This Week: An Inside Look at the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace
First Ladies Association for Research and Education will host a program featuring a virtual tour at the former first lady’s birthplace in Wytheville, Virginia.
Edith Bolling Wilson married the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, but she hails from a more modest upbringing.
On Wednesday, at 7 p.m. EST, the First Ladies Association for Research and Education will host a free program open to the public about Edith Bolling Wilson that will feature a tour of her birthplace moderated by Rebecca Boggs Roberts, author of Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson, and led by Farron Smith, founder of the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation, and Adam Manuel, museum staffer.
In addition to the tour and discussion that will inform viewers of Mrs. Wilson’s early life, the program will also include an update on the Phase I Bolling Home Restoration project. The home shaped Edith Bolling Wilson’s life and prepared her for the challenges she would face as first lady. She was the seventh of 11 children and had only two years of formal education. Yet, she became an entrepreneur and owner of Galt Bros. Jewelers in Washington, D.C., and became the first woman to own and drive an electric car in the capital.
Watch the program here.
Calendar
Jan. 29, 2026
A Taste of History: Social Diplomacy through Food and Wine
The People’s House: A White House Experience presents an in-person evening of culture, conversation, and history in “A Taste of History: Social Diplomacy Through Food and Wine” at 6:30 p.m. ET on January 29, 2026. Enjoy a taste of thoughtfully selected wines paired with delicious small bites, all inspired by the rich culinary traditions of the White House. Read more
Jan. 29, 2026
Cooking with the First Ladies: Lou Hoover
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents Cooking with the First Ladies Instagram personality Sarah Morgan, who will bring her passion for history and stories of America’s first ladies to life through food. In this special virtual cooking program, on January 29, 2026, from 7 to 8 p.m. EST, Sarah shares recipes inspired by First Lady Lou Hoover, blending historical insights with delicious dishes that can be prepared at home. Read more
Feb. 6, 2026
Legacy Lecture: An Unlikely Friendship – The Story of Two First Ladies
Explore the extraordinary 40-year friendship between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune, the “First Lady of the Struggle.” The women shared a remarkable 40-year friendship built on mutual respect and a shared vision for equality. Together, they championed civil rights, education, and social justice during some of the most challenging decades in American history. Read more
Feb. 19, 2026
Third Thursday: Innovation, Business & Work from the East Wing
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents visitors an opportunity to explore innovation, leadership, and the behind-the-scenes work of America’s First Ladies at this in-person Third Thursday Wine & Cheese program from 6:30 to 8 p.m. EST on February 19, 2026. Read more
Feb. 27, 2026
Jackie & Monte – A Legacy of Style
The National First Ladies Library & Museum invites guests to “Jackie & Monte—A Legacy of Style.” This evening, hosted by beloved fashion director and television personality Monte Durham honors the timeless elegance of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, a woman whose influence on fashion and culture still inspires the world today. This exclusive event will be held at the luxurious Zazu Salon, located at 445 5th Avenue South, Unit 205 in Naples, Florida, on February 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $125 per guest and can be reserved here.
The Weekly Wrap
The Weekly Wrap is a collection of headlines from the past week. Some publications have paywalls.
CNN
Melania Trump’s Multimillion-dollar Documentary Project Faces a Key Test This Week
Jan. 23, 2026 – First Lady Melania Trump and Amazon MGM Studios face a high-stakes test this week with the release of the “Melania” documentary: Will the multimillion-dollar investment pay off? Read more
Reuters
First Lady Melania Trump Previews New Film at Private White House Screening
Jan. 23, 2026 – First Lady Melania Trump hosted a private White House screening on Saturday of a new film documenting her life in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, the White House said. Read more
USA Today
Melania Trump Opening NY Stock Exchange Ahead of Her Movie Release
Jan. 23, 2026 – With a new movie coming out and her first year back in the White House under her belt, First Lady Melania Trump is heading to Manhattan to ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange. Her appearance in New York on Jan. 28 comes ahead of the Jan. 30 release of a documentary about her on Amazon Prime Video. Read more
East Wing Magazine
‘It Is Immense’
Jan. 22, 2026 – The latest addition of new architectural features to President Donald Trump’s East Wing Modernization project drew swift reaction Thursday from the newly seated United States Commission of Fine Arts chair about its size.
Looking at renderings, Rodney Mims Cook, Jr., the newly sworn-in chair of the commission, said in the meeting held virtually that the ballroom’s scale from the north side that faces Pennsylvania Avenue is not as “overwhelming” and is diminished by trees.
“But on the south side is a different story,” said Cook, founder of the National Monuments Foundation. “It is immense.” Read more
The New York Times
Is America Ready for a Female President? Michelle Obama and Whitmer Disagree.
Jan. 21, 2026 – As Mrs. Obama defended her remarks from November that the country wasn’t ready for a woman president, Gov. Gretchen Witmer of Michigan offered a different view. Read more
The Hill
Melania Trump Reflects on One-year Mark: Being First Lady a ‘Profound Responsibility’
Jan. 20, 2026 – Melania Trump is reflecting on the one-year anniversary since President Trump’s return to the White House, calling her role as first lady a “profound responsibility.”
“A year ago today, I was entrusted to serve our country once again,” she wrote in a Tuesday post on X. Read more
History
How a First Lady Prepares for Life in the White House
Jan. 20, 2026 – Stepping into the role of first lady is one of the most visible and closely scrutinized transitions in American public life. While the presidency comes with a constitutional job description, the first lady’s role is a mix of tradition, diplomacy and the priorities of the incoming administration. Read more
Radar
First Lady’s Upcoming Film ‘Struggling’ to Sell Tickets Before Premiere — ‘It’s Not Materializing’
Jan. 16, 2026 – While President Donald Trump recently said there’s a high demand for seats for the premiere of MELANIA, which will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on January 30, sources contradicted the president’s claims and alleged the $40 million project has been “struggling” to sell advanced tickets. Read more