U.S. Representative Emilia Strong Sykes, who represents Ohio’s 13th district in Congress, posted a series of tweets on March 17, 2026, reflecting on the legacy of Mary Regula and marking an anniversary related to the Equal Rights Amendment.
In her first tweet at 20:47 UTC, Sykes stated, “Mary Regula was the wife of former Ohio Congressman Ralph Regula, who left her own mark on our community. She organized the effort to create a complete record of every one of America’s First Ladies. This built the foundation for the National First Ladies’ Library and Museum https://t.co/g55Onf3d3X”.
A minute later, she continued by noting Regula’s efforts in preservation work: “Mary Regula also raised millions of dollars to restore the Saxton-McKinley House, where President and Mrs. McKinley resided in Canton during their visits throughout his presidency. Her contributions have allowed the National First Ladies Library and Museum to thrive as it serves”.
Later that evening at 23:51 UTC, Sykes addressed another milestone: “Five years ago today, the House took an important bipartisan step by voting to remove the arbitrary deadline on the Equal Rights Amendment.
It was a powerful moment in the fight for equality, but the work isn’t done until the ERA is fully passed and enshrined in the https://t.co/cWxBRM70gX“.
Sykes has served as U.S. Representative for Ohio’s 13th district since replacing Tim Ryan in 2023 and previously held office in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2015 to 2022. Born in Akron in 1986 and currently residing there at age 37, Sykes holds degrees from Kent State University (BA) and a JD from the University of Florida.
The National First Ladies’ Library and Museum, referenced by Sykes in her posts about Mary Regula’s contributions, stands as a testament to preserving history associated with America’s First Ladies. The Saxton-McKinley House restoration project highlighted by Sykes is one example of such preservation efforts connected to presidential history.
The reference to congressional action on removing an Equal Rights Amendment deadline reflects ongoing national debates over constitutional gender equality amendments—a process which continues despite prior legislative steps.
