Catherine Allgor Recognized as “Trailblazer” in Field of First Ladies Research

FLARE names Allgor 2023 Gould Award winner, praising her for contributions to the research and education of first ladies.

Catherine Allgor is the First Ladies Association of Research and Education 2023 Lewis L. Gould Award winner for her contributions to the study of first ladies. (Photo courtesy of Catherine Allgor)

When Catherine Allgor first authored a book about former First Lady Dolley Madison, wife of the fourth president, James Madison (1809-1817), Allgor wanted to explore how women drove political power in the decades following America’s founding. While some might use the term “behind the scenes” to describe women’s relationship to power at the time, Allgor believes anytime politics is happening, it’s center stage.

For example, Allgor refers to the founding men of the city of Washington, D.C. when they were trying to create a government (Washington, D.C. was established as the seat of federal government in 1790). At that time, she says, the women of Washington (the wives, mothers and sisters) were constructing a parallel structure where political favors, connections, compromises and legislative pro…