September 2023
Catherine Allgor Recognized as “Trailblazer” in Field of First Ladies Research
Allgor named 2023 Gould Award Recipient

March 2022

Presidential Sites Summit 2022: March 16 Afternoon General Sessions - White House Historical Association (whitehousehistory.org)

First Ladies - Influence and Impact | C-SPAN.org

December 2024

Smithsonian Scholars Select Remember the First Ladies as a Best Book of 2024

May 2024

How Being Married to Wartime Generals Impacted These Three Presidential First Ladies

March 2024

National Archives Remembers America’s First Ladies | National Archives

March 2023

Remember the First Ladies

September 2023

NEW Episode: The White House 1600 Sessions Podcast ... “U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies”
FLARE Members Featured in American University Magazine

August 30, 2023
Michelle Obama’s Post-White House Entrepreneurial Era is “Unprecedented”

April 2023
Is Melania Trump done?

The wife of the former president has shown little interest in following the path of other wives of presidents and presidential candidates.

February 2023
Evolution of the Modern First Lady – How We Got from Lady Washington to Dr. Biden (doleinstitute.org)

January 2023
Dole Institute announces spring semester programs | The University of Kansas (ku.edu)

Dole Institute Spring Semester Lineup Includes Focus on First Ladies, Women Leaders - The Lawrence Times - Hinterland Gazette

March 2022

September 30 , 2021
AU partners with the First Ladies Association for Research and Education to study US first ladies - The Eagle (theeagleonline.com)

May 25, 2021
Ames (Iowa) History Museum and Ames Public Library Lecture Series | YouTube

May 6, 2021
White House Historical Association First Ladies Symposium, First Ladies and Communication | White House Historical Association

March 31, 2021
First Ladies Who Risked Their Lives for Civil Rights, Archives Foundation, (with Anita McBride and Nancy Kegan Smith) | YouTube

December 19, 2020
I’m a Kansas Dr.—and an expert on the sexist treatment of women in politics | Kansas Reflector

August 17, 2020
Three First Ladies Who Risked Their Lives to Advance Civil Rights, CNN Opinion. Nancy Kegan Smith, Diana B. Carlin, and Anita McBride | CNN

May 16, 2020
Michelle Obama: Back to the White House? | Matisak's Blog (A Stamp on the World)

Michelle Obama Resurrects Hope - by Jennifer Taylor (eastwingmagazine.com)

Hillary Clinton Sees Kamala Harris Above ‘Glass Ceiling’ (eastwingmagazine.com)

What We Learned About Doug Emhoff in His Talk About His Wife (eastwingmagazine.com)

Author Stitches Together First Ladies History With ‘Common Threads’

From the Society Page to the Front Page: First Ladies as Newsmakers

She Was Told Studying First Ladies Was ‘Trivial.’ She Did It Anyway.

Feb 22, 2023
The Conversation: First ladies from Martha Washington to Jill Biden have gotten outsized attention for their clothing instead of their views

Dec. 22, 2022
The Washington Post: Barbara Walters

Dec. 13, 2022
Women’s Media Center

April 30, 2021
Jill Biden's fashion choices differ from other former first ladies | Insider

April 15, 2021
Nightlife: Featuring First Ladies | ABC

March 16, 2021
Documentary Pat Nixon in Peru on her humanitarian trip after the Great Peruvian Earthquake of 1970 | Vimeo

Lisa McCubbin Hill
IN THE NEWS

Oct. 31, 2022 PEOPLE magazine “The Jackie Only I Knew” six-page article featuring My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy by Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin Hill

Oct. 25, 2022 TODAY Show "My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy" video clip 

Oct. 25, 2022 The Way I Heard It Podcast with Mike Rowe "Best Road Trip Ever"

Oct. 19, 2022 PEOPLE Online Jackie Kennedy's Secret Service Agent Reveals Their 'Indescribable bond' and his most personal memories yet"

Oct. 30, 2022 KVRR-TV Fargo Clint Hill writes about travels with Jacqueline Kennedy

Oct. 20, 2022 PEOPLE Online "Agent Clint Hill Attempted Suicide After JFK Assassination" 

Oct. 27, 2022 Belvedere retired Secret Service Agent Shares His "Travels with Mrs. Kennedy" 

Oct. 27, 2022 ABC News "My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy" 

Oct. 27, 2022 InForum "North Dakota native recalls years spent traveling the world with Jackie Kennedy" 

Oct. 25, 2022 Kennedy Dynasty Podcast "My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy with Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin" 

Oct. 27, 2022 Politics is Everything Podcast "Democracy hangs there by a threat" with Clint Hill 

Oct. 29, 2022 Leaders and Legends

October 2022 Booklist Starred Review: My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy

October 1, 2022 Kirkus Reviews: My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy

Sept. 1, 2022 Publishers Weekly: My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy 

Apr. 6, 2022 PEOPLE Jackie Kennedy's Secret Service Agent Announces Book of Rare Photos and Stories from Their Travels 

Feb. 21, 2022 The Way I Heard It Podcast with Mike Rowe "The Best Business Card in History" 

May 14, 2019: Town and Country: The Clint

Sept. 5, 2018 PEOPLE How Betty Ford's daughter staged an intervention to save her Mom's life

Sept. 7, 2018 PEOPLE Melania Trump called Betty Ford "traditional" but Betty's daughter disagrees  

Sept. 11, 2018 Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Betty Ford

Sept. 12, 2018 The Wall Street Journal 'Betty Ford' Review: A Number One First Lady 

Sept. 13, 2018 The Washington Post Book Review of Betty Ford

Sept. 14, 2018 Fox17 Interview: Lisa McCubbin describes writing process behind Betty Ford biography 

Apr 13, 2018: "Betty Ford at 100" Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan 

Apr 11, 2018 WWMT-TV "Centennial Celebration honored 'the former First Lady Betty Ford" 

March 16, 2022
First ladies help fight the good fight during war

April 25, 2021
In “The Triumph of Nancy Reagan,” her deeply researched and compellingly crafted biography of the 40th president’s second wife, Washington Post columnist Karen Tumulty paints a striking portrait of how this unique partnership shaped Ronald Reagan’s political career, from the California governor’s mansion to the White House.
On the world stage, Nancy Reagan found the role of a lifetime | Miller Center

February 9, 2021
America’s latest first lady is breaking with tradition as the first presidential spouse to keep her job while in the White House. Jill Biden, who has a doctorate in education, is an English | Voice of America

August 31, 2020
How John F. Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt went from rivals to allies | Miller Center

August 25, 2020
Melania Trump's task at the Republican Convention | Dallas News

July 30, 2020
Honoring the Birthday of Mrs. Kennedy: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy - Style Icon or Cold Warrior? | White House Historical Association

June 25, 2020
Season 4, Episode 5: Eleanor Roosevelt and JFK | JFK Library

November 11, 2013
First Ladies-First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy | CSPAN

'Race for the White House' - CNN
Note: I was the scholar-consultant on this series and appeared in all the episodes, including the one on 2008, which includes Hillary's contest with Obama for the nomination.

August 30, 2023
Michelle Obama’s Post-White House Entrepreneurial Era is “Unprecedented”

April 2023
Is Melania Trump done?

The wife of the former president has shown little interest in following the path of other wives of presidents and presidential candidates.

May 4, 2022
Jill Biden to visit displaced Ukrainians in Eastern Europe

May 15, 2021
Jill Biden Is Exactly What Washington, D.C., Needs: A Philly Girl | Philadelphia Magazine

November 1, 2020
The Media-Savvy First Lady | Journalism History Podcast

August 25, 2020
First Lady Melania Trump to Speak at Night Two of the RNC Convention | NBC10 Philadelphia

May 16, 2020
Michelle Obama: Back to the White House? | Matisak's Blog (A Stamp on the World)

Nov. 17, 2021
In Her Quiet Way, Jill Biden Reinvents Role Of US First Lady

October 15, 2021
Jill Biden travels to Virginia, New Jersey to help Democrats | AP News

Sept 7, 2021
Jill Biden resumes teaching in person at Northern Virginia Community College as a working first lady - ABC7 San Francisco (abc7news.com)

March 8, 2021
Jill Biden Sees Teachable Moment in the Depths of a Pandemic | Associated Press

September 27, 2020
Political Spouses: Their Impact on the Campaign Trail | The News Virginian

August 5, 2020
Michelle Obama, l’Atout Gagnant de Joe Biden dans la Presidentielle Americaine | L’Express

August 25, 2020
Melania Trump Taking Rose Garden Turn to Pitch Her Husband | The Associated Press

May 16, 2020
Michelle Obama: Back to the White House? | Matisak's Blog (A Stamp on the World)

Rebecca Boggs Roberts is an award-winning writer and educator. Previous jobs include journalist, tour guide, forensic anthropologist, political consultant, jazz singer, & radio talk show host. She is the author of a new biography of Edith Wilson, Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson. Now Deputy Director of events at the Library of Congress, she lives in DC with her husband, three sons, and a long-eared hound.

FLARE's first national conference "First Lady Betty Ford: 50th Anniversary Celebration" co-sponsored by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, the Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum, American University School of Public Affairs, and the National Archives was preceded by an inspiring luncheon hosted by Susan Ford Bales featuring First Lady Jill Biden as the keynote speaker on the Bidens' Women's Health Initiative.  FLARE co-sponsored the luncheon with the  Foundation and American University's School of Public Affairs. Although she woke up with a raspy voice the morning of the speech, the First Lady came anyway to honor Betty Ford saying “Betty, I’m here for you,” and then yielded the podium to Dr. Carolyn Mazure, chair of the White House Women’s Health Research Initiative to deliver the speech on her behalf.

The following is an excellent report of the conference from Immediate Past President and conference participant, Myra Gutin:

Dear FLARE Friends,

        The photo card you see (slide 7) was at every luncheon seat at the annual Betty Ford Birthday luncheon, that kicked off our first national conference. What a special day!

         None of Friday's landmark events would have ever taken place without the diligent and unwavering efforts of Anita and Nancy. My recollection is that we started to think about a FLARE national conference that would commemorate Betty Ford's convening the 1984 first ladies conference almost two years ago. There have been many ups and down, disappointments and victories. When I saw Dr. Biden cross the stage I had goosebumps that Anita, Nancy, the Gerald Ford Foundation and AU had actually pulled this off. I will never forget sitting in the ballroom and saying to myself, "we made this happen."

        Anita gracefully guided our first panel, Diana Carlin, Lisa McCubbin, Sheila Weidenfeld, and yours truly, through a many-faceted discussion of Mrs. Ford's tenure as first lady. Brooke Clement, the Director of the Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum moderated the second panel of Nancy Kegan Smith, Susan Ford Bales, and Stacy Cordery. Nancy presented video from the 1984 conference--obtaining this material and assembling it was no small task--neither was getting the audio to work, but everything came together smoothly. Stacy provided a wonderful, and comprehensive look at first lady research from the early 80's to the present and gave us a challenge for our future work. Susan spoke about her mother and the 1984 conference, adding the participant's inside view. I wish that every member of FLARE  had been able to be with us in Grand Rapids, and I hope that you watched, if that was possible. We were told that C-SPAN was recording the event for future broadcast.

        Again, I cannot say enough to commend both Anita and Nancy on all their hard work. Getting to this day was not easy, definitely a labor of love, but we achieved it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 Myra

 P.S. The 50/40 celebrates 50 years since Mrs. Ford served as first lady and 40 years (as described above) when she called the first-ever national first ladies conference in Grand Rapids.

You can access news article links below. Click below to view the slide show.

FLARE thanks the Gerarld R. Ford Presidential Foundation for the use of photos on slides 27, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, and 40. 

• Fox17
• Michigan Public (Radio)
• WGVU Radio
• MLive
• WZZM 13
• WoodTV
• Detroit News
• Michigan Advance
• East Wing Magazine
• Anita’s CBS Interview

As the president of the Massachusetts Historical Society Catherine Allgor is a noted historian, non-profit leader, and public history innovator.  Previously, she had been the Nadine and Robert Skotheim Director of Education at the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA, and a former Professor of History and UC Presidential Chair at the University of California, Riverside. 

Allgor attended Mount Holyoke College as a Frances Perkins Scholar and received her Ph.D. with distinction from Yale University, where she also won the Yale Teaching Award.  Her dissertation received a prize as the best dissertation in American History at Yale and The Lerner-Scott Prize for the Best Dissertation in U.S. Women's History.  She began her teaching career at Simmons College and has been a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and a Visiting Professor of History at Harvard University.

Her first book, Parlor Politics: In Which the Ladies of Washington Help Build a City and a Government (University Press of Virginia, 2000), won the James H. Broussard First Book Prize from the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic and the Northeast Popular Culture/American Culture Association Annual Book Award.  Her political biography, A Perfect Union: Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation (Henry Holt, 2006), was a finalist for the George Washington Book Prize.  In 2012, she published Dolley Madison: The Problem of National Unity (Westview Press) and The Queen of America: Mary Cutts's Life of Dolley Madison (University of Virginia Press). 

President Obama has appointed Allgor to a presidential commission, The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation.   Catherine Allgor also serves on boards and committees for the National Women’s History Museum, the Organization of American Historians, Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute, among others.

Dr. Allgor's first lady expertise is on Dolley Madison and Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams.