Lecture | George Washington and Abraham Lincoln: Character, Image, Leadership, and Personality 

Circle of Friends welcomes back Helen Lee, our November 2025 lecturer, for its February program celebrating Presidents’ Day. The program will explore the two presidents honored in February—George Washington and Abraham Lincoln—examining their character, leadership, personality, and public image as expressed through art, writings, and photography.

George Washington’s image was carefully shaped not only by artists and historians, but by Washington himself. Nearly one hundred years later, Abraham Lincoln faced the challenge of creating a convincing public image in a very different era—one in which photography played a crucial role. With the help of the camera, Lincoln succeeded in shaping how he would be seen and remembered.

Join us for coffee, cookies, and conversation as we explore the powerful ways images and ideas helped shape the presidencies of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Registration is required at [email protected]. There is no fee for this program, but a free-will donation is appreciated.