March 2023

Politics & Prose

The Country Bookshop

History Camp

White House Historical Association

American University

National Archives Foundation

The Sunday Story: America's first female president?  (Edith Wilson)

March 19, 2023

She helped define what a first lady does’: Edith Wilson’s complex legacy

A new book paints President Woodrow Wilson’s wife as a complicated change-maker who refused to blend into the background

The Sunday Story: America's first female president?

September 2023
First Ladies 101: An Awakening Decades in the Making

March 2022

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

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

April 20, 2021
Jill Biden's Fashion Choices Differ From Other Former First Ladies | Insider

January 12, 2021
Jill Biden: Less Hillary Clinton, more Barbara Bush | Washington Examiner

November 17, 2020
Vegas May be Betting on a Post-Presidential Divorce, but Melania Trump Seems All In for Her Husband | Washington Post

November 9, 2020
Jill Biden could be the only first lady to have a job outside the White House | The Lily

October 8, 2020
Melania Trump, president and COVID-19: How first ladies handle heatlh | USA Today

July 27, 2020
Melania Trump announces the White House Rose Garden will be revamped, a throwback to the Kennedy era - Jada Yuan | Jewish World Review

April 10, 2020
Melania Trump is having a moment during coronavirus pandemic | Detroit News

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

Catherine Allgor Recognized as “Trailblazer” in Field of First Ladies Research
First Ladies 101: An Awakening Decades in the Making

September 7, 2022
Presidential historian Mark Updegrove and White House Historical Association board member Anita McBride discuss the unveiling of Barack and Michelle Obama’s official portraits.

June 27, 2022
“Dionne Dichtbij de First Ladies” Dutch TV documentary – Skyhigh TV

June 22, 2022
“Dionne Dichtbij de First Ladies” Dutch TV documentary – Skyhigh TV

June 21, 2022
“Dionne Dichtbij de First Ladies” Dutch TV documentary – Skyhigh TV

June 13, 2022
“Dionne Dichtbij de First Ladies” Dutch TV documentary – Skyhigh TV

March 17, 2022
History of first ladies can inspire future generations

March 1, 2022
Jill Biden puts support for Ukraine front-and-center” – The Hill

December 3, 2021
Queen Elizabeth’s dressmaker confers with first ladies to make sure their outfits won’t clash during visits, according to Laura Bush’s former chief of staff” – Insider

December 2, 2021
The surprising reason first ladies can’t wear clothes off the rack, according to Laura Bush’s former chief of staff” – Insider

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

September 8, 2021
Jill Biden returns to teaching this week, making history

July 16, 2021
Anita McBride was interviewed and featured on PBS’s “To the Contrary” show as part of their Woman Thought Leader Series to discuss her work as Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, the new FLARE initiative, and the impact of first ladies on our nation’

July 4, 2021
Anita McBride was interviewed by Aixa Diaz on Hearst TV to discuss FLARE

July 3, 2021
Anita McBride and Myra Gutin were quoted in a Politico article by Maeve Sheehey on the launch of FLARE 
Anita McBride was quoted in a Washington Post article by Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan to discuss the impact of Rosalynn Carter’s work as first lady, particularly in the area of mental health issues

June 29, 2021
Anita McBride was quoted in The American Society of Association Executives Newsletter on the launch of FLARE

June 23, 2021
Anita McBride was quoted in an article in The College Post that also covered the launch of FLARE

June 22, 2021
Anita McBride was quoted in an article by Damare Baker in the Washingtonian on the launch of FLARE

June 21, 2021
Anita McBride: The First Ladies’ ‘stories need to be told’ | MSNBC
Anita McBride: The First Ladies’ ‘stories need to be told’ (msn.com)
Anita McBride was quoted in an article that American University’s School of Public Affairs wrote on FLARE to coincide with the launch of the association; AU shared it in This Week at AU

March 7, 2021
Who Will Be the Next Decorator-in-Chief? | Town and Country Magazine

January 20, 2021
Role of the First Lady | CBS News
Inauguration Coverage | NBC News
Challenges Facing Biden Early in His Administration | NBC4
Inauguration Day is also moving day at the White House | Fox Business
Trump’s vice president Pence applauds successor at inauguration | Reuters
Kamala Harris makes history | CTV News

January 19, 2021
Amid pandemic, White House gets deep cleaning before handover | ABC News
White House historian explains move in process for president, family on Inauguration Day | WJLA News
Melania Trump will not offer White House tour | CTV News
Deep Cleaning the White House Isn’t Really Necessary | The Atlantic

January 15, 2021
Melania Trump to Jill Biden: No tea-and-tour at White House, breaking longstanding tradition | USA Today
In Just 6 Hours, New First Family Is Moved Into White House | Voice of America.

December 9, 2020
Book Talk with Anita McBride and Kate Andersen Brower: Exploring the White House, White House Historical Association

November 11, 2020
Melania Trump has not reached out to Jill Biden either | CNN

November 10, 2020
What’s next for soon-to-be former first lady Melania Trump? | USA Today

October 15, 2020
Barron Trump tested positive for coronavirus, Melania Trump confirms | NBC’s The Today Show

August 26, 2020
Melania Trump’s GOP Convention speech: A closer look | NBC’s The Today Show
Anita McBride: Melania Trump ‘presented where we are as a nation' | MSNBC

August 25, 2020
First lady lends grace to Trump’s reelection bid | Washington Times

August 17, 2020
Three first ladies who risked their lives to advance civil rights | CNN August 17, 2020

August 13, 2020
Melania Trump plots convention speech that hopes to avoid past missteps | CNN

June 30, 2020
History of Staffing the First Lady, White House History Weekly

May 7, 2020
The 15th Anniversary of Mrs. Laura Bush’s Historic Trip to Afghanistan, George W. Bush Presidential Center

August 21, 2023
On classroom culture wars, teacher in chief Jill Biden treads lightly

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.

September 8, 2021
Jill Biden returns to teaching this week, making history

November 17, 2020
Vegas May be Betting on a Post-Presidential Divorce, but Melania Trump Seems All In for Her Husband | The Washington Post online

March 2024

National Archives Remembers America’s First Ladies | National Archives

August 29
https://politicalsciencenow.com/apsa-statement-on-nomination-of-dr-colleen-j-shogan-as-archivist-of-the-united-states/

August 16
https://www2.archivists.org/news/2022/saa-welcomes-nomination-of-dr-colleen-j-shogan-as-next-aotus

August 3
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/03/president-biden-announces-key-nominees-28/

August 2022
https://www.historians.org/news-and-advocacy/aha-congratulates-colleen-shogan-nominee-for-archivist-of-the-united-states-(august-2022)

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
First Ladies 101: An Awakening Decades in the Making

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

August 2023
U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies by Diana B. Carlin, Anita B. McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith

December 8, 2022
Presented a talk at the City Tavern Club at their LBJ Dinner on President & Mrs. Johnson's Efforts to Advance the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

October 26, 2022
Ms.Smith did a virtual presentation with lawyer Jason Baron for the Johns Hopkins Museum and Heritage Studies Program "NARA and Presidential Transitions: Legal and Archival Perspectives" which included discussion of the status and transfer of the records of the outgoing first lady.

October 20th, 2022
the Alexandria Times did a special feature on Ms. Smith's career entitled "Nancy Kegan Smith's career is One for the Record Books available at alextimes.com/2022/10/nancy-kegan-smiths-career-is-one-for-the-record-books/

September 19, 2022
Ms. Smith did a presentation to the FLARE Social Hour and responded to questions on the legal status and availability of the papers of first ladies

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

July 23, 2022
at the City Tavern Club at Washington, DC, Ms. Smith made a presentation to their Jackie Kennedy Dinner on Jackie Kennedy's relationship with the Johnson's using copies of telephone conversations and letters between Jackie Kennedy and the Johnsons.

May 6, 2021
White House Historical Association Symposium on First Ladies. Lady Bird Johnson and White House Preservation | White House Historical Association

March 31, 2021
First Ladies Who Risked Their Lives for Civil Rights, Archives Foundation | YouTube

December 7, 2020
American POTUS, First Ladies: Supporting Their Causes and Their Country | American POTUS Podcast

August 17, 2020
Three First Ladies Who Risked Their Lives to Advance Civil Rights | CNN

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.

Dear FLARE Members, 

Thank you for your fulsome participation in the first election of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education, FLARE.  As Chair of the Nominating Committee, I want to report that the results are in. 

The 2024 Board will include the following members (dates in parentheses indicate when the term ends): 

Officers:

Nancy Kegan Smith, President (12/25) 

Diana B. Carlin, Vice President (12/25) 

Myra Gutin, Immediate Past President (12/25) 

Kathleen Spennrath, Treasurer (12/25) 

Molly Wertheimer, Secretary (12/25)

At Large board members: 

Anita McBride (12/24) 

Katherine Sibley (12/24) 

Elizabeth (Jody) Natalle (12/24) 

Jeanne Wolfson (12/25) 

Stacy Cordery (12/25) 

Christopher Leahy (12/26) 

Heath Hardage Lee (12/26) 

According to our By-Laws, officers serve two-year terms. The secretary and treasurer may serve up to three 2-year terms also for a total of six years. At large board members may serve up to two consecutive 3-year terms for a total of six years. 

The new leadership team will begin their positions on January 1. 2024 and will continue to lead FLARE in another successful year widening its reach and continuing its important mission of furthering the knowledge and education of the important legacies of America's first ladies. 

As Chair of the Nominating Committee, I would like to thank the other members of the committee Jody Natalle, Mary Brennan and Paulette Brinka for their hard work.

Please save the date of December 11 at 7:00pm for the next FLARE virtual program with Rebecca Roberts interviewed by Heath Lee on her new book on Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson - more details to come shortly.

Nancy Kegan Smith, Nominating Committee Chair

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.