Something I’ve been very passionate about this past year has been the work I have been doing with Carol Rose Kahn, the granddaughter of Ernestine and Albert Kahn. In October 2023, we presented “The Women of the Kahn Family: A Quiet Dignity” in partnership with the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation and the Jewish Historical Society. Although the presentation had great attendance online and in-person, we still felt we weren’t finished with the Women of the Kahn Family–or maybe they weren’t finished with us.
In January 2024, the Manchester Area Historical Society invited us to share a shortened presentation at one of their meetings, and we had a great turn out! The feeling of returning to my hometown with something important to share delighted me. But what delighted me even more was that the Manchester District Library, where I held my first job, wanted us to present there as well! So, in March 2024, we presented the same information in two separate installments at my hometown library. This time, we had the pleasure of Michael H. Hodges attending in order to contribute his vast stores of knowledge. I’d attended and helped out during plenty of presentations when I worked there, but being a co-presenter years later held a feeling of excitement and accomplishment.
But what was possibly more exciting was being able to attend the 3rd Annual Great Gatsby Gala for the Packard Motor Car Foundation! Carol invited me since she was going to be attending as a VIP and I was more than happy to tag along (especially since it involved dressing in Gatsby-esque fashion). There, we had a lovely dinner, rubbed some elbows, and raffled off some donated items to raise money for the Packard Proving Grounds. Carol served as the VIP representative from the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, which donated a few items to the raffle (like some original Albert Kahn drawings!).
Though we’ve certainly spread the message about how amazing the women of the Kahn family are, they still call to Carol and me both. There are still so many more stories to uncover and celebrate. Seeing the looks on other women’s faces as we shared what these women were able to accomplish when so many women struggled to maintain their dignity was truly remarkable. As we prepare for our next presentation, I look forward to seeing how we can inspire more women to explore their own history and those of their families.
Please check out some of my favorite resources to learn more about the Women of the Kahn Family! And, of course, stay tuned for more updates.
Gisela Kahn Gresser: International Chess Champion
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