Ellen Woodward and the Women Who
Brought Literacy to Southern Families

When Mississippi native Ellen Woodward arrived in Washington, D.C., she hoped to work toward alleviating women’s poverty and unemployment. Woodward later organized the creation of one of the most influential WPA projects in rural America: packhorse librarians. Encouraging literacy and providing employment opportunities to Southern women, these librarians would transport books to some of the most isolated homesteads in the United States. Learn more about how these librarians delivered hope along with the books in their saddlebags.

Reflecting on Grief at President Lincoln’s Cottage

During the beginning of Abraham Lincoln’s presidential term, he and first lady Mary Todd Lincoln lost their son, Willie, to typhoid fever. Grief enveloped them both, and the Lincolns spent the summer following Willie’s death away from the White House on the grounds of the U.S. Soldiers’ Home, now known as President Lincoln’s Cottage. Learn about a new exhibition at the cottage—a National Trust Historic Site—that explores grief and child loss and bridges the Lincolns’ experience with the experiences of modern families.

Webinar: Advocacy During the First 100 Days of the Biden Administration and the 117th Congress

As a new administration takes office, the National Trust has been in communication with the Biden/Harris transition team regarding how advancing historic preservation policies can contribute to the incoming administration’s major agenda items in 2021 and beyond. On January 28 at 3 p.m. ET, join preservation partners, congressional staff, and the National Trust’s government relations team for a presentation on the most pressing policy issues facing the preservation community in the months ahead. Advocates will discuss early priorities of the Biden administration and the 117th Congress, as well as advocacy strategies for preservationists in this new political climate.

Regarding Paul R. Williams:
An Interview with Janna Ireland

For nearly five years, photographer Janna Ireland traveled across Southern California documenting the work of Paul Revere Williams, a prolific Golden State architect and icon. The first Black member of the American Institute of Architects, Williams overcame racial discrimination to reach the top of his field. Watch Ireland explain the importance of cataloging all of Williams’ 3,000 buildings and how she draws inspiration from the spaces he created.

11 Great Podcasts for Historic Preservation Fans

Looking for a little escapism? Plug in and tune out with this curated list of podcasts for historic preservation fans. Whether you’re an architecture lover, history buff, urban planning guru (or all three!), there’s a podcast on this list that will appeal to you. Listen to individual episodes or the Spotify playlist to discover the history all around you.