A new scholarly publication devoted to the influence and achievements of U.S. first ladies debuts this week – with significant Keuka College input.
The Journal of First Ladies Studies is edited by Dr. Christopher J. Leahy, professor of history at Keuka College. Released to coincide with National First Ladies Day on April 25, the inaugural issue features a cover designed by Ashly Dumbleton, who is graduating from Keuka College this May with a double major in Art and Design and Visual Communication Design.
Dr. Leahy, a presidential history buff since boyhood, first became involved in the emerging field of first ladies studies while researching his first book, President without a Party: The Life of John Tyler (LSU Press, 2020).
“That project naturally led me to the lives of the first ladies,” he explained. “It seemed to me that the field held great promise – presidential spouses have often been key players in the social and political life of the United States. But even as we were approaching the country’s 250th anniversary, there was no dedicated outlet for new scholarship.”
Dr. Leahy became a charter member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) in 2021, and he agreed to spearhead the creation of a flagship publication for FLARE beginning in early 2025.
Another FLARE founder of note is Sharon Williams Leahy, Dr. Leahy’s wife and coauthor of their forthcoming book, Presidentess: The Life of First Lady Julia Gardiner Tyler (University Press of Kansas, expected September 2026). An independent scholar with frequent media appearances, she contributed an article to the journal’s first issue – an exploration of Mamie Eisenhower’s dealings with prominent industrialists.
Ashly Dumbleton is graduating from Keuka College in May 2026 with a double major in Art and Design and Visual Communication Design.
The issue also includes an inquiry by Dr. Teri Finneman of the University of Kansas into how the newly renovated Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home has recast Mamie Eisenhower as a main character in modern American history.
Together, these articles present a fuller picture of Mrs. Eisenhower, who has often been remembered for her chocolate fudge recipe and her signature color, “Mamie pink.”
In addition to its scholarly ambitions, the journal is also serving as a platform for experiential learning at Keuka College, where every student in every major completes an annual Field Period® internship or project. For her final Field Period experience before graduation, Ashly worked with Dr. Leahy on several tasks related to the launch of the journal, most notably the cover design for the first issue.
“I created multiple template options for the journal that aligned with FLARE branding,” Ashly said, “and then the organization’s board made the final selection.”
She added, “This was an amazing chance for me to apply what I’ve learned in class to a real-world challenge. It strengthened my graphic design portfolio, and it gave me a better understanding of what clients will expect of me as I head into the workforce.”
“Ashly was an absolute pleasure to work with. She’s a very engaging person, and the end product of this interdisciplinary collaboration is something that reflects well on FLARE and its scholarship.”
Dr. Leahy noted that this was his first time supervising a Field Period project – and that further possibilities abound.
“There are numerous points of connection between FLARE, the journal, and Keuka College,” he said. “I’m grateful for the support that President Amy Storey has already shown – she made sure that the College became an institutional member of FLARE – and we’ve been discussing various ways that this relationship might take shape, including more Field Period opportunities as the journal gets off the ground.”
Read the first issue of the Journal of First Ladies Studies for free at this link.
