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First Ladies Initiative

American University's Legacies of America's First Ladies initiative and conference series features distinguished guests - first ladies, former presidents, and first families, White House staff, scholars, authors, members of the media - who highlight the significant contributions these women make by using their platform to advocate for issues, promote change, and improve our society.

Message from the Director

Dear friends,

Throughout our nation's history, America's first ladies have influenced politics, domestic policy, and global diplomacy. Popular expectations of the role continue to evolve, mirroring the changing status of women in America. The position of first lady, and the influence and accomplishments of the remarkable women who have held the title, pose a fascinating topic in American culture.

American University's Legacies of America's First Ladies Initiative (FLI) and conference series features distinguished guests -- first ladies, former presidents, and first families; White House staff; scholars and authors; and members of the media -- who highlight first ladies’ significant contributions, using their unique platform to advocate for issues, promote change, and improve our society.

The FLI launched in March 2011 with a conference at American University, in partnership with the National Archives Presidential Libraries and other academic and historical institutions, including The White House Historical Association. Additional conferences have been held at Presidential Libraries and Museums around the country exploring various topics of first lady leadership. In September 2016, a conference was held at the National Archives, specifically highlighting first ladies’ role as spouse of the Commander-in-Chief, and their support for America's service members, veterans, and military families. During the period of the pandemic, the Initiative also co-hosted a First Ladies Symposium with the White House Historical Association in 2021, a daylong virtual gathering of scholars and experts. FLI events have also featured appearances by First Ladies Dr. Jill Biden and Michelle Obama and former First Ladies Laura Bush and Barbara Bush.

As director of the First Ladies Initiative I have also had the opportunity to represent the FLI in many local programs and nationwide events celebrating first ladies and their leadership and frequently provide to the media a broad perspective on first ladies’ vital role in domestic and global affairs and their impact on our national culture.

In 2021 I joined with several first lady scholars and nationwide experts to launch the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE), affiliated with American University’s School of Public Affairs, to promote and publicize research and education relevant to the contributions and legacies of first ladies. In 2023, through a collaboration with FLARE colleagues, I co-authored the nation’s first-ever textbook on the contributions of first ladies, U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies. The book was later adapted for a public market version, Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women.

Thank you for your interest in the work of the First Ladies Initiative. On this website you will find links to videos, photos and media interviews as well as robust resource list of publications about First Ladies. I hope that this information will inspire a deeper appreciation of this powerful platform, and of the unique club of women who have used it for the good of the nation.

Anita McBride
Executive-in-Residence, Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies
Director, First Ladies Initiative

First Ladies

U.S. First Ladies Making History textbook cover

Anita McBride, with fellow FLARE founders, co-authored the first textbook on the legacies of America's first ladies now available in universities nationwide

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Anita McBride with Andrea Mitchell

Anita McBride joins MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell on September 25 to announce the release of U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies, the first college textbook on first ladies.

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First Ladies Association for Research and Education

Launched in June 2021, AU is proud to affiliate with FLARE. The mission of FLARE is to create and sustain a network to promote and publicize research and education about the contributions, lives, impact, and lasting legacy of U.S. First Ladies.

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First Ladies Initiative