Steve and Sharon Wood will be presenting a living history of our 16th president Abraham Lincoln, and American's first woman editor of "Godey's Lady Book", Sarah Josepha Hale. Together they will be telling the story of Sarah Josepha Hale's thirty-year campaign to have Thanksgiving declared a national holiday. Her efforts were successful when Lincoln signed his Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1863.
The Woods are historical presenters specializing in 19th century American history. Steve has been a Lincoln presenter since 1995. In addition to portraying Mary Todd Lincoln, Sharon also offers several other first person historical programs set in the same time period. Sharon has done considerable research on Sarah Hale, who is remembered more for her children's poem, "Mary's Lamb" and her lifelong campaign for a Thanksgiving holiday, than for the influence she had on American culture through her widely read magazine. Sharon portrayed Mrs. Hale at the dedication of the Sarah Josepha Hale Memorial Park in Novmeber 2013.
After the program, the Woods will step out of character and answer audience questions. For more information about their programs, please check out their website or go to their Facebook page, Telling His Story (and Hers). http://his-story.atspace.com
This program is sponsored in part by New Hampshire Humanities. The event is free and open to the public.