Washington's Empire: Nature, Colonialism, and Mount Vernon with Ben Popple
This is a brief exploration of how Washington and Mount Vernon fit into perceptions of the natural world in the eighteenth century. By examining early English colonialism and philosophy of the period, much can be said about the similarities and differences between Washington's attitude towards the environment and that of European agriculturalists.
Revised Slave Cabin Archeology Activity with Camille Ginther
This project proposes a revision of the Historic Trades program "Slave Cabin Archaeology Activity at Mount Vernon," shifting the focus from the “House for Families” site to the ongoing excavations at Union Farm. Through inquiry-based learning, the program aims to familiarize students with archaeological methods while exploring the daily lives of enslaved individuals at Mount Vernon, such as Priscilla and Joe. By incorporating artifacts, features, and current research, the revised activity aims to foster deeper engagement with both the material record and the human stories it represents.
In the Hands of the Enslaved: Repair, Resistance, and the Intimacies of Dress at Mount Vernon with Zoe Wilson
This project explores how an apron, once owned by Martha Washington, serves as a material record of the skilled, coerced labor of enslaved seamstresses at Mount Vernon. Through analysis of its mended areas and letters penned by Martha Washington, this project argues that acts of repair reveal both technical mastery and subtle forms of resistance, situating enslaved women at the intersection of intimacy, power, and defiance in the Washington household.
Raising Children at Mount Vernon in Early America with Katherine Nastick
This project aims to weave together some of the narratives and implications of motherhood both within the Washington family, and among those they enslaved. It uses additional source material and testimonies to provide both additional insight on theories and practices of motherhood in the eighteenth century, as well as to contextualize the experiences of the mothers of Mount Vernon.
The MVLA's Fight for Mt. Vernon (and Female Agency) Through Postage with Lucy Adkins
The essay delves into the beginnings of the MVLA and the societal expectations for women at the time. The members of the MVLA were both doing the duties expected of women by campaigning for Mt. Vernon while also subverting gender norms because they were performing roles that women were not traditionally allowed to do. These themes are prevalent especially in the letters the members send to each other, documenting their fundraising progress.