Marginalia Episodes

Aug. 28, 2023

"Murder Heaped Upon Murder"

A message scrawled in the leaves of an antique book may seem like a trope for a gothic novel, but it is also a hidden clue into the life of Martha Washington. Like George, Martha Washington enjoyed reading and collecting books, particularly the sensational gothic novels of the era. And these novels…
Guests: Samantha Snyder , Curt Dahl , Anne Fertig, PhD
Faith and Freedom
July 17, 2023

Faith and Freedom

In the aftermath of independence, the American branch of the Church of England faced an identity crisis. The head of the Anglican Church, after all, was the King of England. So what were the faithful Anglicans to do? Make their own American prayer book, of course. In this full-length podcast episod…
Guests: Jennifer Seiter , Curt Dahl , Anne Fertig, PhD
The Case of the Missing Magazine
July 3, 2023

The Case of the Missing Magazine

When this magazine disappeared from George Washington's library, it wouldn't reappear until a hundred years later--and in the unlikeliest of places. In this episode of Secrets of Washington's Archives, research librarian Samantha Snyder uncovers the history of The Bee and its connections with Eliza…
Guests: Samantha Snyder , Curt Dahl , Anne Fertig, PhD
Learning to be George Washington
June 19, 2023

Learning to be George Washington

Published in 1679, The Compleat Surveyor was a textbook for those training in the field of surveying, including a young George Washington. But don’t be fooled by its simple description: its early influence on Washington would last throughout his life. In this first episode, we will explore Washingt…
Guests: Curt Dahl , Dana Stefanelli , Anne Fertig, PhD