LISTENING TO THE ROOSEVELTS: ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, “FIRST LADY OF RADIO”

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum presents

LISTENING TO THE ROOSEVELTS:

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, “FIRST LADY OF RADIO”

Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

Henry A. Wallace Center at the nFDR Presidential Library and Home

HYDE PARK, NY — The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum will present LISTENING TO THE ROOSEVELTS: ELEANOR ROOSEVELT, “FIRST LADY OF RADIO” at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2016, in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home. Hosted by Library Director Paul Sparrow — in conversation with Anya Luscombe of University College Roosevelt — this program will include selected audio recordings of Mrs. Roosevelt as she talks about the United Nations and a range public issues during some of her early Cold War broadcasts. Attendees are invited to put down their mobile devices and experience Eleanor Roosevelt as listeners did in the age of radio. This is a free, public event.

Eleanor Roosevelt became a prominent radio personality during the 1930s and 1940s. She began appearing on the radio during the 1920s, speaking about public issues on New York stations. When she became First Lady she was interviewed on countless radio shows, commenting on news events and public policy. She also hosted several current events programs. In 1939, WNBC called her the “First Lady of Radio.”

Anya Luscombe is Associate Professor of Media at University College Roosevelt, the Netherlands (in the province of Zeeland from which the Roosevelt ancestors came). A former BBC journalist, her research interests are media history and Eleanor Roosevelt’s use of media. She is the author of FORTY YEARS OF BBC RADIO NEWS: FROM THE SWINGING SIXTIES TO THE TURBULENT NOUGHTIES and several articles on Eleanor Roosevelt and Radio.

Please contact Cliff Laube at (845) 486-7745 or email clifford.laube@nara.gov with questions about the event.