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Origins of the White House Easter Egg Roll
Since 1878, American presidents and their families have celebrated Easter Monday by hosting an 'egg roll' party. Held on the South Lawn, it is one of the oldest annual events in White House history. Some historians note that First Lady Dolley Madison originally suggested the idea of a public egg roll, while others tell stories of informal egg-rolling parties at the
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Easter Egg Roll: The President's Own Comes Marching In
Eleven years after the Easter Monday egg rolling festivities came to the White House, President Benjamin Harrison scored a hit by adding music to the affair. In 1889, he had the United States Marine Band, known as "The President's Own," play lively tunes while the children romped on the South Lawn. John Philip Sousa, who directed the band, took delight in
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Easter Egg Roll: Fanfare and Keepsakes
Over the years, White House egg roll events have been made memorable by new attractions. In 1993, the Clintons scaled back the fanfare so that children would remember the day for its egg rolling games. A generation earlier, First Lady Pat Nixon gave out certificates of participation as a souvenir to eggrollers. First Ladies Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter distributed plastic
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Stewart D. McLaurin
Stewart D. McLaurin serves as president of the White House Historical Association, founded by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961 to share and preserve the rich history of the White House, a symbol of freedom and democracy to billions of people around the world. A private nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, the Association continues to fulfill Mrs. Kennedy's vision through its mission to
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The American Presidents Song
The origin of the "American Presidents" by Genevieve Ryan Bellaire is somewhat unique. One year, Genevieve's father asked her to memorize the order of the Presidents of the United States for Father's Day. As she did, she began to come up with rhymes to help her remember each President. After sharing this method with her family, they told her that
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Anita B. McBride
Anita B. McBride directs the Legacies of America’s First Ladies Initiative at American University where she serves as executive in residence in the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies in the School of Public Affairs and is an advisor to the university’s Sine Institute for Policy and Politics. Her White House experience spans three decades and four administrations incl
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Barbara Perry
Barbara A. Perry is the Gerald L. Baliles professor and director of Presidential Studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, where she co-directs the Presidential Oral History Program. She has authored or edited 17 books on presidents, first ladies, the Kennedy family, the Supreme Court, and civil rights and civil liberties, including Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Fr
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Katherine A.S. Sibley
Katherine A.S. Sibley, Ph.D. is Professor of History and Director of American Studies at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Her work on American first ladies has been featured in numerous outlets including C-SPAN, the Guardian, the BBC, and on the George W. Bush Center’s “Ladies, First” podcast. In March, she organized a conference at the Center for Pres
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Richard Norton Smith
Born in Leominster, Massachusetts in 1953, Mr. Smith graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1975 with a degree in government. Following graduation he worked as a White House intern and as a free lance writer for The Washington Post. After being employed as a speech writer for Massachusetts Senator Edward Brooke, he went to work for Senator Bob Dole, with
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Glamour and Innovation: The Women Behind the Seams of Fashion at the White House
“Anthony Michael Matise.” Times Herald-Record online. June 2, 2011. https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:RX3sxoIxZ4cJ:https://www.recordonline.com/article/20110603/NEWS0301/306039992%3Ftemplate%3Dampart+&cd=33&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us. Davis, Nancy and Amelia Grabowski. “Sewing for Joy: Ann Lowe.” National Museum of American History. March 12, 2018. https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/lowe. “Ethel Frankau, 85, a Director
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2022 National History Day Resources
The White House Historical Association (WHHA) offers many different resources for students working on National History Day projects.
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The First Ladies Symposium Schedule
May 6, 2021This program will be virtual9:00-9:15amWelcome and Overview Jill Biden, First Lady of the United StatesAnita McBride, Director of American University’s First Ladies Initiative and White House Historical Association Board MemberFrederick J. Ryan Jr., Chairman, Board of Directors, White House Historical Association Sylvia Burwell, President, American University9:15-10:35amFirst Ladies and GenderIntroduced and moderated by Colleen Shogan, Se