Episodes

Sept. 12, 2019

123. Tracing the Rise and Fall of Light-Horse Harry Lee with Ryan Cole

You may know him as Robert E. Lee’s father, but Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee was so much more. Born into a Virginia dynasty, the man who would become one of George Washington ’s protégés came of age with the American Revolu…
Sept. 5, 2019

122. Making Sense of Murder in the Shenandoah with Jessica Lowe: Explorations in Early American Law Part 4

On July 4, 1791, fifteen years after Americans declared independence, two men walked into a Virginia field. Only one walked out alive. John Crane, the son of an elite Virginia family, killed a man named Abraham Vanhorn after…
Aug. 29, 2019

121. Interpreting George Washington's Constitution with Lindsay Chervinsky: Explorations in Early American Law Part 3

In the fall of 1789, George Washington ordered a printed copy of the Constitution along with the laws passed by the First Federal Congress. A book binder bound the printed sheets in leather and added the words "President of …
Aug. 22, 2019

120. Meeting Alexander Hamilton, Attorney at Law, with Kate Brown: Explorations in Early American Law Part 2

We all know Alexander Hamilton for his service during the Revolutionary War, his tenure as the first Secretary of the Treasury, and his death at the hands of Aaron Burr. But have you met Alexander Hamilton, Attorney at Law? …
Aug. 15, 2019

119. The Transatlantic Reach of Thomas Erskine and Law in the Age of Revolutions with Nicola Phillips: Explorations in Early American Law Part 1

In what ways did the United States remain bound to Great Britain in the decades after American Independence? As it turns out, the law and legal ideas served as a connection between Americans and their former British brethren…
Aug. 8, 2019

118. Finding George Washington in Scotland with Rachel Hosker

How did a George Washington letter find a home Scotland? In this episode of Conversations at the Washington Library , Jim Ambuske talks with Rachel Hosker, deputy head of special collections and archives manager at the Unive…
Aug. 1, 2019

117. Resilience in a Time of War: A Special Purple Heart Commemoration Day Conversation with LTC Matthew Kutilek, USMC

In this episode, Jim Ambuske chats with LTC Matthew Kutilek, USMC, a 2001 graduate of The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Kutilek is a United States Marine Special Operations Officer with 18+ years of active duty serv…
July 29, 2019

116. Looking for Lafayette with Jordan Pellerito

In this episode, Jim Ambuske sits down with first year Ph.D. student Jordan Pellerito of the University of Missouri who is interning this summer at the Washington Library. Pellerito tells us about her Master’s degree work on…
July 11, 2019

115. The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret with Mary Thompson: Part 2

In this episode, Dr. Jim Ambuske continues his conversation with the Washington Library's Research Historian Mary V. Thompson to discuss her new book, "The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret": George Washington, Slavery, and…
July 4, 2019

114. The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret with Mary Thompson: Part 1

In this episode Dr Jim Ambuske sits down with the Washington Librarys Research Historian Mary V Thompson to discuss her new book The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret George Washington Slavery and the Enslaved Community at …
June 27, 2019

113. Republican Laws and Monarchical Education with Mark Boonshoft

Once the United States achieved its independence, how did white Americans expect to educate the new republic's youth? How did questions about education become a flash point in the battle between Federalists and Republicans o…
June 20, 2019

112. Welcome Jim Ambuske!

In this episode, Dr. Kevin Butterfield sits down with Dr. Jim Ambuske the Washington Library's new Digital Historian and future podcast host. About Our Guest: Jim Ambuske, Ph.D. leads the Center for Digital History at the Wa…
June 13, 2019

111. Aboard the USS George Washington

In this episode Dr Douglas Bradburn sits down with Captain Glenn Jamison Captain Daryle D Cardone and Command Master Chief Maurice Coffey of the USS George Washington on location at the aircraft carrier. --- Send in a voic…
June 6, 2019

110. Pen Versus Plow

In this episode Dr Kevin Butterfield sits down with Kings College Georgian Papers Fellow Dr. James Fisher to discuss his latest findings on the topic titled George Washington and the Transatlantic Circulation and Reception o…
May 30, 2019

109. Birthing a Nation

In this episode Associate Curator Jessie MacLeod sits down with Library research fellow Sara Collini to discuss her latest findings on the topic titled Birthing a Nation Enslaved Women and Midwifery in Early America 1750-182…
May 23, 2019

108. Valley Forge

In this episode, Dr Joe Stoltz sits down with Tom Clavin to discuss his new book entitled Valley Forge . For more information check out our website www.mountvernon.org/podcast --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm…
May 16, 2019

107. The British Are Coming

In this bonus-sized episode Dr Douglas Bradburn sits down with bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Atkinson to discuss volume one of his new Revolution Trilogy entitled The British are Coming The War for Americ…
May 9, 2019

106. In the Hurricane's Eye

In this episode, Dr Kevin C. Butterfield sits down with world renowned author and 2016 George Washington Prize winner Nathaniel Philbrick to discuss his latest book, In the Hurricanes Eye The Genius of George Washington and …
May 2, 2019

105. Buried Lives

In this episode, Dr Kevin C. Butterfield sits down with Carla McClafferty author of the book, Buried Lives The Enslaved People of George Washington's Mount Vernon. For more information check out our website www.mountvernon.o…
April 25, 2019

104. The Proof of the Pudding will be in the Eating

In this episode Dr Kevin C. Butterfield, sits down with Library research fellow and world-renowned chef Justin Cherry to discuss his research topic, "The Impact of George Washingtons Mount Vernon in 18th Century Foodways." F…
April 18, 2019

103. Albert Gallatin, the Early Republic, and the Atlantic World

In this episode, Dr. Kevin C. Butterfield sits down with Dr. Sean P. Harvey, Library research fellow and associate professor of history at Seton Hall University, to discuss his research topic tilted, Albert Gallatin, the Ear…
April 11, 2019

102. Young Benjamin Franklin

In this episode, Dr. Kevin C. Butterfield sits down with Nick Bunker, author and 2015 George Washington Prize winner, to discuss his new book, Young Benjamin Franklin: The Birth of Ingenuity. For more information check out o…
April 4, 2019

101. Constitution Making In Early America

In this episode, Dr. Kevin C. Butterfield sits down with research fellow Dr. James Hrdlicka to discuss his latest findings on the origins and development of American democratic constitutionalism. For more information check o…
March 28, 2019

100. Remember The Ladies!

In this episode, Dr. Kevin C. Butterfield sits down with Dr. Woody Holton to discuss the 10th anniversary of his Bancroft Prize winning book, Abigail Adams. For more information check out our website at www.mountvernon.org/p…