“The Founding Mothers of America" at the Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch -- March 12.
Thursday, March 12, 5 p.m.
Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th Street, Rock Island IL
A fascinating illustrated lecture focusing on the remarkable women who had a first-hand view of our nation's creation, The Founding Mothers of America will be presented at the Rock Island Public Library's Watts-Midtown Branch on March 12, with presenter and touring performer Laura Keyes sharing insightful tales of her subjects' history, bravery, and surprising legacies.
The “Mothers” of America aren’t often mentioned, even though the women whose influence on the early years of the United States reverberated for centuries afterwards. While many of us remember reading something about Martha Washington and Abigail Adams, there are so many more women to admire. Whether they assisted in the years-long Revolutionary War, or had one brief moment of heroism, their actions had long-lasting and nation-building effects. In The Founding Mothers of America, library guests are invited to learn about soldiers, writers, printers, scholars, farmers, artists, and spies – all women, and all vital to our nation’s history.
Recently seen at the Bettendorf Public Library as Mary Todd in the live program Historic Voices: Mrs. Lincoln in Love, The Founding Mothers of America presenter Laura Keyes graduated from UW-Madison with a Master’s Degree in Library Studies, is a library director in central Illinois, and has been presenting on historic topics for more than 10 years. She also performs one-woman historical pieces not only on Mary Todd Lincoln, but on such figures as Charlotte Brontë, Mary Harlan Lincoln, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton. In her biography at LauraKeyes.com, she states: "Since 1999, I have been active in community theatre in Illinois and Wisconsin, serving on the Board of Directors for Pec Playhouse Theatre more than once. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Wheels O' Time Museum, the Association of Lincoln Presenters, and the Illinois Library Association. In my non-existent spare time, I am an avid baker and cat enthusiast!"
The Founding Mothers of America will be presented in the Community Room of the Watts-Midtown Branch on March 12, participation in the hour-long 5 p.m. presentation is free, and more information is available by calling (309)732-7323 and visiting RockIslandLibrary.com.
