Bush, Laura Welch, 1946-

Variant names

Hide Profile

Laura Lane Welch Bush (b. November 4, 1946, Midland, TX) is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Southern Methodist University in 1968, and a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Texas in 1973. Upon graduation, she worked as a librarian and elementary school teacher in the inner-city schools of Dallas, Houston, and Austin. Laura Welch and George Walker Bush married in 1977 and their twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, were born in 1981. When her husband was elected governor of Texas in 1994, she became the First Lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000 and implemented many initiatives focused on health, literacy, and education. With the inauguration of George W. Bush as President in 2001, Mrs. Bush assumed the role of First Lady of the United States. She became a key advocate of President Bush’s public education reforms stemming from the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, and introduced the “Ready to Read, Ready to Learn” initiative, which stimulated better methods of early childhood education. To encourage reading at all ages, Mrs. Bush instituted the annual National Book Festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC in 2001. Mrs. Bush encouraged reading globally as well when she and the President hosted the first White House Conference on Global Literacy in 2006. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the beginning of the War in Afghanistan, Mrs. Bush became an ardent supporter of women in Afghanistan. When presenting the Presidential weekly radio address in November 2001 – the first ever recorded by a First Lady – Mrs. Bush spoke against the Taliban’s treatment of women and children. Mrs. Bush served as honorary chair of the U.S. – Afghan Women’s Council and in 2008, she delivered a presentation at the International Conference (Centre de Conferences Internationals) in support of the people of Afghanistan. After President Bush left the White House and return to Texas in 2009, Mrs. Bush’s memoir, Spoken from the Heart, was published in May 2010. Mrs. Bush remains actively involved in issues of national and global concern through the George W. Bush Institute, a policy institute that is part of the Center and operated by the George W. Bush Foundation. She continues to emphasize education, health care, and human rights for women.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Newark Public Library. Barack Obama Election and Inauguration Collection 2008-2009 Newark Public Library, Main Library
referencedIn First Lady Laura Bush's files (Part I), about 1994-1999, bulk 1995-1999 Texas State Archives
referencedIn Barack Obama collection. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Julia Child Award Winners Collection National Museum of American History (U.S.). Archives Center
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior. Photographs Relating to the Secretary's Trips, Speeches, and Other Functions, and Agency Officials, Events, and Managed Sites. 2002-2013. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Gore Vidal papers, 1850-2020 (inclusive), 1936-2008 (bulk) Houghton Library
referencedIn Hare, David, 1947-. Stuff happens : a play / by David Hare, 2006. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Rogers, Fred. [Early reading initiative] : speech (document) Saint Vincent College, Saint Vincent Library
referencedIn Press Office speech and press files for First Lady Laura Bush, 1980-2000, undated, bulk 1995-2000 Texas State Archives
creatorOf Bush, Laura Welch, 1946-. [Letter, 2001 Sep. 5 : to Fred Rogers]. Saint Vincent College, Saint Vincent Library
referencedIn Records, 1854-2000, (bulk 1995-2000) University of Texas at Austin. General Libraries
referencedIn Obama Inaugural Photograph Collection, 2009-197., 2009 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf General Records of the Department of Education. 1967 - 2005. Video Recordings and Public Appearances by Secretaries of Education . 1993 - 2008. Ready to Read National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Southeast Women's Employment Coalition Records, (bulk, 1868-1991, 1981-1990) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Collection of materials relating to First Lady Laura Bush and her visit to the Orchard House, Concord, Mass., 2002. Concord Free Public Library, Special Collection
referencedIn General Records of the Department of Education. 1967 - 2005. Photographs of Agency Activities National Archives at College Park
referencedIn First Lady Laura Bush's files (Part II), 1994-2000, bulk 1995-1999 Texas State Archives
referencedIn Records of the White House Photo Office (George W. Bush Administration). 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009. Photographs Related to the George W. Bush Administration. 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009. President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush Welcome Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh to the White House George W. Bush Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
child-in-law of Bush, Barbara, 1925- person
child-in-law of Bush, George, 1924- person
spouseOf Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946- person
associatedWith Hare, David, 1947- person
associatedWith Kennerly, David Hume person
associatedWith McNeely, Robert person
associatedWith Naythons, Matthew person
associatedWith Rogers, Fred. person
associatedWith Southeast Women's Employment Coalition corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Southern Methodist University. corporateBody
associatedWith Texas. Governor (1995-2000 : Bush) corporateBody
associatedWith Texas. Office of the First Lady. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. President (2001-2009 : Bush) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Texas at Austin. corporateBody
associatedWith Vidal, Gore, 1925- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Austin TX US
Dallas TX US
District of Columbia DC US
Midland TX US
Subject
Autographs
First ladies (United States)
Television programs for children
Occupation
Librarians
Presidents' spouses
Activity

Person

Birth 1946-11-04

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x356sx

Ark ID: w6x356sx

SNAC ID: 5509641