01/12/2026

Virtual Program Jan. 28 - From Wytheville to the White House

FLARE's next virtual program on January 28th at 7 pm ET will focus on the birthplace and childhood home of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson and Phase I of the Bolling Home Restoration Project- the home that shaped Edith’s life and prepared her for the challenges she would face as First Lady. Edith was the 7^th of 11 children, had only two years of formal education, but became an entrepreneur and owner of Galt Bros Jewelers in Washington, DC, was the first woman to own and drive an electric car in DC, and married the 28th president of the United States, Woodrow Wilson. Rebecca Boggs Roberts, author of Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson, will moderate a tour of the birthplace led by Founder Farron Smith and Adam Manuel, program and education director. 

You can watch the program on our YouTube Channel. 

About our presenters:

Rebecca Boggs Roberts is an award-winning writer and educator. Her most recent book is "Untold Power: the Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson."  Previous jobs include journalist, tour guide, forensic anthropologist, political consultant, jazz singer, & radio talk show host. Now Deputy Director of Events at the Library of Congress, she lives in DC with her husband, three sons, and a long-eared hound.

Adam Manuel graduated from Liberty University in 2022 with a Ph.D. in history with a specialization in US/Spanish diplomatic relations during World War II.  Adam assists in the creation of new programs and the development of new technologies to make the museum more accommodating and accessible to its visitors.  Adam also works closely with local colleges and universities, educating students about internship and volunteer opportunities at the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum.

Farron Smith is a graduate of Radford College (University) and she and her husband Bill have lived and worked in Wytheville since 1976. They are both active in community affairs and their work with preservation has sparked the revitalization of Downtown Wytheville. After raising their children, they turned their attention to saving the historic landmark where First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson was born in 1872.

In 2006, the Smiths founded the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation believing it to be one of the most important contributions they could make to their community in a lifetime. That same year, they sponsored the Virginia Historical Highway Marker that stands in front of the Bolling Home. In 2008, the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Museum opened its doors to the public. This is the only birthplace museum of a First Lady in Virginia and one of only eight in the country dedicated to the interpretation of a First Lady.

Farron has been the backbone of the museum since its opening volunteering her time and talents to share the story of Mrs. Wilson, “From Wytheville to the White House.” She authored a children’s educational book, “How the Sheep Helped Win the War,” and serves as a docent at the museum. With leadership from the museum’s Board of Trustees, Farron has spearheaded Phase I of the Bolling Home Restoration Project. In addition, the Smiths are owners of the Bolling Wilson Hotel located across the street from the museum. The hotel, named to honor First Lady Mrs. Wilson, is themed around her life of “Canaries, Orchids, & Bourbon.”