Tudor Place ‘Ancestral Spaces’ Wins Award of Excellence
Plus, FLARE announces call for scholarly submissions for new first ladies studies e-journal.
The home of Martha Washington’s descendants, Tudor Place Historic House & Garden in Washington, D.C., is a recipient of the Award of Excellence for the groundbreaking installation and guided tour, Ancestral Spaces: People of African Descent at Tudor Place, the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) announced Thursday.
The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 80th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
This installation and guided tour invited visitors to experience the historic house from the perspective of the enslaved and free individuals who lived and labored here. Using artifacts, audio recordings, photographs and maps, this innovative guided tour explored how these individuals found ways to practice resistance and activism while navigating the irreparable traumas that came from the institution of slavery. Tudor Place collaborated with descendants of the enslaved and free people who worked at the site in order to curate this experience. Beginning in February 2024, due to popular demand, it was later extended through mid-October.
The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievements in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions and programs to make contributions in this arena.
A digital version of “Ancestral Spaces: People of African Descent at Tudor Place” is available on the Bloomberg Connects app, the free arts and cultural app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Users can experience Tudor Place from anywhere, anytime through photo, audio and video features, offering insights into the 5.5-acre estate. The Bloomberg Connects app is available for download from Google Play or the App Store. For more information, please visit www.bloomberg.org.
FLARE Announces Call for Submissions for New E-journal
The First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) invites submissions to a new e-journal, FLARE’s Journal of First Ladies Studies, which is scheduled for launch early in 2026.
The journal welcomes scholarly submissions based on original research on any aspect of the study of first ladies, including work that examines them within a historical context, adopts a comparative perspective, presents a theoretical approach, or offers an interdisciplinary framework for analysis in fields such as history, women’s studies, communication, sociology, political science, material culture, and historic preservation.
Inquiries about potential articles in the journal should be directed to the journal’s editor, Christopher J. Leahy, Professor of History at Keuka College, at cleahy@keuka.edu.
Rosalynn Carter’s Butterfly Daze Set for Aug. 15-17
Mark the calendar for the annual Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Daze, a weekend celebrating the life and legacy of the former first lady in her hometown of Plains, Georgia, leading up to what would be her 98th birthday. The event, from Aug. 15-17, is organized by the Friends of Jimmy Carter. More details about the 2025 weekend are forthcoming.
Last year, events included the Third Annual Butterfly Release at the Rosalynn Smith Carter Childhood Garden.
Calendar
July 17, 2025
Third Thursday Wine & Cheese: An Evening with Ida Saxton McKinley
The National First Ladies Library & Museum will host “Third Thursday Wine & Cheese: An Evening with Ida Saxton McKinley” on July 17 at the Saxton-McKinley House in Canton, Ohio,for a summer evening filled with flavor and history. Attendees will enjoy a curated selection of wines and cheeses while exploring First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley’s personal White House effects—featuring authentic artifacts from her years as first lady. Wander through her beautifully preserved childhood home and the First Ladies urban garden while uncovering behind-the-scenes stories of the Saxton-McKinley family. Read more
July 18, 2025
Legacy Lecture: Jackie and the Summer White House with Kate Storey
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents a virtual lunchtime lecture with Kate Storey, bestselling author of White House by the Sea and Features Director at Rolling Stone. On Friday, July 18 at noon ET, Storey will share the behind-the-scenes of Jackie Kennedy’s life at the Summer White House in Hyannis Port—where history, family, and legacy collided.
This iconic Cape Cod retreat was Jackie’s sanctuary: where she raised her children, wrote “The Campaign Wife,” and also grieved after JFK’s assassination. You'll get a glimpse into the Kennedy family’s private world and the woman who helped define an era of American style and strength. Read more
July 19, 2025
Children’s Book Talk: First Ladies Make History
George Washington’s Mount Vernon presents a reading of First Ladies Make History by authors Anita McBride and Giovanna McBride at 12:30 p.m. in the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium. This children’s book explains there is no rule book defining the role of the first lady, yet the first ladies have worked hard to make the world a better place for more than two hundred years. First Ladies Make History takes young readers on a journey with the first ladies to discover the important contributions they have made throughout American history.
Pick up your copy at The Shops at Mount Vernon, and have it signed from 1 to 2 p.m. Read more
July 24, 2025
Trivia Night: Summer at the White House
Calling all history buffs! Grab your team of 2-6 and join us for White House history trivia night at The People’s House: A White House Experience. Questions will cover a variety of topics in three rounds of trivia featuring summer-themed White House history, presidents and first ladies, and popular culture.
Guests will be provided with two drink tickets with purchase. A valid ID is required for any adult beverage. Non-alcoholic options will be offered, as well as light snacks during game play.
Doors open at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW at 6:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C.; trivia will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Guests must register in advance; no walk-in guests will be permitted. Prizes will be handed out for the teams who place 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
July 27, 2025
Children’s Book Event with Author Lee Wind
The Eleanor Roosevelt Center presents a special family-friendly event on July 27, 2025, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and from 2 to 3:30 p.m. local time at the Playhouse at the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Hyde Park, New York, celebrating the inspiring legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt through the new children’s book Like That Eleanor: The Amazing Power of Being an Ally by Lee Wind and illustrated by Kelly Mangan. The event is free, but a donation of $10 or more is appreciated and will help fund future Eleanor Roosevelt Center programming.
This story introduces young readers to the power of allyship and how just one voice—like Eleanor’s—can help create a more fair and compassionate world.
Program includes:
A book reading and Q&A with author Lee Wind
A kid-friendly tour of Eleanor Roosevelt’s beloved Val-Kill cottage
Hands-on craft activities inspired by Eleanor’s life and values
Earn your allyship badge!
A special appearance by Anna Eleanor Fierst, Eleanor Roosevelt’s great-granddaughter, who will join the author for a family Q&A
Each child registered will receive a copy of the book Like That Eleanor to take home and enjoy. Registration is required due to limited space, walk-ins will not be accepted.
Suggested donation: $10 per child. All proceeds support future programming.
Aug. 8, 2025
Legacy Lecture: In Her Steps: Betty Ford’s Life in Motion
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents the virtual Legacy Lecture “In Her Steps: Betty Ford’s Life in Motion,” on Friday, Aug. 8, at noon ET by Sharon Snowden, a former state president for Colonial Dames 17th Century and Daughters of the American Colonists. Snowden Among is also a docent at the National First Ladies Historical Site. She presents portrayals all over Ohio of many first ladies and historic women, as well as other programs for children and adults.
Betty Ford is a first lady who reshaped the role through her candid activism and powerful advocacy on women’s rights, addiction, and health. Explore Betty Ford’s journey from dancer to first lady and discover how she broke barriers during and after her time in the White House. Read more
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