Historical Exhibits Commemorate 100th Anniversary of Woodrow Wilson's Proclamation of Mother's Day

Stauton, VA and Kansas City, MO

The month of May will mark 100 years since President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation to declare Mother's Day a national holiday. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Mother's Day, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Hallmark Cards, Inc. are partnering to present dual exhibits to celebrate this centennial.

Both the Hallmark Visitors Center at Hallmark's headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, Va., will host exhibits featuring a variety of Woodrow Wilson memorabilia, Hallmark archival Mother's Day cards from the 1920s to today, and copies of the original Presidential proclamation that created this holiday honoring mothers. The historical exhibits are set to open to the public Friday, April 11, in both locations.

Mother's Day became an official holiday in the United States on May 9, 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation naming the second Sunday of May as a day for "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."

The person credited with leading efforts to establish Mother's Day is Anna M. Jarvis. She was born in 1864 in Webster, Va., and was a graduate of Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va. The exhibit will feature letters between Jarvis and Wilson during her years-long campaign to have the holiday officially recognized.

"The partnership between the Wilson Library and Hallmark seemed a natural way to celebrate the original intent of this holiday - to recognize mothers and the contributions they make to their families and the world," said Dr. Don Wilson, president of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Foundation.

"Most of us celebrate Mother's Day each year, but not many people realize the rich history behind this holiday," said Regi Ahrens, director of the Hallmark Visitors Center. "It's a privilege to be able to share these treasures from the Hallmark Archives and the Woodrow Wilson Library with the Kansas City community."

Exhibit Hours:

• The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, Va., is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and tickets, please visit http://www.woodrowwilson.org or call 540-885-0897.
• The Hallmark Visitors Center in Kansas City, Mo., is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, please visit http://www.hallmarkvisitorscenter.com.

About Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum in Staunton is open for interpretive tours of Wilson's restored birthplace, self-guided tours through a museum and period garden, and a President's Shop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Saturday, and 12 - 5 p.m. on Sundays. Its archival collections are accessible through its e-Library or by appointment. For additional information, visit http://www.woodrowwilson.org or call 540-885-0897.

About Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Hallmark makes the world a more caring place by helping people express what's in their hearts and connect in emotional ways with others. In the U.S., innovative Hallmark greeting cards and gifts are sold through the network of Hallmark Gold Crown specialty stores, leading mass retailers and online. Worldwide, Hallmark offers products in more than 30 languages available in 100 countries. Millions of households enjoy family friendly television programming offered by cable's top-rated Hallmark Channel and fast-growing Hallmark Movie Channel. Hallmark's Crayola subsidiary inspires artistic creativity in children through Crayola crayons and markers as well as other innovative art tools, crafting activities and creative toys. Privately held Hallmark is based in Kansas City, Mo., and continues to be led by members of the founding Hall family. Visit http://corporate.hallmark.com for more details.