Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women

Join us at the Barnum Museum for an engaging Book Discussion exploring the untold stories and powerful legacies of America’s First Ladies through the lens of acclaimed author, White House expert and Bridgeport, CT native, Anita McBride.

Highlighting her groundbreaking publication, McBride will discuss the evolving role of the First Lady and how these influential women have shaped American history, society, and global diplomacy.

Anita McBride is a globally recognized expert on White House operations and the legacies of U.S. First Ladies.  With over 20 years of senior service under Presidents Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush – including serving as Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush – she helped shape major domestic and global initiatives spanning education, women’s health, cultural preservation, and diplomacy.

When:  Wednesday, September 24^th – 6:00 PM (Doors open at 5:45)

Where: Barnum Museum, 820 Main Street, Bridgeport 06604

Parking: Complimentary parking at M&T Bank Headquarters Garage located at 387 Water Street.

Cost: Free!  Donations to the Barnum Museum are welcome!

 Reservations: are highly recommended to secure your seat:  https://barnum-museum.org/events/firstladies/

Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women co-authored by Anita B. McBride, Diana B. Carlin, and Nancy Kegan Smith is a groundbreaking exploration of how first ladies have shaped the American presidency and the nation.  Blending biographical and thematic chapters, the book highlights the evolving role of the first lady and the lasting impact of these influential women on civil rights, political campaigns, diplomacy, and the White House itself.  From Martha Washington to Dr. Jill Biden, Remember the First Ladies brings their achievements and legacies vividly to life, revealing how they have broken barriers and influenced history at home and around the world.

Smithsonian Magazine Review- Best Books of 2024 – Recommended by Elizabeth C. Babcock, director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum

“…Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of America’s History-Making Women provides a timely consideration of the often overlooked, yet influential ways in which presidential spouses have shaped America…Well-researched and drawing on memorable primary sources, this thought-provoking book brings these women to life in a way that enriches our public discourse about gender, politics and presidential leadership, and provides a critically important perspective about women in American history.”

Books will be available for purchase, and the author will be on hand to personally sign copies!

ABOUT THE BARNUM MUSEUM:

The Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Connecticut is the last remaining institution directly tied to the extraordinary American showman and visionary, Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810–1891).  Owned by the City of Bridgeport and operated by the nonprofit Barnum Museum Foundation, Inc., the Museum was officially designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service in 2023.

For more than a century, the Barnum Museum has stood as one of Bridgeport’s most cherished cultural and educational institutions – preserving the remarkable legacy of P.T. Barnum while celebrating the diverse stories that shape the fabric of our community.  Its ongoing revitalization represents a powerful model for urban renewal and historic preservation, transforming a beloved 19th-century landmark into an innovative, inclusive 21st-century cultural destination.

Originally founded by Barnum to promote artistic achievement, scientific discovery, and cultural heritage, the Museum was designed to inspire the public to see the world as a place of curiosity, knowledge, opportunity, and wonder.  Long before his famed circus was launched in 1872, Barnum was already a nationally influential entrepreneur, museum proprietor, civic leader, philanthropist, emancipationist, lecturer, and author.  He was deeply committed to the intellectual, cultural, and social development of his community, and was a champion for education, freedom, and the advancement of society.

The Barnum Museum is currently undergoing an extensive historic restoration with limited public hours.  This is the most significant preservation project in the Museum’s 130+ year history. While we eagerly await welcoming visitors back through our doors, we invite the public to stay connected through the Museum’s YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@BarnumMuseum/videos.

A bold, immersive, and reimagined Barnum Museum is on the horizon, and we look forward to unveiling it for our community and visitors from around the world in the near future.