Matthew R. Costello is chief education officer for the White House Historical Association where he oversees education programs, historical research, public programming, partnerships, and the digital library. He received his Ph.D. and M.A. in American history at Marquette University. He received his B.A. in history and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a scholar, he

Kate Clarke Lemay is a historian at the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution. She is a Fulbright Scholar; a presidential counselor to the National WWII Museum; an advisor to Panorama, the journal of the Association of Historians of American Art; and an advisor to the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation. Dr. Lemay’s books include Triumph of the

The 2024 National History Day (NHD) theme is Turning Points in History. The White House Historical Association offers a variety of resources to assist students working on NHD projects.

The White House Historical Association is a nonprofit educational association founded in 1961 for the purpose of enhancing the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Executive Mansion. It was created at the recommendation of the National Park Service and with the support of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. All proceeds from the sale of the Associations books and products are used to

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

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

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

The year 2020 has embodied a timeline of uncertainty and tension across not only the United States, but the world as a whole; with a global pandemic, an uprising social movement and a divided country. This has turned the people to the media more than ever. The theme throughout this year, despite the uncertainty, has been hope. Hope that the country

The White House Historical Association has established an endowed position, the Marlyne Sexton Chair in White House History, in honor of Marlyne Sexton, cabinet member on the National Council for White House History. The endowment will provide financial support for the Chair in perpetuity. The National Council on White House History was established in 2017 and is made up of 115 members

Strange looks and scoffs were not what I expected from the national press during my political event coverage this past summer. They remarked when I took notes on a notepad and glared as I put down my pen, picked up my camera and entered the crowd. Just weeks after their first major public feud, my camera was the only thing

What are the responsibilities of the social secretary? The social secretary works with the first lady in the overall planning, arrangement, coordination and direction of all official and personal social events given by the president and his family. This includes the form and wording of invitations, the compiling of guest lists, the setting of menus, the seating, the choice of

Jill BidenJill Tracy Jacobs Biden was born on June 3, 1951, in Hammonton, New Jersey. Growing up in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, she graduated from Upper Moreland High School in 1969. She attended the University of Delaware, receiving a bachelor’s degree in English in 1975. That same year, she met Senator Joseph R. Biden of Delaware. On June 17, 1977, they were married in New York Ci