Before They Were First Ladies

Hello all! After a short hiatus in posting due to writing a few articles for The Historian’s Magazine, I am pleased to announce my newest article, Before They Called her, “Madame President.”: Mary Todd Lincoln. This article is the first of several upcoming in my new writing segment, which features the early First Ladies. These women were highly impactful on those within their social circles and on the men they stood beside while rising on the political platform. I hope you enjoy reading about these important First Ladies!

Why Remember the Ladies?

History can be complicated. It does not follow a formulaic pattern like other subjects in the academic sphere. History is a beautifully exciting, complicated, and at times, painful chronicle of humanity. The stories of the past are just as relevant to us today as it was to the audiences that lived it first-hand. History is busting at the seams with fascinating people, places, and eras that deserve our undivided attention. The lessons that lay before us are entirely beneficial and relevant to who we are today. So, why remember the ladies?

Personally, I have always been drawn to women’s history. From the core of the earth to border of our atmosphere is the limit to the exploration and adventure women’s history can take you. There are numerous women in history that have either remained unknown, forgotten, or labeled as irrelevant to today’s culture. I aspire to pull these fascinating women from the shadows and into the spotlight where they belong. Their voices echo from beyond their respective eras, imploring us to listen.

Abigail Adams penned the words to her husband, John on March 31, 1776, to “remember the ladies,” in the hopes that women would be seen as far more than domestics with hushed political voices. Although her words were left unheeded long past her time, they were carried and cried out from the hearts of women who succeeded her, and we claim that freedom today. This blog will feature women in history and there will be links to my published articles that I hope you will enjoy reading as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. So, let’s shake the cobwebs from these stories and celebrate these ladies!

Votes for Women display at the East Tennessee Historical Society Museum