History Now Spring 2013 Issue: America's First Ladies

The Constitution does not spell out the duties or define the powers of a president's spouse, yet America's "first ladies" have, from the beginning of our nation, played key roles as public figures. They have set precedents, established social protocols, embraced reforms, advocated policies, and served as role models for many American girls and young women... 

--Carol Berkin, Editor  

This morning the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History announced the release of the Spring 2013 edition of History Now:

"Issue 35 of our quarterly online journal features five leading scholars who consider how the role of the First Lady has developed: Betty Boyd Caroli begins the issue with a look at the First Ladies' Contributions to Political Issues and the National Welfare; Patricia Brady looks at how it all began with Martha Washington Creates the Role of First Lady; Catherine Allgor explains the way in which Dolley Madison: First Lady and Queen shaped the role of First Lady; Maurine Beasley describes the very politically active Eleanor Roosevelt as First Lady; and Gil Troy recounts the many unique actions of Betty Ford: A New Kind of First Lady. 

"Also included: lesson plans on this subject that align with Common Core Standards; an interactive map of the First Ladies and their birth places, featuring portraits courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division and the National First Ladies' Library."