White House Historical Association Announces Marlyne Sexton Chair in White House History
Occupying the inaugural Chair is Dr. Matthew CostelloWashington, D.C. —
The White House Historical Association has announced that it will establish 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.
“It is a great honor to establish this endowed chair position,” said Stewart McLaurin, president of The White House Historical Association. “Marlyne Sexton’s passion for White House history and civic education is apparent and with the Marlyne Sexton Chair in White House History, the Association will make larger strides while fulfilling our mission.”
Chief Education Officer and Director of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History, Dr. Matthew Costello, will occupy the Chair while conducting research and writing on the White House. He will also oversee the Association’s education programs, historical research, digital library, public programming, and partnerships.
“I am honored to hold The Marlyne Sexton Chair in White House History. This generous gift will be transformative for the Rubenstein Center’s educational initiatives, research and scholarship, and wider engagement with the public.”
The National Council on White House History was established in 2017 and is made up of 115 members in 27 states and 62 cities who serve as ambassadors to the Association by supporting the Association’s non-profit nonpartisan mission in the areas of preservation, education, and providing public access to America’s Executive Mansion.
For media inquiries, please contact press@whha.org.
Mrs. Sexton is the owner of The Sexton Companies, one of the largest female-owned businesses in Indiana. Mrs. Sexton is actively involved with Best Buddies, a citizenship mentoring program, both nationally and locally as their Honorary Chairperson, as well as the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Prince of Wales Foundation, and in her time away from Indianapolis, produces Broadway plays and musicals.
About Dr. Matthew Costello
Matthew is the Chief Education Officer and Director of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History at the Association and holds a doctorate and master’s degree in American history from Marquette University. He received his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He works closely with the president of the Association, Stewart McLaurin, while developing and implementing programs and initiatives that engage, inform, and inspire the public.
About The White House Historical Association
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $100 million in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org.
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Download the PDFAbout the White House Historical Association
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $115 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.
To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.
