A Traveled First Lady

Very few First Ladies remain in the public's consciousness beyond their time in the White House. Louisa Catherine Adams, married to the country's sixth President, John Quincy for 50 years, is no different. To many, she was known simply as "the other Mrs Adams", relegated to the shadows of her formidable mother-in-law, Abigail. And yet she was a strong, accomplished woman in her own right.

Despite her modern sensibilities, she hid this side of her skillfully in an effort to properly support the political ambitions of her husband. In 1821 she wrote, "One of the greatest taxes I have to pay is that of concealing that I am a traveled Lady."

Jim Taylor, Editor-In-Chief of the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society. He's also the co-editor of "A Traveled First Lady: Writings of Louisa Catherine Adams." Jim will be speaking about the book tomorrow night.