First Ladies Forum: Louisa Catherine Adams

First Ladies Forum: Louisa Catherine Adams

The date is March 4, 1825, and Louisa Catherine Adams has not accompanied her husband, John Quincy Adams, to his inauguration as the sixth President of the United States. In a rare moment of solitude, Louisa reflects on the events of her tumultuous life in the public eye. From her childhood in England and France, to her adventures as the wife of an American diplomat in Europe where she charmed heads of state from Berlin to St. Petersburg, Louisa’s memories provide a glimpse into international politics during the Age of Revolutions. When Louisa and John Quincy returned stateside, the flair for entertaining and political savvy Louisa displayed eventually assisted her husband in becoming President of the United States. In this moment, now that John Quincy has won the coveted office, why is she not standing by his side? Attend this exciting program to find out!

Actor Laura Rocklyn has performed with theaters across the country and has worked as a first person historical interpreter at museums on the East Coast. She is a museum educator at the Paul Revere House Museum, a troupe member with History at Play, and an associate member with Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Laura has published articles in Brontë Studies and The Revere Express. She was the winner of LitMag's 2021 Virginia Woolf Award for short fiction.  Her stories have appeared in the literary journals Stork and New Square. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College and an MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting at The George Washington University.

This program is the second installment of the First Ladies Forum, a four-part series, each featuring a different First Lady re-enacted by a renowned portrayal artist. These First Ladies include Dolley Madison (January 26), Catherine Catherine Adams (February 23), Mary Todd Lincoln (March 23), and Jacqueline Kennedy (April 27).

Beginning December 23, registration for this program can be completed below. You may also register by calling 309.590.6168 or by visiting the Adult Services Desk at the Library and registering in person. As soon as registration is complete, you will receive an email with a link to access the online discussion.