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 Historical Society Programs
Heritage Weekends and History Pageants
Quilting Conventions
Town Celebrations & Centennials
Lincoln Day Dinners
Ceremonies and Memorials
Political Conventions & Campaigns
Fund-Raisers
Downtown Revitalization Programs
Inaugurations & Receptions
Parades & Fairs
Professional Conferences
Cultural Enrichment Programs
Victorian Teas, Ice Cream Socials, & Soirees
Social, Civic, & Senior Clubs
School & College Educational Programs
Heritage Arts & Crafts Fairs
Garden Parties & Strawberry Festivals
Living History Events & Reenactments
Civil War Movie Production & Premiers
Dinners & Balls
Civil War Round Tables
Grand Openings
Gallery & Museum Exhibits
Civil War Shows & Symposia
Business & Political Group Functions
Trade Shows & Exhibitions
Ship Launchings
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Your event will be enjoyable, memorable, and unique when graced with the
presence of MARY TODD LINCOLN: AN UNCONVENTIONAL WOMAN. Have the First
Lady mingle with your crowd, offer a program like ones described here,
or coordinate with Sally Mummey to develop your own program.
MARY LINCOLN - WIFE AND WIDOW
In a solo performance, Mary Todd Lincoln takes her audience from her
childhood to her widowhood, with stories about growing up in a large
family with black slave mammies in a house that served as a guidepost on
the Underground Railroad; courtship and marriage to Abraham Lincoln;
motherhood; the road to the White House and the disappointments of the
reality of that dream; her political interests and keen insight, and
battles fought to make her stand against those who would discredit the
President; personal and national tragedy as she lost brothers to the
Confederacy and sons to disease, and her husband to the assassin’s
bullet; and the remainder of her life, a troubled widow - disillusioned,
isolated, and friendless.
 MARY
TODD LINCOLN can also present speeches derived from original material,
covering a variety of topics. Themes include:
The Underground Railroad
Civil War Spies
Civil War-Era Etiquette
Quilting: Patterns of Meaning
Victorian Mourning Customs
Clothing and Fashion of the 1860s
Nursing during the Civil War
Life in the White House
Patriotism on the Home Front
The Role of Women in Civil War Times
QUESTION-&-ANSWER
Less formal than the press conference, debate, or speech, Mrs. Lincoln
makes a few remarks, five to ten minutes, then opens the floor to
questions.
THE WALK-ABOUT
Mary Todd Lincoln walks about the site, greets the public, poses for
pictures, and engages guests in conversation.
THE WORKSHOP
If you are booking more than one presenter, organize your audience into
small groups, which rotate from presenter to presenter, each presenter
operating a "workshop". Workshops might include an interview with Mary
Lincoln, a recruiting station to drill raw recruits, or a crafts station
where the group creates their own Civil War flags with construction
paper.
THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES
 MARY
LINCOLN - WIFE AND WIDOW
In a solo performance, Mary Todd Lincoln takes her audience from her
childhood to her widowhood, with stories about growing up in a large
family with black slave mammies in a house that served as a guidepost on
the Underground Railroad; courtship and marriage to Abraham Lincoln;
motherhood; the road to the White House and the disappointments of the
reality of that dream; her political interests and keen insight, and
battles fought to make her stand against those who would discredit the
President; personal and national tragedy as she lost brothers to the
Confederacy and sons to disease, and her husband to the assassin’s
bullet; and the remainder of her life, a troubled widow - disillusioned,
distant, and friendless.
THE SCENARIO
Two or more presenters can interact with Mrs. Lincoln in a planned
scenario. Mrs. Lincoln can DEBATE on a variety of topics with another
living history presenter. Mr. Lincoln can join Mrs. Lincoln in the
BANTER between a devoted married couple, discussing son Robert’s intent
to join the Army, their return to Illinois after the presidency, plans
for international travel, life in the White House.
Themed CANDLELIGHT TOURS can also be developed for public
engagement. These choreographed vignettes have been very successful at
certain historic homes, as an adjunct to a heritage weekend or history
pageant.
CIVIL WAR
REENACTMENTS & LIVING HISTORY EVENTS
In-camp activities featuring
Mary Todd Lincoln can include:
 Review The Troops in a
dress parade, an impressive ceremony that troops the colors and music,
with Mrs. Lincoln addressing the troops with inspirational messages.
Tour The Camps
engaging the soldiers informally on an individual basis.
Luncheon With Local
Dignitaries or with sponsors of the event.
An Audience With The First
Lady sets aside time for spectators to visit Mrs. Lincoln
one-on-one.
Period Scenarios,
spontaneous or planned, between Mary Todd Lincoln
 and other reenactors
who portray diplomats or foreign visitors allow spectators to eavesdrop
on 1860s political conversations.
A Photo Session gives
families the opportunity to take pictures with the First Lady.
A Press Conference or
Speech is popular with spectators, with time for questions and
answers.
A Horse-Drawn Carriage
to transport the First Lady adds to the event=s overall period
atmosphere.
SOCIETY FUNCTIONS
 Popular
as a fundraiser, one of these social functions can provide an air of
Victorian elegance to your event. Mary Todd Lincoln presides as hostess,
speaking to your guests on a special topic, and going from table to
table to mingle with your guests. We can provide period recipes and
menus to contribute to the authentic atmosphere.
VICTORIAN TEAS
ICE CREAM SOCIALS
GARDEN PARTIES
SOIREES
LUNCHEON WITH THE FIRST LADY
DINNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Many schools throughout New England delight in having Mary Todd Lincoln
visit their students to conclude their annual Civil War studies. She
passes around period artifacts and tells stories derived from Mary
Lincoln’s own experiences.
 PARADES
Mary Todd Lincoln is available for parades on the Fourth of July or
other celebrations. Plan for a horse-&-carriage rig, fife-&-drum music,
and a military color guard to complete the effect.
OTHER PRESENTERS
MARY TODD LINCOLN, AN UNCONVENTIONAL WOMAN often works with reenactors and
presenters who portray contemporaries of Mrs. Lincoln. We know quite a variety
of other presenters who present specific historical characters of the
Civil War era.
One of these is President Lincoln himself. If you are looking for
someone specific, we may be able to provide you with a contact. Please
ask.
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