Location

During the month of March the U.S. Capitol Historical Society will present a series of five weekly book-signing lectures highlighting biographies of twentieth-century First Ladies published by the University of Kansas Press. The second program features a recently published study of the history of the congressional page system. Each program presents a 35 to 40 minute talk by the author, followed by time for comments and questions from the audience.

The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, March 2: Kristie Miller, Ellen and Edith: Woodrow Wilson’s First Ladies
“Miller presents a rich and complex portrait of Wilson’s wives, one that compels us to reconsider our understanding of both women. … Miller’s book [presents] a sensitive and compelling narrative of how private and public emotions interacted at a pivotal moment in the history of first ladies.”

Wednesday, March 9: Darryl J. Gonzalez, The Children Who Ran For Congress: A History of Congressional Pages
“Unlike many dry and lifeless books about Congressional history, The Children Who Ran For Congress: A History of Congressional Pages provides a lively and engaging look at the history of the page system, a topic that has largely been ignored. Based on a thorough investigation of historical documents and personal interviews, Darryl Gonzalez now tells the complete story of the young boys (and girls) who have served Congress for more than 200 years.”

Wednesday, March 16: Myra Gutin, Barbara Bush: Presidential Matriarch
“Gutin’s portrait reveals a woman who was more of a success as first lady than her husband was as president—who in many ways was the public face of the George H. W. Bush administration. … Gutin shows how the “Silver Fox” used her rich experience in politics to master the public relations side of first ladyship with as much skill as any White House spouse.”

Wednesday, March 23: Barbara A. Perry, Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier
“Noting how Jackie’s celebrity and devotion to privacy have for years precluded a more serious treatment, Perry’s engaging and well-crafted story illuminates Kennedy’s immeasurable impact on the institution of the First Lady. Perry vividly illustrates the complexities of Jacqueline Bouvier’s marriage to John F. Kennedy, and shows how she transformed herself from a reluctant political wife to an effective, confident presidential partner.”

Wednesday, March 30: Maurine Beasley, Eleanor Roosevelt: Transformative First Lady
“Although previous books have dealt with Eleanor Roosevelt, this is the first to focus on her White House years. Maurine H. Beasley, a scholar with extensive knowledge of Eleanor’s life and times, provides a detailed examination of the innovative first lady that will enlighten those who think they already know her.”