Secrets of Washington's Archives

GW Podcast Network
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What did George Washington write in his personal copy of the Constitution? Who left behind messages inside some of Washington’s books? How did Washington learn to become a professional soldier? Mount Vernon’s newest podcast and video series explores the treasures found inside the George Washington Presidential Library’s special collections. Librarians and historians share the hidden and oh-so-human stories found in the founding father’s books, periodicals, and maps.

  1. NOW AVAILABLE: Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Library

    TRAILER

    NOW AVAILABLE: Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Library

    New from the Washington Presidential Library, Leadership and Legacy invites prominent leaders and historians to reflect on their growth, challenges, and innovative approaches that made them the leaders that they are today, as well as how these questions can be informed by the past — in particular the lessons and legacy of George Washington. Learn more at ⁠www.georgewashingtonpodcast.com.

    1 min
  2. LISTEN NOW: Inventing the Presidency

    03/12/2024 · BONUS

    LISTEN NOW: Inventing the Presidency

    Now Available on all platforms! In this new podcast from the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon, we'll explore George Washington as both President and precedent. From the very origins of the US presidency at the Constitutional Convention to Washington’s final warnings in his Farewell Address, we will break down how one man shaped the Presidency—and the many times that it could have all fallen apart. Learn more at www.georgewashingtonpodcast.com.

    2 min
  3. A Presidential Primer

    10/23/2023

    A Presidential Primer

    The State of the Union address may be an annual tradition now, but when Washington prepared to give his address in 1790, the expectations weighed heavily upon him. To prepare for this momentous occasion, Washington turned, pen in hand, back to the Constitution itself. In this episode of The Secrets of Washington's Archives, Dr. Douglas Bradburn, President & CEO of George Washington's Mount Vernon, explores Washington's own copy of the Constitution contained within a volume of the first Acts of Congress. Within this extraordinary text, we see Washington's own handwritten notes on what it meant to be president.

    29 min
  4. A Gift from Spain

    10/09/2023

    A Gift from Spain

    Washington bought a copy of Don Quixote on the last day of the Constitutional Convention. But what is so significant about this Spanish story? And what did Benjamin Franklin and the Spanish ambassador have to do with it? In this episode, Dr. Douglas Bradburn, President & CEO of George Washington's Mount Vernon, tells us the story behind two versions of this spectacular tale. Watch the Video Companion: https://www.georgewashingtonpodcast.com

    30 min
  5. A Syllabus for War

    09/25/2023

    A Syllabus for War

    George Washington’s commitment to professionalism went hand-in-hand with his leadership as both a general and a president. He believed strongly in creating an American army that adhered to new models of professional military duty. In this episode, Dr. Joseph Stoltz explores Washington’s military education and what we can learn from Washington’s leadership today.

    33 min
  6. An American Way of Farming

    09/11/2023

    An American Way of Farming

    Farming was Washington’s greatest passion, and he devoted himself to the study of new and emerging agricultural practices. Associate Curator Jessie Macleod discusses how enslaved men and women at Mount Vernon put some of these innovative ideas into practice. Watch the video companion: https://www.georgewashingtonpodcast.com

    35 min
  7. "Murder Heaped Upon Murder"

    08/28/2023

    "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 are more than just light entertainment: they tell a story about the relationship between grandmother and granddaughter, revealed through the pages of the book itself. Watch the Video Companion: www.georgewashingtonpodcast.com

    27 min
  8. Touring Revolutionary America

    08/14/2023

    Touring Revolutionary America

    Come take a journey through Revolutionary America through the eyes of a French aristocrat and natural historian. While many remember George Washington’s famous friendship with the Marquis de Lafayette, fewer are aware of his close relationship with the Marquis de Chastellux, a French soldier and popular philosophe. In this episode, Dr. Iris de Rode joins us to discuss Chastellux’s famous travel diaries and his deep and abiding friendship with George Washington.

    34 min
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About

What did George Washington write in his personal copy of the Constitution? Who left behind messages inside some of Washington’s books? How did Washington learn to become a professional soldier? Mount Vernon’s newest podcast and video series explores the treasures found inside the George Washington Presidential Library’s special collections. Librarians and historians share the hidden and oh-so-human stories found in the founding father’s books, periodicals, and maps.

Information

  • Channel
    GW Podcast Network
  • Creator
    The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
  • Show Website
    Secrets of Washington's Archives

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