Portrayals

Leslie Goddard

Titanic Stewardess Violet Jessop. Stewardess Violet Jessop survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and then, several years later, the sinking of the Britannic (the Titanic’s virtually identical sister ship) during World War I. Clever and articulate, she tells unforgettable stories of the tragedies from the striking viewpoint of a crew member and gives a fascinating glimpse at life behind-the-scenes on the most glamorous luxury liners of their day.

Civil War Diarist Mary Chesnut. Daughter of a wealthy planter and wife of a top presidential aide, Mary Chesnut witnessed first-hand many key events in the South during the Civil War, recording them in a diary considered one of the most compelling personal accounts of the war. In this first-person portrayal, Chesnut reads from her journal, sharing stories of the events unfolding around her and her often surprising perspectives on race, political power, and social status. Small wonder her journal has been called "the most famous war diary of a Southern woman" and "one of the best windows we have into southern society during the American Civil War."

Abigail Adams. More than just a celebrated wife (of second U.S. President John Adams) Abigail Adams was also a committed patriot and a true partner to her husband. In this first-person program, set in 1776, Adams recounts her life in a time of revolution including her famous call to John to “remember the Ladies” in the founding of the new nation. She shares her opinions of the founding fathers' plans for a new nations and offers us a glimpse at one of the great love stories of American history.

Bertha Palmer. Chicago socialite, wife of real estate magnate Potter Palmer, and pace-setting arts patron, Bertha Palmer is best remembered for her Impressionist collection, now at the Art Institute of Chicago. But the glamorous Mrs. Palmer has her own fascinating story. As shrewd as she was stylish, Palmer helped recoup her husband's lost fortune after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. At the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, she served as hostess to the world. Intelligent and witty, the intriguing Mrs. Palmer still compels attention.

Jacqueline Kennedy. It is 1964, and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is besieged by sightseers around her house in Georgetown. As she deliberates what to do next, she shares the story of her life in the White House, including her struggle to retain her family’s privacy in the face of media onslaughts, her restoration work, and her attempts to showcase the arts. In a climactic revelation, she recounts her husband’s death and comes to heartfelt decision about how to begin a new life for herself and her children.

Civil War Nurse Clara Barton. Clara Barton earned fame as the first woman to serve as a nurse on the front lines of a battlefield. This first-person program introduces Barton as a tireless worker who faced remarkable challenges in her quest to care for wounded soldiers. Learn about the medical conditions during the American Civil War and about the courage required for a woman who dared to brave the war’s front lines.

Requirements for any first-person program:

Table for approx. 20-25 artifacts

Microphone (lapel preferred), if desired by presenter

Portrayals

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