The Lewis L. Gould Award 

The Lewis L. Gould Award is presented to a member of FLARE who has, in the course of his or her noteworthy career made distinguished contributions to the field of first ladies research and education. Nominees should demonstrate Dr. Gould’s unwavering commitment to excellence while encouraging and furthering the study of American first ladies. It is a pleasure for FLARE to present Dr. Gould with the inaugural award that bears his name. 

Lewis Ludlow Gould is a pioneer in the field of first lady research and education. His understanding of and groundbreaking research on the role of the first lady influenced a generation of scholars and researchers. He mentored many scholars whose work would come to sketch in the details of the outline that Gould provided. 

Gould earned his A.B. from Brown University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in History from Yale University. He is the Eugene Barker Centennial Emeritus Professor of History, and former chair of the History Department at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Gould specialized in the history of American politics focusing on the American presidency and on First Ladies.  

He received awards for distinguished undergraduate and graduate teaching, and he worked with scores of masters and doctoral students. In 1982, he started teaching a new class on first ladies titled “First Ladies of the Twentieth Century,” which was the first course on first ladies offered at an American college or university. In 1984, he provided the keynote address for the first ever national first ladies conference, convened by first lady Betty Ford. A prolific scholar, he authored more than a dozen books, including The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, The Modern American Presidency and notably Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment, and American First Ladies: Their Lives and Their Legacies. His book analyzing Lady Bird Johnson on her environmental impact was the first book to focus on a first lady’s substantive contribution to society rather than a biography. In 1998, Gould became the series editor for the Modern First Ladies series published by the University Press of Kansas.  

Lewis L. Gould’s dedication to the developing discipline of American First Lady studies, his perspectives and assessments have had a profound effect on the analysis and evaluation of the presidential spouse. His work ethic, kindness, and generosity of spirit have distinguished his career and we acknowledge his critically important role to our field. 

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Research and Education Grants

FLARE plans to present research grants for the purposes of preparing an article or book for publication, conducting thesis or dissertation research, or for developing an educational program or course. We will also recognize outstanding scholarship in the form of an article or book. Details will be provided on the website and via email to members when award applications are open. Only members are eligible for grants and awards. Selections will be by a committee composed of members.

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Endowment

The Officers and Board Members of FLARE have established three funds--The Gould Award, the Research and Education Grant, and a General Endowment-- to which members and nonmembers can contribute to assist FLARE in meeting its mission. We encourage you to consider making a tax-deductible gift to enhance FLARE's mission. Please see the separate tabs for the first two funds. The General Endowment Fund will assist with FLARE's major projects and new initiatives as recommended by members. We also welcome thecreation of endowed accounts to honor a first ladies expert. 

For additional information about the accounts or giving to FLARE, please contact us at flare@kocmemberservices.com. If nonmembers choose to donate, they will be asked to create an account before accessing the donation form. Thank you for considering support for FLARE.

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