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.

January 2025

Dressing the first lady: What fashion-watchers expect from Melania Trump’s second turn as FLOTUS:

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/18/style/melania-trump-fashion-flotus/index.html

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/01/18/style/melania-trump-fashion-flotus

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

January 2025

What America gets wrong about Jill Biden
OP/ED: The press secretary to the former first lady explains how Jill Biden gave the country a fresh, evolved view of what the first lady can be, while also developing an innovative approach to her role.

January 2025

McBride highlights first ladies’ impact

December 2024

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

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)

December 2024

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

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.

Colleen Shogan was nominated by President Joe Biden to be the next Archivist of the United States on August 3, 2022. Dr. Shogan joined the White House Historical Association in the winter of 2020 after almost fifteen years of federal government service. She previously worked in the United States Senate and as a senior executive at the Library of Congress. Colleen was the Vice Chair of the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and now serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors at the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation, designated by Congress to build the first Washington, D.C. memorial dedicated to the early movement for women’s equality. Colleen teaches at Georgetown University in the Government Department and is a member of the History Education Advisory Board for America250. She is the previous President of the National Capital Area Political Science Association and served on the American Political Science Association (APSA) Council, the governing body of the organization. Her research focuses on the American presidency, presidential rhetoric, women in politics, and Congress. A native of Pittsburgh, she holds a BA in Political Science from Boston College and a Ph.D. in American Politics from Yale University, where she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Order of the Cross and Crown, and the United States Capitol Historical Society’s Council of Scholars. Dr. Shogan has hosted a FLARE program on Jackie Kennedy ((84) Jacqueline Kennedy at Home and Abroad - YouTube) and supported WHHA programs on first ladies. 

Ms. Smith worked for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as an archivist from 1973 until 2012 when she retired. She started her career as an archivist at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. In 1989 she co-edited and compiled the book, Modern First Ladies: Their Documentary Legacy. In that same year she moved to Washington, DC, first working for NARA’s Office of Presidential Libraries and later becoming the Director of the Presidential Materials Division, the Division at NARA that advised the White House on Presidential, Vice Presidential and First Lady’s records and gift issues and handled moves of Presidential records at the end of the administration. 

She has authored numerous publications, teaches and lectures on access to Presidential records, the Presidential Library system and First Ladies and their papers. She is co author of the article “A Historical Review of Access to Records in Presidential Libraries” and gave a series of lectures at Oxford University on Access to Presidential records. She had just finished co authoring the first college textbook on first ladies U.S. First Ladies Their Lives and Legacies along with Anita Mc Bride and Dr. Diana Carlin.

Three FLARE founders, Diana B. Carlin, Anita B. McBride, and Nancy Kegan Smith were interviewed by East Wing Magazine about their textbook--U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies after participating on a panel with FLARE lifetime membership Barbara Perry at the White House Historical Association's Presidential Sites Summit on September 27, 2023.

CLICK HERE for the article.

Nancy Kegan Smith Takes the Helm of FLARE--East Wing Magazine
https://www.eastwingmagazine.com/p/nancy-kegan-smith-takes-the-helm

Anita McBride Speaks About First Ladies to Hollywood on the Potomac
https://hollywoodonthepotomac.com/u-s-first-ladies/

New Book Preview: The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: The Life and Times of Washington’s Most Private First Lady

Macmillan Publishers preview the new book The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: The Life and Times of Washington’s Most Private First Lady by Heath Hardage Lee. Pat Nixon has long been perceived as enigmatic. She was voted “Most Admired Woman in the World” in 1972 and made Gallup Poll’s top ten list of most admired women fourteen times. She survived the turmoil of the Watergate scandal with her popularity and dignity intact. And yet, the media often portrayed Mrs. Nixon as elusive and mysterious. The real Pat Nixon, however, bore little resemblance to the woman so often described in the press. Read more

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.

Lewis L. Gould, the Eugene Barker Centennial Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Texas-Austin, has been named the inaugural recipient of an award that recognizes distinguished contributions to research and education about America’s first ladies. The award, which will be named for Prof. Gould, was announced today by the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE).

FLARE’s founding president and first lady scholar, Myra Gutin, said this of Gould’s influence on the field: "Dr. Lewis L. Gould's pioneering work opened the door to the development of a new discipline, the study of the first lady. He encouraged and inspired a generation of scholars and others interested in the presidential spouse to research and then share what they had learned with the American public. He has been our guiding light."  

The award was presented to Prof. Gould during a special virtual ceremony on June 10, 2021 (Lewis L. Gould Award Ceremony - YouTube). In receiving the award, Gould said: “The launching of FLARE is a welcome development to all of us who have followed the history of First Ladies over the past four decades. Intensive study of these important women can now go forward. I am deeply honored both in the name of the award and the choice of the first recipient.” 

For more than forty years, Prof. Gould has been a pioneer in the study of the wives of America’s Presidents. He was the first to develop a university-level course on the history and legacies of America’s first ladies at the University of Texas-Austin in 1982. Two years later he was the keynote speaker at the first national first ladies conference, convened by Mrs. Betty Ford. He has authored more than a dozen books, including The Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, The Modern American Presidency, Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment, and American First Ladies: Their Lives and Their Legacies. His book that analyzed Lady Bird Johnson’s contribution to environmentalism was the first attempt to demonstrate a first lady’s impact on the American society. In 1998, Gould became the editor for the Modern First Ladies series published by the University Press of Kansas.

Tammy R. Vigil is a FLARE Inaugural Individual Lifetime member. Dr. Vigil is Senior Associate Dean and Associate Professor in the College of Communication at Boston University. She is the author of Moms in Chief: The Rhetoric of Republican Motherhood and the Spouses of Presidential Nominees  and Melania & Michelle: First Ladies in a New Era.