First Ladies and the People Who Tell Their Stories

Experts from diverse backgrounds gathered on Friday at a Washington, D.C., conference to talk about the evolving legacies of America’s first ladies.

Colleen Shogan (left), the key note speaker at the conference “250 Years of First Ladies Making History” in Washington, D.C., joins Anita McBride, executive-in-residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University’s School of Public Affairs and director of the First Ladies Initiative, to discuss In Pursuit, a series of essays distilling wisdom about leadership and democracy from former American presidents and first ladies and other experts that are being published throughout 2026. (Credit: Jennifer Taylor/East Wing Magazine)

On a bright and sunny Friday at American University in Washington D.C., students have wrapped up their school year. But inside the Mary Graydon Student Center, on an otherwise quiet campus, there were dozens of experts from diverse backgrounds who came together for their one common interest—American presidential first ladies.

They came to listen and share the stories of first ladies as part of this year’s 250th anniversary celebra…