Teach Women in 18th Century

"Fancy Minuet"

Video (0:53 seconds) playing harpsichord tunes.

"Fancy Minuet"

"He Comes the Hero Comes"

Video (1:09 minutes) playing 18th-century harpsichord tunes.

"He Comes the Hero Comes"

"No Scornful Beauty"

Video (1:04 minutes) playing 18th-century harpsichord tune.

"No Scornful Beauty"

"One More Bowl and Then?": A Material Culture Analysis of Punch Bowls

Research article by archaeologist Dr. Eleanor Breen describing the importance of the punch bowl in 18th-century life.

"One More Bowl and Then?": A Material Culture Analysis of Punch Bowls

"Over the Hill and Far Away"

Video (1:09 minutes) playing 18-century harpsichord tune.

"Over the Hill and Far Away"

10 Facts about Martha Washington

Illustrated article with facts about Martha Washington's life.

10 Facts about Martha Washington

10 Facts about the Mansion

Illustrated list of facts about the home of George Washington.

10 Facts about the Mansion

16-Sided Barn Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article about the 16-sided barn with photographs and a short film illustrating how the wheat was threshed by horses.

16-Sided Barn Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Chintz Room Crib

Video (2:22 minutes) discussing the crib with a family history of belonging to Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis.

Chintz Room Crib

Compilation of Enslaved Worker Songs

Video (5:33 minutes) comilation of songs sung by enslaved people songs. The video includes Sit Down Servant, Sit Down; Hoe Emma Hoe; and Fungalafia.

Compilation of Enslaved Worker Songs

Construction of a Harpsichord

Video clips discussing how a harpsichord is constructed and how it works.

Construction of a Harpsichord

Creating 18th Century Clothing for the Classroom

Guide to re-creating 18th century style clothing in the classroom.

Creating 18th Century Clothing for the Classroom

Eleanore "Nelly" Parke Custis Digital Encyclopedia Article

Article discussing the life of Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis, the Washingtons' granddaughter.

Eleanore "Nelly" Parke Custis Digital Encyclopedia Article

Enslaved People at Mount Vernon

Profiles of 18 individuals enslaved at Mount Vernon based on research from George Washington's records.

Enslaved People at Mount Vernon

Food Supply Ledger, May 19-25, 1794

Ledger detailing the food ordered and the associated costs for one week in the Presidential household in Philadelphia.

Food Supply Ledger, May 19-25, 1794

George Washington and Agriculture

Illustrated article on agriculture at Mount Vernon.

George Washington and Agriculture

George Washington the Farmer

Student worksheet on a painting depicting George Washington as a farmer at Mount Vernon.

George Washington the Farmer

George Washington's List of Enslaved People, 1799 Lesson

Lesson plan using George Washington's list of enslaved people from 1799 to examine his role as a businessman and slave owner and to provide information about the institution of slavery in the 18th century.

George Washington's List of Enslaved People, 1799 Lesson

Great Cake Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article about Martha Washington's great cake recipe.

Great Cake Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Great Cake Recipe

Recipe for making Martha Washington's favorite cake.

Great Cake Recipe

Harpsichord

Object page for the Washingtons' harpsichord.

Harpsichord

History Notes: The Music of Washington's World

Video (45:04 minutes) exploring the music of Washington's world.

History Notes: The Music of Washington's World

Hoe Emma Hoe

Video (1:21 minutes) of the song Hoe Emma Hoe.

Hoe Emma Hoe

Home at Mount Vernon

Readers' Theater and Read Aloud Story exploring the daily lives of the people who lived and worked at Mount Vernon.

Home at Mount Vernon

Ice Cream at Mount Vernon

An inquiry based module that asks students to answer a why ice cream was an exclusive treat at Mount Vernon by exploring three Supporting Questions and analyzing primary and secondary sources.

Ice Cream at Mount Vernon

Integrating Women's History in the Founding Era

A series of lesson plans that uses Martha Washington as a case study to integrate women's history into the events of the American Revolution and the New Nation historical eras.

Integrating Women's History in the Founding Era

Introduction to the Chintz Room

Video (3:59 minutes) discussing a stylish bedroom at Mount Vernon where Eleanore "Nelly" Parke Custis may have occupied in 1799.

Introduction to the Chintz Room

Kitchen Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article describing the construction of Mount Vernon's kitchen and how it was used.

Kitchen Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Kitchen Excavation

Short video (2:37 minutes), photographs, and a brief description of Team Archaeology of Mount Vernon's Historic Preservation and Collections Department excavating in front of the kitchen in the spring of 2013.

Kitchen Excavation

Little Parlor: Harpsichord

Explore the Little Parlor in the Mount Vernon mansion where Nelly Custis played the harpsichord.

Little Parlor: Harpsichord

Lives Bound Together: Slavery at George Washington's Mount Vernon

Video (7:18 minutes) exploring the personal stories, experiences and struggles of people enslaved at Mount Vernon, as well as insight into George Washington's evolving opposition to slavery.

Lives Bound Together: Slavery at George Washington's Mount Vernon

Martha at the Front

Article describing Martha Washington's role and experiences accompanying George Washington to the front during the Revolutionary War.

Martha at the Front

Martha Washington and Slavery

Article discussing Martha Washington and slavery at Mount Vernon.

Martha Washington and Slavery

Martha Washington and the Women of the 18th Century

Teacher Resource page featuring select primary and secondary sources, classroom materials, and essentials questions for teaching about women in the 18th century.

Martha Washington and the Women of the 18th Century

Mount Vernon Mansion Expansion

An animation (1:02 minutes) of the changes to Mount Vernon's structure during the 18th century.

Mount Vernon Mansion Expansion

Mount Vernon Virtual Tour

Tour the Mansion House, support buildings, gristmill and distillery online.

Mount Vernon Virtual Tour

Music Digital Encyclopedia Article

Article about music in the 18th century.

Music Digital Encyclopedia Article

Nelly Custis and Her Mount Vernon Bedchamber

Video (2:56 minutes) discussing Nelly Custis' bedchamber.

Nelly Custis and Her Mount Vernon Bedchamber

Nelly Custis Artifacts in the Mount Vernon Collection

Article highlighting objects in the Mount Vernon collection relating to Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis.

Nelly Custis Artifacts in the Mount Vernon Collection

Oney Judge Digital Encyclopedia Article

Article discussing Oney Judge, an enslaved woman at Mount Vernon.

Oney Judge Digital Encyclopedia Article

Pair of Shoes

Object page for the shoes that Martha wore at her wedding to George Washington in 1759.

Pair of Shoes

Punch Bowl

Object page for the punch bowl that Martha Washington brought to Mount Vernon to use for social events.

Punch Bowl

Shoe Shopping with Martha Washington

Article discussing shoe styles of the 18th century, shoemaking, and Martha Washington's shoes. Several short videos are also included in this resource.

Shoe Shopping with Martha Washington

Slave Resistance Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article discussing slave resistance at Mount Vernon.

Slave Resistance Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Slave Women and Resistance at Mount Vernon

Article on the ways that slave women could resist within the confines of their enslaved status.

Slave Women and Resistance at Mount Vernon

Slavery at Mount Vernon

Video (3:01 minutes) discussing slavery at Mount Vernon.

Slavery at Mount Vernon

The Chintz Room

Mount Vernon web page exploring the Chintz Room, possibly used as Nelly Custis' bedchamber.

The Chintz Room

The First First Lady

Article about how Martha Washington set the tone for future first ladies.

The First First Lady

The Milling Process Step-by-Step

Mount Vernon's master miller, Steve Bashore, describes the 18th-century milling process used by Washington in the gristmill on his plantation in this video (3:01 minutes).

The Milling Process Step-by-Step

The Style of Martha Washington Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Article discussing Martha Washington's style.

The Style of Martha Washington Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Wheat Treading at the 16 Sided Barn

Video (2:51 minutes) discussing the wheat crop, threshing, and treading.

Wheat Treading at the 16 sided barn

Methodology

• PLACE • OBJECTS • DOCUMENTS • VISUAL RESOURCES • MUSIC • FOOD • BIOGRAPHY

Themes

• GOVERNMENT • LEADERSHIP • SLAVERY • WOMEN • AT WAR • ECONOMICS

Grade Level

• ELEMENTARY • MIDDLE SCHOOL • HIGH SCHOOL

Residential Programs

MOUNT VERNON RESOURCES

"Fancy Minuet"

"He Comes the Hero Comes"

"No Scornful Beauty"

"One More Bowl and Then?": A Material Culture Analysis of Punch Bowls

"Over the Hill and Far Away"

10 Facts about Martha Washington

10 Facts about the Mansion

16-Sided Barn Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Chintz Room Crib

Compilation of Enslaved Worker Songs

Construction of a Harpsichord

Creating 18th Century Clothing for the Classroom

Eleanore "Nelly" Parke Custis Digital Encyclopedia Article

Enslaved People at Mount Vernon

Food Supply Ledger, May 19-25, 1794

George Washington and Agriculture

George Washington the Farmer

George Washington's List of Enslaved People, 1799 Lesson

Great Cake Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Great Cake Recipe

Harpsichord

History Notes: The Music of Washington's World

Hoe Emma Hoe

Home at Mount Vernon

Ice Cream at Mount Vernon

Integrating Women's History in the Founding Era

Introduction to the Chintz Room

Kitchen Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Kitchen Excavation

Little Parlor: Harpsichord

Lives Bound Together: Slavery at George Washington's Mount Vernon

Martha at the Front

Martha Washington and Slavery

Martha Washington and the Women of the 18th Century

Mount Vernon Mansion Expansion

Mount Vernon Virtual Tour

Music Digital Encyclopedia Article

Nelly Custis and Her Mount Vernon Bedchamber

Nelly Custis Artifacts in the Mount Vernon Collection

Oney Judge Digital Encyclopedia Article

Pair of Shoes

Punch Bowl

Shoe Shopping with Martha Washington

Slave Resistance Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Slave Women and Resistance at Mount Vernon

Slavery at Mount Vernon

The Chintz Room

The First First Lady

The Milling Process Step-by-Step

The Style of Martha Washington Digital Encyclopedia Entry

Wheat Treading at the 16 Sided Barn

• PLACE
• OBJECTS
• DOCUMENTS
• VISUAL RESOURCES
• MUSIC
• FOOD
• BIOGRAPHY

• GOVERNMENT
• LEADERSHIP
• SLAVERY
• WOMEN
• AT WAR
• ECONOMICS

• ELEMENTARY
• MIDDLE SCHOOL
• HIGH SCHOOL