Website: http://www.nhhumanities.org/events/our-national-thanksgiving-thanks-president-lincoln-and-mrs-hale

Phone: 603-743-1400
Email: sharon_wood@pobox.com

Steve & Sharon Wood of Claremont, NH will portray our 16th president and the editor of the popular 19th century magazine, Godey’s Lady’s Book, who was born in Newport, NH. Together they will tell 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 program is hosted by the Madbury Public Library with a grant from NH Humanities, and is free & open to the public. Sarah J. Hale is generally 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. Steve and Sharon have done considerable research on this notable New Hampshire woman and will share more of her story in this program. Sharon was honored to portray Mrs. Hale at the dedication of the Sarah Josepha Hale Memorial Park next to the Richards Free Library in Newport in November, 2013. After the program, the Woods will step out of character and answer audience questions. More information about their programs can be found on their Website at http://his-story.atspace.com or on Facebook at Telling His-Story (and Hers)