Art Spaces 2026 Annual Luncheon

Honoring a Trailblazer: Introducing Virginia Ellis Jenckes

"Honoring a Trailblazer: Introducing Virginia E. Jenckes" will feature Craig McKee’s exploration of the life and legacy of Virginia Ellis Jenckes as the next honoree of the Art Spaces’ Cultural Trail. Virginia was the first Indiana woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. A Terre Haute native who managed her family’s Wabash River farm after her husband’s death, she carried her commitment to farmers and flood control into Congress, where she served three terms after winning election in 1932. Independent and determined, she championed women, veterans, and workers, leaving a lasting legacy of leadership and service.