2024 Annual Martha Washington Lecture

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Martha Washington, artist unknown, after Stuart, early 19th century. Gift of Edward E. and Elizabeth Furash, 1998 [M-3969]

As the wife of the nation's first president, Martha Washington truly defined the new role of First Lady of the United States. Hear how she and other First Ladies influenced American society, policy, diplomacy, and life, and how many of them broke barriers to make a mark on our country and, at times, the world. 

This event features Diana B. Carlin, Anita B. McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith, authors of the new book, Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women. 

Following the lecture, guests will enjoy a reception that includes wine and beer, and a book signing.

REGISTER

In PersonVirtualBuy the Book

Add to Calendar 06/20/2024 19:00:00 06/20/2024 20:00:00 America/New_York 2024 Annual Martha Washington Lecture

As the wife of the nation's first president, Martha Washington truly defined the new role of First Lady of the United States. Hear how she and other First Ladies influenced American society, policy, diplomacy, and life, and how many of them broke barriers to make a mark on our country and, at times, the world. 

This event features Diana B. Carlin, Anita B. McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith, authors of the new book, Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women. 

Following the lecture, guests will enjoy a reception that includes wine and beer, and a book signing.

REGISTER

In PersonVirtualBuy the Book

 Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium George Washington's Mount Vernon tickets@mountvernon.org MM/DD/YYYY 15

This annual event was created to share new scholarship and insights into the life and times of Martha Washington and is made possible through a generous grant from the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation of Richmond, Virginia.

Special Event Showing On

Cost

In-Person
$25
Includes:
• Reception with beer and wine
• Book signing

Virtual
$10
Watch in real-time or after the event

Location

Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium

Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America's History-Making Women

Remember the First Ladies is a groundbreaking book showing the evolutionary role of first lady and its historic importance on the American presidency. The book shines a light on the influential women who broke barriers and made a mark on our country and, at times, our world, during their tenures in the White House.

The book includes both biographical and thematic chapters. It examines the influence of first ladies on topics such as civil rights, political campaigns, major speeches, and the White House across the span of the nation’s history. Profiles of first ladies bring their histories, achievements, and legacies to life. Readers learn about the development and expansion of the role of first lady, from its origins under Martha Washington through its current iteration under Dr. Jill Biden. The book explores how first ladies have been uniquely positioned to influence American society, policy, diplomacy, and life in the White House.

Speaker Biographies

Diana B. Carlin

Diana B. Carlin is professor emerita of communication at Saint Louis University and is the Vice President and founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE). She has taught courses on and written about first ladies for thirty years. Her recent publications include the first ever textbook on first ladies, U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies with Anita B. McBride and Nancy Kegan Smith published in August 2023. She has authored book chapters on Martha Washington, Julia Grant, Lady Bird Johnson, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama. Her research and writing also covers women in politics, presidential communication, and political debates.

Anita B. McBride

Anita B. McBride directs the Legacies of America’s First Ladies Initiative at American University where she serves as executive in residence in the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies in the School of Public Affairs and is an advisor to the university’s Sine Institute for Policy and Politics. Her White House experience spans three decades and four administrations including service as assistant to President George W. Bush and chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush. She is a founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) and is a frequent speaker and media commentator on White House history, its occupants, and presidential transitions. She co-authored U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies, with Diana B. Carlin and Nancy Kegan Smith, the first ever textbook on the evolution of the role of first lady and their initiatives and substantive contributions throughout our history.

Nancy Kegan Smith

Nancy Kegan Smith is the retired director of the Presidential Materials Division at the National Archives and Records Administration. She started her career in 1973 as an archivist at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, and retired in 2012 as director of the Presidential Materials Division in Washington, D.C., the division at National Archives and Records Administration that advised the White House on presidential and first lady records and gift issues. She is President and founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) and lectures and writes on first ladies including Lady Bird Johnson and Michelle Obama and presidential records. She co-edited Modern First Ladies: Their Documentary Legacy, and is co-author of the first college textbook on first ladies, U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies, with Diana B. Carlin and Anita B. McBride.

Contact

Stephen A. McLeod

Director, Library Programs

703.799.8686

smcleod@mountvernon.org

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