Restoring Margaret Fuller’s place in history, literature, and memory.

A special project of UUWA and UU Women & Religion Metro District

You are invited to Margaret Fuller’s 200th birthday party and celebrations organized for the Margaret Fuller 2010 Bicentennial and the “Follow the Footsteps of Margaret Fuller” tours in New York City, Boston-Cambridge-Concord, and Rome-Rieti-Florence. These unique, one-of-a-kind events are a special project of UU Women’s Association and UU Women & Religion-Metro District, funded in part by The Fund for Unitarian Universalism. Do not feel guilty if you’ve never heard of Margaret Fuller. Born in 1810, her thoughts are as alive today as over a century ago. A woman of brains and heart, she was labeled genius by some, was ridiculed by others. World famous in the 1840s, she has largely been forgotten in history. She was:

• First American to write a book about equality for women
• First American war correspondent / served under combat conditions
• First woman foreign correspondent
• First woman journalist on Horace Greeley’s New York Daily Tribune
• First woman literary critic / set literary standards
• First editor, The Dial magazine
• First to organize paid "Conversations" for women (educational "rap sessions")
• First woman to enter Harvard Library for research purposes - a giant step since colleges were closed to women.

In addition, Margaret Fuller served as director of an Italian hospital that treated the war wounded during the Italian Revolution of 1848-9 – this predates the work of Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton.

Among the major events of the Bicentennial are dramatic stage presentations entitled “A Medley for Margaret Fuller,” “Men, Women, and Margaret Fuller,” and “O Excellent Friend!” with original scripts by Fuller scholar/author/actor Laurie James.  The New York City one-day walking tour “Follow the Footsteps of Margaret Fuller” will feature actors characterized as Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson and his wife, Lidian, Henry David Thoreau, Horace Greeley, Julia Ward Howe, Lydia Maria Child, Edgar Allen Poe, and other friends, and will culminate in a restaurant with skits and songs.

The tour to Italy will highlight sixth generation Roman researcher/writer Mario Bannoni as one of the guides as well as spotlight commemorative plaque presentations, wine tastings, seminars, a visit to Fuller’s lodging in Rome, and even a stay in the Florence hotel where Fuller lived. The Calendar of Events provides details.

Contact: Laurie James, Initiator and Project Director
goldenheritage@nyc.rr.com
www.margaretfuller.info