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For Immediate Release:
ROLE AND IMAGE OF FIRST LADIES EXPLORED IN NEW EXHIBIT
Ohio Historical Center hosts Smithsonian exhibition, May 12 to July 29, 2007
Columbus, Ohio. – Our first ladies have fascinated generations of Americans, influenced politics and style, advocated for social causes and navigated an unpaid, unelected and difficult role. In a rare opportunity, artifacts from the first ladies collection have left the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Behring Center, for a nationwide tour.
Based on one of the Smithsonian’s most visited permanent exhibitions, First Ladies: Political Role and Public Image will open at the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus on May 12, 2007. The exhibition will remain on view through July 29, 2007.
Organized by the National Museum of American History and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), First Ladies is made possible by A&E Network.
The exhibition—featuring first ladies’ gowns and clothing, personal belongings, White House furnishings, political campaign materials, and other historical items—examines the demanding duties of the presidential partner and national hostess, explores how her role has evolved from ceremonial partner to one of international celebrity and recognized political power and illustrates the importance of the first lady’s public image to the success of a presidential administration.
“Throughout our history, the first lady has been a central figure in extending political roles for women and gaining acceptance for women in public life,” says Edith Mayo, curator emeritus at the National Museum of American History. “As the most visible women in America, the first ladies have evolved from the president’s social and ceremonial partners to advocates of social causes and political allies in their own right. This evolution places the first lady at the center of both presidential history and women’s history.”
The nation’s expectations of the first ladies reflect American ideals of home, family, and womanhood—ideals that change with every generation. Some first ladies remained within the boundaries of what was considered a proper role for women in their day. Others challenged and expanded those boundaries, subtly or openly.
The exhibition is comprised of more than 150 objects organized into four sections that reveal the historical roles of the first lady: “Inventing the Role,” “Political Role,” “Public Image” and “Life After the White House.” Martha Washington’s amber necklace, Mary Todd Lincoln’s silver tea service, Eleanor Roosevelt’s gown from the 1945 inaugural reception, a signature black pants suit from Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Senate campaign and literacy materials sponsored by Laura Bush are among the items in the exhibition. Four audiovisual stations and one radio address kiosk provide further background and give a voice to the women who served in this national role. A&E has produced the video components, as well as an online educator’s guide.
The national traveling exhibition is complemented by a small-format, full-color book, First Ladies: Political Role and Public Image, published by Scala Publishers. For more information, visit www.scalapublishers.com. (external link will load in a new browser window)
The Ohio Historical Society will complement the Smithsonian exhibition with presidential artifacts from the collections of three of the eight presidents who called Ohio “home.” The displays in hallways near the First Ladies exhibition will include material from the Rutherford B. Hayes Home and Presidential Center in Fremont, Ulysses S. Grant Collections and the Warren G. Harding Home in Marion. The Hayes, Grant and Harding historic sites are part of the OHS network of 60 historic sites and museums.
A&E Network brings viewers the art of entertainment through a unique combination of three genres – biography, documentary and drama. A&E offers a diverse mix of programming ranging from original movies, to relevant documentary specials and series, including the Emmy Award-winning series Biography®, to dramatic series and contemporary performances.
The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history, which are shown wherever people live, work, and play. Exhibition descriptions and tour schedules are available at www.sites.si.edu. (external link will load in a new browser window)
On Sept. 1, 2007, the Ohio Historical Society will open another new exhibition. JP Morgan Chase presents Once Upon A Dime: The World of Money, organized by The Newark Museum and on display at the Ohio Historical Center through April 1, 2008. Visitors will be transported through an interactive environment from the very beginnings of trade through the evolution of monetary systems right up to today’s world of electronic finance. At one point, visitors are “guided” into the future by a sassy cartoon docent identified as the Digital Diva.
The Ohio Historical Center is located at I-71 and 17th Avenue in Columbus. Admission to the Center is $7 for adults and $3 for students. Parking is $4 per person. For more information about the Ohio Historical Society, visit www.ohiohistory.org. (external link will load in a new browser window) or call 614.297.2300.
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Media contact: Michael Ring: 614.297.2313 or mring@ohiohistory.org
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