Ford Evening Book Talk: Lineage

About the Book

In eighteenth-century America, genealogy was more than a simple record of family ties--it was a powerful force that shaped society. Lineage delves into an era where individuals, families, and institutions meticulously documented their connections. Whether driven by personal passion or mandated by churches, local governments, and courts, these records appeared in diverse forms-from handwritten notes and account books to intricate silk threads and enduring stone carvings.

Family connections wielded significant influence across governmental, legal, religious, cultural, and social spheres. In the American context, these ties also defined the boundaries of slavery and freedom, with a child's status often determined by their mother, despite the prevailing patriarchy. This book reveals the profound importance of genealogy that was chronicled by family records, cultural artifacts, and court documents. These materials, created by both enslaved individuals seeking freedom and founding fathers seeking status, demonstrate the culturally and historically specific nature of genealogical interest.

Even as the American Revolution transformed society, the significance of genealogy endured. The legacy of lineage from the colonial period continued to shape the early United States, underscoring the enduring importance of family connections. 

About the Author

Karin Wulf is Professor of History and the Beatrice and Julio Mario Santo Domingo Director and Librarian of the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University.  Before coming to the JCB and Brown in 2021, she was the Executive Director of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture from 2013-21 and Professor of History at William & Mary.  

A historian of gender, family and politics in eighteenth-century British America, Wulf earned her PhD at Johns Hopkins University.  Her current book Lineage:  Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America is forthcoming from Oxford University Press.