In this photograph, First Lady Rosalynn Carter works in her East Wing office on March 17, 1977. Seated at her desk, Mrs. Carter is captured alongside her personal assistant, Madeline McBean. Mrs. Carter was credited with establishing the Office of the First Lady through the passing of the White House Personnel Authorization Act of 1978. Previously, there had been no formal allocation of staff and resources to support the work of the first lady.

This photograph of First Lady Betty Ford working at her desk in the East Wing of the White House was taken by David Hume Kennerly on June 28, 1975. Her desk featured a special "Don't Tread On Me" E.R.A. flag. On September 4, 1974, during her first press conference as first lady, she expressed support for the Equal Rights Amendment (E.R.A.), which, if passed, would have guaranteed legal equality for American citizens, regardless of sex. She continued to support the passage of the amendment throughout her time in the White House, calling senators, traveling across the country to lobby for ratification, and participating in women’s conferences and meetings. With his wife’s encouragement, in 1975, President Gerald R. Ford created the National Commission on the Observance of International Women’s Year by executive order.

In this photograph taken on September 12, 2001, First Lady Laura Welch Bush listens to her East Wing staff members share what they experienced during the evacuation of the White House on September 11, 2001. Mrs. Bush learned of the suspected terrorist attacks during a visit to the United States Capitol Building the previous day, where she had intended to brief the the United States Senate Committee on Education on the White House Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development she had hosted that July.

In this photograph, taken March 16, 1972, First Lady Pat Nixon celebrates her 60th birthday with her staff at a surprise party organized by the White House Curator's Office. The White House staff members wished her a “Happy 39th” in the spirit of comedian Jack Benny’s longstanding joke that he perpetually remained 39 years old. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987. Haller stands behind Mrs. Nixon in the center of this photograph.

In this photograph, taken March 16, 1972, First Lady Pat Nixon celebrates her 60th birthday with East Wing and Kitchen staff during a surprise party organized by the White House Curator's Office. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987. Haller stands in the center of this photograph. Also present in this photograph is White House Curator Clem Conger (far left), White House Pastry Chef Heinz Bender (third from right), White House Assistant Executive Chef Hans Raffert (second from right), and butler Eugene Allen (far right).

This photograph of the East Wing Receiving Hall was taken in March 1972 by Victor Boswell, Joseph H. Bailey, Robert S. Oakes, and Larry D. Kinney during the administration of Richard M. Nixon. The East Wing was constructed in 1942 during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. At the time, the East Wing housed wartime offices, but President Roosevelt hoped to eventually use the space as a museum for White House artifacts. Since the 1940s, the East Wing has also been used by first ladies, but it was Rosalynn Carter who established the Office of the First Lady in 1977. The East Wing Receiving Hall is among the offices designated to the first lady.

This photograph of the East Wing Receiving Hall was taken in March 1972 by Victor Boswell, Joseph H. Bailey, Robert S. Oakes, and Larry D. Kinney during the administration of Richard M. Nixon. The East Wing was constructed in 1942 during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. At the time, the East Wing housed wartime offices, but President Roosevelt hoped to eventually use the space as a museum for White House artifacts. Since the 1940s, the East Wing has also been used by first ladies, but it was Rosalynn Carter who established the Office of the First Lady in 1977. The East Wing Receiving Hall is among the offices designated to the first lady.

This photograph of the East Wing Receiving Hall was taken in March 1972 by Victor Boswell, Joseph H. Bailey, Robert S. Oakes, and Larry D. Kinney during the administration of Richard M. Nixon. The East Wing was constructed in 1942 during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. At the time, the East Wing housed wartime offices, but President Roosevelt hoped to eventually use the space as a museum for White House artifacts. Since the 1940s, the East Wing has also been used by first ladies, but it was Rosalynn Carter who established the Office of the First Lady in 1977. The East Wing Receiving Hall is among the offices designated to the first lady.

This photograph of the East Wing Receiving Hall was taken in March 1972 by Victor Boswell, Joseph H. Bailey, Robert S. Oakes, and Larry D. Kinney during the administration of Richard M. Nixon. The East Wing was constructed in 1942 during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. At the time, the East Wing housed wartime offices, but President Roosevelt hoped to eventually use the space as a museum for White House artifacts. Since the 1940s, the East Wing has also been used by first ladies, but it was Rosalynn Carter who established the Office of the First Lady in 1977. The East Wing Receiving Hall is among the offices designated to the first lady.

This photograph of the East Wing Receiving Hall was taken in March 1972 by Victor Boswell, Joseph H. Bailey, Robert S. Oakes, and Larry D. Kinney during the administration of Richard M. Nixon. The East Wing was constructed in 1942 during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. At the time, the East Wing housed wartime offices, but President Roosevelt hoped to eventually use the space as a museum for White House artifacts. Since the 1940s, the East Wing has also been used by first ladies, but it was Rosalynn Carter who established the Office of the First Lady in 1977. The East Wing Receiving Hall is among the offices designated to the first lady.

This photograph of the East Wing Receiving Hall was taken in March 1972 by Victor Boswell, Joseph H. Bailey, Robert S. Oakes, and Larry D. Kinney during the administration of Richard M. Nixon. The East Wing was constructed in 1942 during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. At the time, the East Wing housed wartime offices, but President Roosevelt hoped to eventually use the space as a museum for White House artifacts. Since the 1940s, the East Wing has also been used by first ladies, but it was Rosalynn Carter who established the Office of the First Lady in 1977. The East Wing Receiving Hall is among the offices designated to the first lady.

This photograph of the East Wing Receiving Hall was taken in March 1972 by Victor Boswell, Joseph H. Bailey, Robert S. Oakes, and Larry D. Kinney during the administration of Richard M. Nixon. The East Wing was constructed in 1942 during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. At the time, the East Wing housed wartime offices, but President Roosevelt hoped to eventually use the space as a museum for White House artifacts. Since the 1940s, the East Wing has also been used by first ladies, but it was Rosalynn Carter who established the Office of the First Lady in 1977. The East Wing Receiving Hall is among the offices designated to the first lady.

This photograph of the East Wing Receiving Hall was taken in March 1972 by Victor Boswell, Joseph H. Bailey, Robert S. Oakes, and Larry D. Kinney during the administration of Richard M. Nixon. The East Wing was constructed in 1942 during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. At the time, the East Wing housed wartime offices, but President Roosevelt hoped to eventually use the space as a museum for White House artifacts. Since the 1940s, the East Wing has also been used by first ladies, but it was Rosalynn Carter who established the Office of the First Lady in 1977. The East Wing Receiving Hall is among the offices designated to the first lady.

This black and white photograph by Ricardo Thomas shows social secretary Maria Downs with First Lady Betty Ford at a baby shower for Sally Runion and Margaret Sheppard held in the East Wing Offices. Ford is wearing a faux straw hat that reads "The Backroom Saloon" on the hatband.

This black and white photograph by Ricardo Thomas shows social secretary Maria Downs with First Lady Betty Ford at a baby shower for Sally Runion and Margaret Sheppard held in the East Wing Offices. Ford is wearing a faux straw hat that reads "The Backroom Saloon" on the hatband. Also in the photograph are Kaye Pullen, Sally Runion, and Margaret Sheppard.

This photograph is of First Lady Barbara Bush reviewing plans with Social Secretary Laurie Firestone in Firestone's East Wing office.

This photograph of the East Wing Receiving Hall by Peter Vitale was taken around 2008 during the George W. Bush administration. The East Wing was built in 1942; today it houses the First Lady's offices, the social staff, and White House security.