“Napoli chronicles not just the camaraderie of Stamberg, Wertheimer, Totenberg and Roberts, but their commitment to help the careers of younger women who aspired to follow them. The founding mothers, in word and deed, offer a powerful lesson on what can happen when we carry as we climb.” —Connie Schultz, The Washington Post

Timed to the 50th Anniversary of NPR’s first transmission and the debut of All Things Considered: Susan, Linda, Nina & Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR is a group biography of four beloved women who fought sexism, covered decades of American news, and whose voices defined NPR.

In the years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, women in the workplace still found themselves relegated to secretarial positions or locked out of jobs entirely. This was especially true in the news business, a backwater of male chauvinism where a woman might be lucky to get a foothold on the “women’s pages.” But when National Public Radio came along in the 1970s, and the door to serious journalism opened a crack, four remarkable women came along and blew it off the hinges.

Susan, Linda, Nina & Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR by journalist Lisa Napoli is a captivating account of these four women, their deep and enduring friendships, and the trails they blazed while becoming icons. Napoli utilized her deep connections in news and public radio for the extensive interviews featured throughout the pages. 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of NPR’s first transmission (April 20) and the debut of All Things Considered (May 3); there could not be a more ideal time to celebrate the women whose voices defined public radio and paved the way for all female journalists.

As of August 3, we have updated our face-mask policy at The Mount. We strongly encourage vaccinated visitors to wear masks when attending outdoor events. Unvaccinated visitors must wear masks at all times. When indoors, masks are required regardless of vaccination status.

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The Mount is a Massachusetts Cultural Council UP designated organization welcoming participants of all disabilities. Please contact The Mount at 413-551-5100 or by email, info@edithwharton.org, to discuss accommodations needed to participate fully in this event.