
List of enslaved workers hired by George Washington from Mrs. Penelope Manley French, July 15, 1799.
RM-1195
A detailed list of 40 enslaved people that George Washington hired from Mrs. Penelope Manley French, widow of Daniel French of Rose Hill.
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In February 2013, in honor of George Washington’s birthday, David M. Rubenstein made a contribution toward the Washington Library’s construction and endowment. The David M. Rubenstein Leadership Hall, in recognition of Mr. Rubenstein’s generosity, is the Washington Library’s largest meeting space. Most of the Washington Library's major events including symposiums, public lectures, and book talks are held within the room.
Mr. Rubenstein sponsored the Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows program from 2014-2018, which offers a dynamic and stimulating leadership curriculum taught within the Rubenstein Leadership Hall. The meeting room is also where students immerse themselves in the Situation Room Experience: Washington's Cabinet. This is also the space the George Washington Teacher Institute Residential Programs discuss innovative and engaging ways to teach about Washington and the 18th century.
Mr. Rubenstein's gift also directed funds toward the establishment of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Books and Manuscripts Endowment, enabling Mount Vernon to grow and sustain its collection of original volumes and documents. It is through this generous endowment that the Washington Library has been able to purchase over 1,200 items, including the ones below.
RM-1195
A detailed list of 40 enslaved people that George Washington hired from Mrs. Penelope Manley French, widow of Daniel French of Rose Hill.
RM-1197
An unpublished play written by the “adopted son of George Washington,” George Washington Parke Custis of Arlington House.
RM-1212.001
Letters from Martha Washington and Tobias Lear regarding Congress’ request to permanently inter George Washington within a mausoleum inside the United States Capitol.
RM-1209
Tobias Lear informed Burgess Ball of George Washington’s passing.
RL-6619
An early Virginia almanac with a manuscript account of a visit to Mount Vernon written on the book's back leaves. The author is unconfirmed but is thought to be a descendant of John Paul Barringer.
RM-1208
Receipt for clothing of the Washington family from William Carlin, an Alexandria tailor.
RM-1216
A letter regarding Washington’s expectations of the farm managers at Mount Vernon.
RM-1217.001
A letter in which Washington provided a list of subscribers, including himself, to the American Magazine and Monthly Chronicle for the British Colonies.
RM-1217.002
A three page letter written from Mount Vernon revealing Washington’s continued frustration with George Washington Parke Custis’ disinterest in education.
RM-1211
Advertisement for four enslaved individuals, Peros, Neptune, Cupid, and Jack, who ran away from Dogue Run on August 9, 1761.
RM-1213
While encamped at Middlebrook, New Jersey for the winter of 1779 George Washington wrote this letter to Nathanial Greene about trading one of his horses for another. This letter was previously undocumented in the Papers of George Washington.
RM-1218
A letter about various aspects of the war and includes a note to his mom.
RM-1219
A letter from Andrew Elliott, the surveyor general of the United States, disapproving of Washington’s policies regarding Native Americans.
2016-SC-002
In this letter, Thomas Paine writes about issues of a new constitution in France and directly transcribed Washington’s address to the Society of Quakers (written by him c. 13 October 1789, in response to their address, c. 3 October 1789).
RL-6642
Gouverneur Morris' (Minister to France) diplomatic correspondence and the French response, as well as the report on the Navigation Act in which France severely restricted the activities of foreign shipping and navigation.
RL-6634
A volume of bound opera music, La Cifra by Antonio Salieri with an inscription, likely in Washington’s hand: “Brought from Rome for E. P. Custis, presented by Signore Cerrachi, 1794.”
2016-SC-038
In 2016, the library acquired a collection of approximately 500 items of ephemera related to the memory and popular image of George Washington. The collection greatly expands our ephemera holdings and provides researchers with raw materials to view how Washington has infused the popular imagination and national psyche over the years.
2016-SC-016
This French publication of Washington’s Journal was created from Washington’s notes and other papers which were found by the French at Fort Necessity. It was issued by the French government, and transmitted to the courts of Europe as a justification of the war with England and to support the French claim that Washington murdered
2016-SC-009
Washington thanks Gordon for sending him newspapers from Boston and mentions issues he is having with people settling on his lands near the Ohio River, which is he is about to leave Virginia to take care of.
2016-SC-046
"Mrs. Washington's card left at my husband's lodgings at Mr. Saml. Caldwell's North Fourth Street Philadelphia in the year 1796."
2017-SC-001-001
This correspondence lays out an elaborate plan of attack meant to fall into the hands of the enemy.
2017-SC-001-003
A memorandum detailing a work contract with Mount Vernon carpenter James Donaldson, including his allowances for food, moving expenses, use of tools, use of a house, garden, and cow, and the privilege of the occasional absence, in exchange for his work.
2017-SC-010-002
West Ford reports on illnesses at Mount Vernon to John Augustine Washington III.
2018-SC-019-001
Washington issues orders for Greene's First Rhode Island Regiment, which included formerly enslaved African American soldiers, to march from Newport to West Point under Rochambeau.
TC-877
A map of Washington's land in Fairfax, Virginia.
2018-SC-019-003
Rochambeau writes about Washington's plans for the 1782 campaign and news from Europe.
2017-VR-013
This image was taken in Gardner’s studio in Washington, D.C. Mitchell was formerly enslaved and in 1870 an employee of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. He poses with a group of wooden canes propped against a piece of furniture.
2018-SC-068
George Washington acknowledges and thanks John Beale Bordley for presenting him with a copy of Bordley's recently published book, Essays and Notes on Husbandry and Rural Affairs. The book was delivered to Mount Vernon by Secretary of War James McHenry.
2018-SC-072
Washington responds to a former Revolutionary officer's request for assistance. Washington offers to provide a certificate of service to Weissenfels if he can first send a testament of services from his commanding officer, Governor George Clinton.
2018-SC-041
Accounts between the President's household in New York and local confectioner Joseph Corre. Includes purchases of macaroni, bitter almonds, caraway seed, and ice cream. On April 15, the President's household purchased "dinner drest," when John and Abigail Adams, John Jay, and Thomas Jefferson dined with him.
2018-SC-058-004
In the hand of Henry P. Hill, likely dictated by Gabriel Johnson from Bruin's Slave Jail in Alexandria. Gabriel tells his side of the story following a disagreement with Joseph McFarland, John Augustine's overseer at Mount Vernon.
2018-SC-073-001
Pinckney writes from Harper's Ferry three days after George Washington's death offering his condolences for this "irrepreable loss" to Tobias Lear, Martha Washington, and Nelly Parke Custis Lewis.
2018-SC-029
Addressed to His Excellency George Washington Esq. President of the United States of America the letter makes reference to various wines ordered by the President for entertaining, including "26 dozen claret and 12 dozen vins de grave."
2019-SC-017
Receipt from Susanna Lockyer to First Land Martha Washington from 1791 September 6 for the purchase of 22 yards of mantua.
2019-SC-018-001
2019-SC-018-002
Pickering discusses Washington’s response to the Pine Creek killings.
2019-SC-011-001
This book includes a manuscript note from Eliza Parke Custis to the Marquis de Lafayette.
An archive of 162 letters and 2 receipts containing letters to and from John Augustine Washington III at Mount Vernon from 1837-1861.