2014 Press Releases

National Archives and the White House Historical Association Present -Project Runway's- Tim Gunn in First Ladies' Fashion Program on September 30
Press Release · Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Washington, DC

Distinguished Panel to Discuss Style and Influence: First Ladies’ Fashions

Following DC’s Fashion Week, and in conjunction with its current exhibit "Making Their Mark: Stories Through Signatures," the National Archives in partnership with the White House Historical Association presents an exciting panel to discuss and examine the fashions of America’s First Ladies. The program, titled "Style and Influence: First Ladies’ Fashions," is free and open to the public and will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, September 30, at 7 p.m.

Update: The program is completely booked. Please tune in online for a live webcast of the program:
US National Archives YouTube ChannelWatch live on YouTube

Moderated by Tim Gunn, star of Project Runway, panelists include Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator, the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology; Lisa Kathleen Graddy, Deputy Chair and Chief Curator of Political History and the First Ladies Collection, Smithsonian National Museum of American History; and Tracy Reese, a fashion designer who has designed for First Lady Michelle Obama.

From the first days on a campaign trail to the final days living in the White House, the First Ladies of the United States have attracted attention in numerous ways. Both historic and modern First Ladies have harnessed the power of fashion to build identity and inform Americans.

The Foundation for the National Archives recently announced a new partnership with DC Fashion Week (DCFW) to highlight Washington, DC’s rich and diverse fashion culture. The Foundation will host the DCFW Opening Night event on September 24 at the National Archives Building. The Foundation has also announced a "Signature Style" contest to choose one winner for VIP attendance to the Opening Night event as well as to "Style and Influence: First Ladies’ Fashions." Public voting is currently under way on the Foundation’s Facebook and Tumblr pages. More information is available online [www.archivesfoundation.org/signaturestyle].

About "Making Their Mark: Stories Through Signatures"

A signature can be as routine as a mark on a form or as extraordinary as a stroke of the pen that changes the course of history. It can save lives or end them. Visitors can see "signature" items worn by Jackie Kennedy and First Lady Michelle Obama, and letters penned by Johnny Cash and Jackie Robinson. The exhibit is free and open to the public and is on display in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery of the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, through January 5, 2015.

The National Archives Museum is located on the National Mall on Constitution Avenue at 9th Street, NW. Metro accessible on Yellow or Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial station. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., daily. Free admission. Additional information on exhibits and programs at the National Archives Museum can be found online.

Reservation Instructions: Reservations for McGowan Theater programs are not required but are recommended. Use the new online event registration system from the National Archives Foundation to reserve your seats:
1. Register at www.archivesfoundation.org/events/
2. Print your email confirmation and bring it with you.
3. To reserve by phone, call 202-357-6814. Walk-ins without reservations will be admitted, depending on available seats.

Enter through the Special Events Entrance on Constitution Avenue. The doors to the building will open 45 minutes prior to the start of the program.

About the White House Historical Association: The 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 Association’s books and products are used to fund the acquisition of historic furnishings and art work for the permanent White House collection, assist in the preservation of public rooms, and further its educational mission. The Association also sponsors lectures, exhibits, and other outreach programs. Thousands of schools, universities, and libraries have received free educational materials about the White House. To learn more about the Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @WhiteHouseHstry, YouTube, or Facebook.

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For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

For media inquiries for the Foundation for the National Archives or about the DC Fashion Week Opening Event, please contact: Melissa Schwartz at 202-682-4267 or melissa.schwartz@bromwichgroup.com. For media inquires about the White House Historical Association, please contact Lara Kline at 202-218-4316 or lkline@whha.org.

Follow the National Archives’ involvement with DC Fashion Week using the hashtag #SignatureStyle.

Connect with the National Archives on:
Twitter: @USNatArchives
Facebook: USNationalArchives
Tumblr: http://usnatarchives.tumblr.com

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