This Week: Birthday Celebrations Commemorate Eleanor Roosevelt’s 140th Year
FDR Memorial Legacy Committee holds public discussion and ceremony in Washington, D.C. for the former first lady.
In honor of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s 140th birthday, the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee will host a discussion about her life and accomplishments on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the memorial at 1850 West Basin Dr. SW in Washington, D.C.
The event is open to the public and will feature Professor Christopher Brick, editor and former director of The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, and a wreath placing ceremony, according to Mary Dolan, Executive Director of the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee.
“Eleanor Roosevelt transformed what a first lady can do, should do and the role of first lady,” Dolan told East Wing Magazine.
The discussion will introduce people to Eleanor Roosevelt, highlight her achievements and the story of her life. At the close of the discussion, the procession of visitors will be led to the statue where the wreath will be placed.
The commemorative event, noted Brick, is important because it spotlights the former first lady’s side of the marriage and partnership, drawing attention to her part of the legacy.
From the 1950s to 1980s, historians mostly paid attention to the work of President Roosevelt, Brick said, adding that at that time there wasn’t much interest in Eleanor Roosevelt’s legacy.
“Say we were having this conversation 50 or 60 years ago, we wouldn’t have actually because there wouldn’t have been any interest in having an Eleanor Roosevelt commemorative [event] at the FDR Memorial,” Brick said. “It’s a reflection of the fact of how far our historical understanding has come, of how intertwined and interdependent their impact on the country was.”
What’s notable at the memorial, Brick added, is the sculpture of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the wheelchair and behind it on the wall is a quotation from Eleanor Roosevelt’s biography.
“You need Eleanor Roosevelt to annotate what’s going on with the FDR piece and vice versa,” Brick said, adding it was consistent with the way the two historically operated.
Registration for this free event can be found here.
Calendar
Oct. 11, 2024
Ceremony & Birthday Cake: Eleanor Roosevelt's Birthday
The National Park Service at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum will hold a Rose Garden Ceremony on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 at 3 p.m. to commemorate Eleanor Roosevelt's Birthday. Following the ceremony, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library will invite attendees to return to the Wallace Center for birthday cake and refreshments. This is a free public event and registration is not required. Read more
Oct. 11, 2024
Legacy Lecture: Eleanor Roosevelt: A Civil Rights Warrior at the Highlander School
VIRTUAL: For more than 20 years, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt strongly and publicly supported the Highlander Folk School in Monteagle, Tennessee, where civil rights activists such as Septima Clark, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks trained. On Oct. 11, 2024 from noon to 1 p.m., the National First Ladies Library & Museum presents Dr. Melody Lehn in a virtual program as she explores how Roosevelt's support drew both praise and censure, as the school's integrated activities imagined a nation where people of all races could gather together and collaboratively address regional problems. Read more
Oct. 15, 2024
Lafayette’s Bicentennial Celebration Tour – Next Stop: Tudor Place
The American Friends of Lafayette, in collaboration with Tudor Place and other historic sites nationwide, announce a bicentennial celebration of Lafayette’s tour tracing his footsteps as the “Guest of the Nation” in the exact order he traveled.
In 2024-2025, communities throughout the U.S. will commemorate the bicentennial of Marquis de Lafayette’s return to America. Between July 1824 and September 1825, “the Hero of Two Worlds” toured America, visiting all twenty-four states and the District of Columbia. Nearly fifty years after the American Revolution, Lafayette was received with parades, banquets and military salutes. In October 1824, he paid a visit to Martha and Thomas Peter at Tudor Place, a much-awaited reunion between Lafayette and Martha Peter, a granddaughter of Martha Washington.
Tudor Place will celebrate this bicentennial commemoration with a lineup of related events:
Oct. 15: Tudor Place at 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The Night Lafayette Came to Tudor Place. Guests are invited to a celebratory evening in honor of one of Georgetown’s most historic events, which will include a performance by the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and a meet and greet with the guest of honor, Lafayette. View an installation of objects and ephemera around themes of Lafayette’s visit to Tudor Place in the historic house, followed by dinner and music on the South Lawn. Contact Tudor Place for tickets.
Oct. 15-Nov. 30: Tudor Place. Welcoming Lafayette. See rarely displayed collection objects and ephemera in the historic house around themes of memories and mementos of Lafayette’s visit to Tudor Place in 1824. Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET and Sunday Noon to 4 p.m. ET
Tudor Place preserves the stories of six generations of descendants of Martha Washington, and the enslaved and free people who lived and worked here for nearly two centuries.
Oct. 17, 2024
Grand Rapids Champions Women's Rights: LVW, Betty Ford, and the ERA
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, presents Dr. Liette Gidlow of Wayne State University who will explore the development of the League of Women Voters in Grand Rapids and former First Lady Betty Ford's historic membership during the fight for the ERA. The event will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. EDT on Oct. 17, 2024. Read more
Oct. 17, 2024
Third Thursdays Night Out Wine & Cheese with the First Ladies
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents Third Thursday Night Out with the First Ladies on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. EDT. Enjoy appetizers and drinks and explore what First Ladies Abigail Fillmore, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Laura Bush all have in common—their teaching careers! Read more
Oct. 20, 2024
Eleanor Roosevelt: The First Lady of Today's First Ladies
Learn about the remarkable life of Eleanor Roosevelt, who served as the “eyes and ears” for President Roosevelt. Eleanor was the first lady from 1933 until 1945. Through her travels throughout the country, as an early advocate for human rights, and her public engagement, she redefined the role of First Lady. This remarkable person even served as the United States Delegate to the United Nations.
Presented by Mark Mutter, who spent summer months working as a docent at Campobello Island, where the Roosevelts had their summer cottage. During his time there Mark did extensive research on Eleanor Roosevelt.
Mark has been historian and business administrator for Toms River Township, serves as the official Toms River historian, and is currently adjunct professor of law at Ocean County College.
These events take place at 26 Hadley Avenue in Toms River. The speaker series is free; but donations are appreciated. Reserve a seat early by sending your name, zip code, email address, telephone number, and the name and date of the program (October 20, 2024) to: oceancountyhistory.programs@gmail.com
Oct. 24, 2024
An Evening with Jenna Bush Hager: Speaking of Books Author Series with the Stark Library
The National First Ladies Library & Museum is partnering with the Stark Library to bring Jenna Bush Hager to Canton, Ohio, through the “Speaking of Books Author Series.” The event will be held in person at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Canton Palace Theater. Co-host of TODAY with Hoda and Jenna, literacy advocate, and author, Hager discusses her work and books including Everything Beautiful in Its Time which pays homage to her beloved grandparents. Hager is the daughter of former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush. Before the public event, there will be an exclusive, private VIP reception at the National First Ladies Library & Museum (VIP Reception is by invitation and sponsorship only; please contact Patty Dowd Schmitz at pdschmitz@firstladies.org for information).
Oct. 27, 2024
Celebrate Eleanor Roosevelt’s 140th Birthday
Tickets are available now for “Letters from Eleanor: A 140th Birthday Celebration of Eleanor Roosevelt,” which will take place from noon to 2 p.m. ET on Oct. 27 at The Henry A. Wallace Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York.
The event, presented by the Eleanor Roosevelt Center, will feature a sit-down lunch followed by a conversation among guest speakers William Harris, director of the FDR Library and Museum; Mary Jo Binker, associate editor, The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, The George Washington University; Ellie Lund Zartman, niece of Malvina “Tommy” Thompson and goddaughter of Eleanor Roosevelt; and Anna Eleanor Fierst, Eleanor Roosevelt Board Chair and great-granddaughter of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Attendees will have a unique opportunity to view original letters from Mrs. Roosevelt’s, including heartfelt correspondence with her children and grandchildren.
Tickets are $125 per person. Read more
Submit calendar items, announcements and press releases to East Wing Magazine at jtaylor@eastwingmagazine.com.