Historical society to host city’s first centennial event

The Maricopa Historical Society will host its first sanctioned Arizona Centennial event at the America’s First Ladies Tea on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Maricopa High School Multi-Purpose Room.

The event, including a fashion show highlighting  authentic replicas of fashions the first ladies actually wore, will include high tea, a silent auction and a raffle to support the Maricopa Historical Society’s collection of artifacts  and historical items.

As part of Arizona’s 2012 centennial, a series of events are planned throughout the state to highlight the richness of Arizona’s history.

The Maricopa Historical Society plans to begin its celebration of statehood with the First Ladies Fashion Show and Tea.  Members of the community will model the clothing of the First Ladies and present brief biographies of each woman represented

In addition to the wives of the presidents, a dress representing Arizona’s first first lady, Helen Hunt, will be presented.

The dresses on display are part of a collection of copies of originals that highlighted 100 percent cotton articles which traveled the Cotton Belt with the National Cotton Women’s Committee and the Cotton Maid program beginning in the 1970s.  The collection will eventually be donated to the Historical Society as part of its permanent collection.