The Kennebec Historical Society’s January Facebook Live presentation, “The First Amendment: One Maine Family’s Story of Living Their Freedoms,” is scheduled to be presented by Genie Gannett at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19.

Gannett will describe her family’s legacy in publishing and community involvement, living their First Amendment freedoms. The Gannett family has engaged these rights from Genie Gannett’s great-grandfather, W.H. Gannett, who founded Comfort Magazine in 1888, to her grandmother, Anne Gannett, who fought for women’s suffrage, according to a news release from the Augusta-based society.

Now, Genie Gannett and her sister, Terry, are continuing that legacy. Gannett will explain how the two were inspired to help all Americans value their democracy after recognizing how few knew what their First Amendment rights were. Genie will show the statistics and explain what she is doing to make a difference.

When the Gannett House — located in Augusta beside the Blaine House and the state capital building — went up for sale, the sisters decided to turn it into the First Amendment Museum. Since 2017, the museum has been helping visitors understand and uphold their First Amendment rights.

Gannett’s career started in education, teaching K-12 art in Florida, Alaska and Maine. She helped her students practice their First Amendment rights through creative expression.

People can visit the historical society’s Facebook page, facebook.com/KHS1891, to view the video live. It will also be available to watch later. Questions can be submitted it in the comments during the live video presentation.

Those with questions about the program can call Scott Wood, executive director, at 207-622-7718.

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