The January program of the New Hanover Township Historical Society features author and national speaker Ann Atkins, who will present an illustrated talk on Eleanor Roosevelt’s life.
By her life’s end, Roosevelt had been named “First Lady of the World.” Roosevelt’s exuberant style, wavering voice and lack of Hollywood beauty have been fodder for the media. But during her 13 years as first lady, she redefined the first lady’s role and developed it to a position of power. Using her influence, she championed the welfare of Jews, African Americans and women, among others.
Living through two world wars, Eleanor Roosevelt witnessed thousands of graves, broken bodies and grieving families. After visiting troops in the Pacific she noted, “If we don’t make this a more decent world to live in, I don’t see how we can look these boys in the eyes.” She defied a post-war return to status quo and established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights within the U.N. and championed that cause to the end of her life.
Speaker Ann Atkins writes that “The audacity of this woman to live out her own destiny challenges us to do the same. After all, it’s not about Eleanor. Her story is history. Her life shows us how to live.”
The illustrated program starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at the New Hanover Township Building, 2943 N. Charlotte St., Gilbertsville (note: not the school house). The program is free and open to the public. As usual, light refreshments are served.
