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"I think you just have to be yourself and do the best you can.”
First Ladies of the US Barbara Bush Full Image

Barbara Bush

Barbara Pierce Bush
Years of service: 1989-1993
Born: 1925

First Ladies of the US Barbara Bush Full Image

Barbara Bush believed in using her platform as First Lady to help make a difference. She battled the stigma of AIDS by bringing cameras to film her visits to the facilities and embracing victims. She believed education could elevate all people and used her platform to combat illiteracy. Using the proceeds of several written books, Barbara launched the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy in 1989 to improve literacy rates and accessibility for those underserved. She hosted a national Sunday evening radio program called “Mrs. Bush’s Story Time” with the help of celebrity guests. Following Abigail Adams, Barbara became the second woman to be the wife of a president and the mother of another.

 

Learn More on Our Legacy Research Site

Leaders in Literacy

4/30/2024 through 4/30/2025

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First Ladies as Teachers, Educators, and Librarians.

The right to an education is a foundational principle of America’s history, and many First Ladies have taken up this cause. We celebrate National First Ladies Day by kicking off this featured exhibit, presented by Huntington Bank.