In a quiet signing ceremony at the national headquarters of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, D.C. last week, leaders from organizations came together with a common mission—to amplify the lives and legacies of American first ladies.
One way to accomplish that, they agreed, would be by working together to secure congressional approval in designating the last Saturday in April as National First Ladies Day. Leaders from the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE), the National First Ladies Day Commission (NFLDC) and Presidents for Kids jointly signed a memorandum of understanding that also included encouraging governors to issue proclamations recognizing the day in their states.
“The extraordinary stories of the women who have served alongside America’s presidents are both inspiring and not widely enough known,” Diana Carlin, FLARE president, said in a press release. “These collaborations will help give both young people and the broader general public greater awareness of the contributions made by our first ladies.”
The idea of a National First Ladies Day first took root nearly six years ago, Massee McKinley, co-chair of the NFLDC and great-great grandson of President Grover and Frances Folsom Cleveland, told East Wing Magazine in a recent interview. It was designed to encourage people to observe the day through participating in acts of service.
“We knew that we wanted to have a day,” McKinley said, adding they are looking to establish to a national day of observance.
Already, the NFLDC work has seen some success. On March 30, 2022, the National Day Calendar in cooperation with the NFLDC recognized the last Saturday in April as National First Ladies Day. And since then, sites associated with first ladies have organized events to get the public excited about it.
At the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Missouri, they plant cherry blossom trees. The festival is a huge draw for presidential descendants and pop culture icons. In the Georgia towns of Americus and Plains, the home of former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, residents distribute food to those in need, which was a post-White House initiative of Mrs. Carter.
“I’ve also heard, too, that a lot of young people, especially in my home state of Georgia, go into the nursing homes and they read to the patients,” McKinley said.
Lobbying Congress and garnering their support could help bring the proposal to the desk of the president.
“We’re hoping by joining forces with them that we’re going to gain even more momentum towards seeing First Ladies Day become a national observance,” said Rev. Nicholas Inman, founder of the NFLDC. “I think that with all their members reaching out to elected officials asking for proclamations for First Ladies Day and just having their support with so much historical credibility with their organization is going to be a major shot in the arm for towards our goal.”
The day would be a national observance with service encouraged, not a federal holiday. Inman explains that it’s going to be a day when people are urged to roll up their sleeves and make a difference across the country.
“In a day when we are so politically divided, it’s nice to have something we can all stand together and say, ‘yes, we need to work together to make a difference in our communities, in our country, give back.’ We’ve seen that from our first ladies,” Inman said. “It’s really not a political issue, and once you explain all that to people, they’re like, ‘Yes, absolutely, we need that. What can we do to help?’”
The day also encourages an educational component. The partnership between the entities includes working with Presidents for Kids to expand the organization’s already published activity books about the lives of 20 first ladies. The agreement outlines how they will work together in developing and editing content. FLARE members, in particular, will contribute to the forewords to the activity books.
“We are very excited about our partnerships with FLARE and the NFLDC. Working together we can continue to expand our mission of bringing history education and the story of our leading first ladies into the hands of eager young learners,” said Dan Scudder, founder of Presidents For Kids, in a press release.
For McKinley, the prospect of a National First Ladies Day is “a no-brainer.”
“Why would you not want to have the observance of some of the greatest women in this country?” he asked.
Melania Trump to Travel to North Carolina to Promote Community Resiliency and Education Technology
First Lady Melania Trump will travel to Ashe County, North Carolina nearly two years after Hurricane Helene, a storm that ravaged the region with mass flooding resulting in more than 100 deaths in 2024. Former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited the region in the storm’s aftermath in October 2024.
Mrs. Trump’s visit will promote community resiliency and education technology in American schools as part of her focus on preparing children and youth for success in the digital era, according to the White House.
Mrs. Trump will deliver remarks to elementary school students and visit classrooms to view how they are immersing technology in education. The visit to a local school will mark the return of the first lady to western North Carolina since she and President Donald Trump toured damage of Hurricane Helene in January 2025.
Calendar
Sept. 16, 2026
Reimagining Mary Todd Lincoln with Lois Romano, Lucas McMahon & Carolyn Ryan
P&T Knitwear in New York City will welcome author Lois Romano from 6:30 to 8 p.m. to discuss her book An Inconvenient Widow; a revelatory new biography of one of the most misunderstood and vilified First Ladies in American history: Mary Todd Lincoln.
Romano will be in conversation alongside Lucas McMahon, Executive Producer of Broadway’s hit comedy, Oh Mary!. The conversation will be moderated by Carolyn Ryan, Managing Editor of The New York Times. Read more
Sept. 19, 2026
Coolidge Museum 70th Anniversary!
On September 16, 1956, the Coolidge Museum at Forbes Library was dedicated by former First Lady Grace Coolidge after a renovation in 1955.
Join the museum on Saturday, September 19, 2026, as it celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Coolidge Museum with a concert of 1920s inspired music and dance by the Butterfly Swing Band. Coolidge inspired treats and 1920s style mocktails will be served. The event is free and open to the public. Read more
Sept. 17, 2026
Third Thursday: Vital Voices with Andrew Och
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents Third Thursday: Vital Voices with Andrew Och, an in-person presentation by the author also known as “The First Ladies Man.” Och will offer a fascinating look at how America’s first ladies have supported military veterans throughout U.S. history. This special Third Thursday program explores the efforts of First Ladies—including Florence Harding, Jill Biden and others—who championed veterans and military families across American history. Wine and cheese will be served. Read more
Sept. 26, 2026
Voices of Val-Kill: A Centennial Celebration
The National Park Service of Hyde Park, New York, and the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill present Voices of Val-Kill, a special panel discussion celebrating the 100th anniversary of Val-Kill in Hyde Park, New York. The in-person program takes place at 2 p.m. local time on September 26, 2026, and will tell the remarkable story of the people who came together to save Val-Kill from development—and whose tireless determination ultimately helped create the first and only National Historic Site dedicated to a first lady, a leader at the United Nations and a world diplomat. Before the panel, a historical video retrospective will tell the story of Val-Kill’s preservation and introduces some of the people and events involved. Read more
Sept. 26, 2026
First Ladies for Kids: Lucretia Garfield
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents at 11 a.m. local time on September 26, 2026, the fascinating life of Lucretia Garfield and the stories behind one of America’s first ladies in a fun and engaging free program designed for students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Young learners will discover the story of First Lady Lucretia Garfield through a brief interactive lesson, hands-on activities, and a take-home mini-workbook based on our popular First Ladies for Kids series. Read more
Sept. 29, 2026
White House History Live: Presidentess—The Life and Legacy of First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler
The White House Historical Association’s White House History Live presents the virtual event “Presidentess—The Life and Legacy of First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler” at 5:30 p.m. ET on September 29, 2026.
Julia Gardiner Tyler was not a curiosity or a contradiction—she was a force. As the first “bride of the White House” and one of the youngest first ladies in American history, she consciously shaped her public role, skillfully used newspapers, portraits, and fashion, and expanded what a first lady could be before the role had rules. Authors Christopher J. Leahy and Sharon Williams Leahy reveal how Julia navigated the undefined early presidency, managed visibility with intention, and transformed personal and political challenges into influence. This virtual event will be live streamed on the White House Historical Association’s Facebook and YouTube pages. Read more
Sept. 30, 2026
Second Private Tour of the Val-Kill Furniture Exhibit at the Met
The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill presents an exclusive private tour on September 30, 2026, of the Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit on Val-Kill Industries furniture for some of its supporters. This tour will be led by the exhibit curator, Alyce Perry Englund, and Eleanor Roosevelt’s great-granddaughter, Sara Boettiger. There will also be lunch included after the tour at the American Wing Cafe inside the museum. Read more
Send calendar items, press releases and announcements to jtaylor@eastwingmagazine.com.