s Niece Records Her Experience in Nineteenth Century Washington, D.C.”: An early family visit to the White House is recalled by historian Zacharie Kinslow who studies the revealing letters of Joanna Rucker. In 1845, Rucker made a ten-day 600-mile journey from Tennessee to Washington, D.C., for a long stay with her aunt First Lady Sarah Polk. She stands beside her in the famous group photograph set on the South Portico that includes past, present, and future first ladies and presidents.
“Considering the Furnishing of the Lincolns’ Summer Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home”: Less is known about the details of many other early moves to and from the White House. Historian Matthew Costello and White House Associate Curator Melissa Naulin explain the value of collaboration in scholarly research and tell of their recent work to discover more about the objects the Lincoln family likely carried from the White House to the Soldiers’ Home to furnish their summer retreat.
“Send her to Me": Emilie Todd Helm’s Civil War Visit to the Lincoln White House” Historian Estill Pennington tells of a more complicated family reunion in the Civil War-era White House. When President Abraham Lincoln asked that his sister-in-law Emilie Todd Helm, widow of a Confederate general, be sent to him when she tried to cross enemy lines, the northern loyalties and southern sympathies of his extended family drew public attention.
“Front Line First Lady: First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s Wartime Tour of the South Pacific”: The first solo visit by a presidential spouse to an active combat zone is recounted by historian Mary Jo Binker, who follows Eleanor Roosevelt on her twenty-two-stop trip through the South Pacific in 1943. As a Red Cross delegate, she would visit Red Cross facilities and make recommendations for what the soldiers needed. Determined to see the situation for herself, Mrs. Roosevelt, earning the nickname “Public Energy Number One,” tirelessly endured danger, physical hardships, and political criticism as she met and comforted hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops.
“Reflections: Embracing the Future”: With his “Reflections” Stewart D. McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, explains that, just as President Adams embraced the future when he moved into the new President’s House in 1800, the Association is embracing the future as it prepares to open The People’s House: A White House Experience at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue this fall.
Calendar
March 13, 2024
Virtual Talk With a Curator: Discover Hidden Treasures From Our Archives
The National First Ladies Library & Museum’s Michelle Gullion, Director of Collections and Research, presents "The Fairchilds and the First Ladies": What do American adventurers-botanists have in common with first ladies? It turns out a lot! Dr. David Fairchild, who worked for the United States Department of Agriculture, diversified the diets and gardens of Americans at the turn of the 20th century. We will explore a selection of letters written by first ladies to Dr. David Fairchild and his wife, Marian, about their shared love of fruit, flowers, and the National Geographic. Read more
March 15, 2024
Nixon Library and Foundation Host Symposium on Origins and Impact of Women In Government
The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum and the Richard Nixon Foundation will host Celebrating Women’s Impact, a symposium of historians, authors, and Nixon Administration officials, on Friday, March 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (PT). This unique gathering will explore post-war 20th-century advancements in the role of women in government. It will be live-streamed for a national audience in conjunction with First Lady Pat Nixon’s 112th birthday celebrations. This event is free and open to the public and will be held in the East Room, but space will be limited. Make a reservation here. View live on YouTube.
March 15, 2024
City Tavern Club Presents Author Night: Revolutionary First Ladies
Co-authors of the newly published Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women will speak about early first ladies as part of the City Tavern America 250 lecture series at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 15. Authors include Diana B. Carlin, Anita McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith. Books will be available for onsite purchase with a book signing to follow. RSVP: bbello@citytavernclubdc.org.
March 15 and 16, 2024
First Ladies Trilogy
Three back-to-back first ladies (1945-63) appear in a two-night series of live performances at the Winona Arts Center, 228 East 5th Street Winona, Minnesota. Bess Truman, Friday, and Mamie Eisenhower and Jackie Kennedy, Saturday. Read more
March 18, 2024
Virtual Cooking with the First Ladies: Bess Truman
Join Sarah Morgan for a virtual feast exploring First Lady Bess Truman's life and recipes. Morgan is the host of Cooking with the First Ladies Instagram. Cooking with the First Ladies is not just a demonstration—it's a culinary crash course in first lady history. Attendees not only learn about the extraordinary lives of these influential women, but also receive exclusive recipe cards to recreate the magic in their own kitchens. Read more
March 18, 2024
A Conversation with White House Social Secretaries
The George W. Bush Presidential Center will present a panel of former White House Social Secretaries who will share insights and behind-the-scenes stories about entertaining at the White House. From State Dinners to picnics on the South Lawn, the experts will discuss the importance of the White House as a stage for hospitality and diplomacy.
Anita McBride, former Assistant to President Bush and Chief of Staff to Former First Lady Laura Bush, will moderate a conversation with Jeremy Bernard, former White House social secretary to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama; Gahl Hodges Burt, former White House social secretary to President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan; and Amy Zantzinger, former White House social secretary to President Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush. Ticket information here
March 18, 2024
Virtual: Bringing Home the White House: The Hidden History of the Women who Shaped the Presidency in the 20th Century
The National Archives and Records Administration presents a discussion on "Bringing Home the White House: The Hidden History of the Women who Shaped the Presidency in the 20th Century," by Melissa Estes Blair. The event will take place online from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (CT). The book focuses on the period from 1932-1960, and much of the research was conducted at the Truman Library in 2018. Please email Azalea Michel-Whitley to RSVP and for more information at azalea.michelwhitley@nara.gov. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to the live conversation with the author. Read more
Through March 19, 2024
University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars
The application for the 2024-2025 University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program is open. Students in their final year of study in a Master’s program at one of three Schools at the University of Chicago: the Harris School of Public Policy; Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice; and Booth School of Business can participate in the Obama Foundation Scholars program at the University of Chicago. The application closes on March 19, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Read more
March 21, 2024
In-person: Debra Scala Giokas Book Talk on Ladies, First Common Threads
Bay Shore Historical Society will feature author Debra Scala Giokas at their Thursday, March 21 meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. EDT at Bay Shore-Brightwaters Public Library. Giokas will present her book Ladies, First Common Threads, which celebrates 18 first ladies who, at one point in their lives, knitted, crocheted, embroidered, quilted, cross-stitched, or sewed. She was appointed a Hutton House Lecturer at C.W. Post College/Long Island University and is a member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education. The meeting is open to the public at no charge. Read more
March 21, 2024
Third Thursdays Night Out with the First Ladies
Get to know the REAL Jackie O with apps and drink during this private, exclusive talk about our exhibition Beyond Camelot: The Life and Legacy of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, given by the National First Ladies Library & Museum staff at the First Ladies National Historic Site. This enjoyable evening at the museum will include many of Jackie's untold stories and a view of the exquisite reproduction of Jackie's extraordinary wedding dress, on display courtesy of Monte Durham of TLC's Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta. Read more
March 21, 2024
Virtual Young Learners Program: Meet Eleanor Roosevelt
The National Archives and Records Administration presents a virtual program from 11 a.m. to noon ET on March 21 about former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a humanitarian, civil rights advocate, and the longest serving first lady of the United States. Eleanor Roosevelt also made history as a co-creator and delegate to the United Nations. Come learn about the work and influence of Eleanor Roosevelt and how she served as a role model for all Americans. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt is portrayed by Rene Goodwin of the American Historical Theatre. Read more and view here.
March 25, 2024
Virtual and in-person: The East Wing: Expanding First Ladies’ Impact from Jacqueline Kennedy to Jill Biden
Anita McBride, Director of the First Ladies Initiative at the American University School of Public Affairs and co-author of Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America's History-Making Women; Barbara Perry, professor and co-chair of the Presidential Oral History Program at the University of Virginia's Miller Center and author of Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier; and Elizabeth Rees, doctoral candidate at Oxford University, discuss the evolution of the role of the first lady from the Kennedy administration through the present day. Read more
March 29, 2024
Ask an Archivist, Converse with a Curator
In recognition of Lou Henry Hoover's 150th Birthday, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum’s Registrar Sara Godin will share some of Lou's clothing and Girl Scout-related items to celebrate. Staff will be available from 11 a.m.-to noon., and again from 2 to 3 p.m. CT. Registration is not required. Read more
March 30, 2024
Lou Henry Hoover: Pioneer. Humanitarian. Leader.
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum will host a special presentation event from 2 to 5 p.m. CDT highlighting the extraordinary life of Lou Henry Hoover. Hear from various speakers who will discuss Lou's fashion as first lady of the United States, her leadership with the Girl Scouts, and her connection with Stanford University. This event is free with admission to the Museum. No registration is required, but all are welcome to RSVP on the Hoover Museum's Facebook page for a notification reminder. Read more
April 3, 2024
FLARE will Present ‘First Ladies Then and Now: Communicating Their Stories’
Registration is underway for the pre-conference program "First Ladies Then and Now: Communicating Their Stories" hosted by the First Ladies Association for Research and Education in conjunction with the Central States Communication Association. The event will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 3.
The theme of the half-day program will feature FLARE members and representatives of the Ford Library and Museum and Foundation. FLARE members will participate in three panels that look at the past 40 years of first lady scholarship, pedagogical practices, and outreach activities with a look forward by immediate past president of FLARE Myra Gutin.
Register here.
Registration is available for the Pre-Conference FLARE program only. The fee is $25 for in-person or $5 for live streaming. FLARE Lifetime Members will receive a complimentary registration.
The CSCA Convention will be held at the Grand Amway Plaza in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Please follow this link for hotel accommodations.
Through April 21, 2024
Ancestral Spaces: People of African Descent at Tudor Place
Tudor Place will offer “Ancestral Spaces: People of African Descent” at Tudor Place. Curated in collaboration with descendants, this special installation and guided tour presents the multi-faceted individuals and families of African descent who lived and worked at Tudor Place. Explore the historic house through their lives, learn how they impacted the world around them and discover their enduring legacy. Read more
April 27, 2024
National First Ladies Day "First Look" Annual VIP Champagne Reception
Celebrate National First Ladies Day on April 27 and be among the first to view the National First Ladies Library & Museum's 2024-25 Featured Exhibit, titled "Leaders in Literacy: First Ladies as Teachers, Educators, and Librarians" at our exclusive annual First Look Champagne Reception. The exhibit features more than a dozen first ladies who have advanced the cause of literacy and education, including Barbara and Laura Bush, Eleanor Roosevelt, Abigail Fillmore and Helen Taft.
The First Look Champagne VIP Reception will feature introductory remarks by President & CEO Patty Dowd Schmitz, a talk by our curator Michelle Gullion about the exhibit, as well as short remarks by first lady descendant Patricia Taft, the great-granddaughter of Helen Taft, who was a schoolteacher. In addition, the winner of the Mary Regula Memorial Scholarship will be announced. It will be awarded to a Stark County, Ohio, high school junior or senior who has written a compelling essay telling the story of significant historical events in American history through the eyes of the first ladies. Read more
May 18, 2024
The First Lady’s Hidden Hand: Mamie Eisenhower’s Approach to 1950s Politics with Dr. Stefanie Basalik
Mamie Doud Eisenhower was first lady from 1953-1961. Like many first ladies, Mamie Eisenhower took her job as the nation's hostess seriously. What sets her apart from other contemporary first ladies was her subtle use of political strategy as a way to support her husband. Join Dr. Basalik to learn about how Mamie's marriage, her relationship with her grandchildren, her interactions with staff, and her influence on consumerism demonstrated her knack for the same hidden-hand approach to governing as her husband, General Eisenhower. This program will begin at 9 a.m. ET in the Ford Room at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. Read more
In case you missed it:
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan led a panel discussion at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, March 4, focusing on the impact and legacy of America’s First Ladies. Participants included Diana Carlin, a professor emerita of communication at Saint Louis University; Anita McBride, director of the First Ladies Initiative at American University, School of Public Affairs; and Nancy Kegan Smith, former director of the Presidential Materials Division of the National Archives.
The three co-authored the new book Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America's History-Making Women. The authors described Eleanor Roosevelt’s work to further New Deal proposals, civil rights, and the rights of women; Betty Ford’s advocacy for the Equal Rights Amendment and the legalization of abortion; Laura Bush support for literacy and education; and Michelle Obama’s championing of childhood physical fitness and nutrition and support for military families.
“You hear more about the first ladies after a presidency, oftentimes, than you do the presidents themselves,” Carlin said. “And a lot of that is because the issues they took up were not political, and they are things that have social impact that can continue.”
View the event on the National Archives YouTube channel.
Submit calendar items, announcements and press releases to East Wing Magazine at jtaylor@eastwingmagazine.com.