Secrets of Washington's Archives

Secrets of Washington's Archives

Secrets of Washington's Archives is a video and podcast series about the books, papers, and maps that belonged to George Washington. Through both video and podcast episodes, we share the stories hidden between the pages of Washington's library to explore George Washington's life and his role during the American Revolution and Presidency.

Recent Episodes

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NOW AVAILABLE: Leadership and Legacy: Conversations at the George Washington Library
Oct. 22, 2024

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, a…
LISTEN NOW: Inventing the Presidency
March 12, 2024

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…
A Presidential Primer
Oct. 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, p…
A Gift from Spain
Oct. 9, 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 …
A Syllabus for War
Sept. 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…
An American Way of Farming
Sept. 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 the…
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Recent Blog Posts

How did People Read in the Eighteenth Century?

Within the vault at the George Washington Presidential Library, there is a single shelf dedicated to books Martha Washington owned. This collection seems small compared to George’s library, and minuscule compared to the many books (physical or…

George Washington's Study

The study was one of George Washington’s favorite places in his home at Mount Vernon.  Located on the south side of the house, it was added as part of the private wing of the mansion after an addition to the home in 1774. The study could …

Episode Two Bibliography

Below is a short bibliography of selected resources related to eighteenth-century periodicals, reading practices, and print networks in the eighteenth-century. These resources are designed to help you continue learning about Washington’s passi…
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Reviews

Terrific!

"An excellent series that dives deep into Washington’s 18th century world through letters, journals, maps, and other manuscripts. A terrific example of how libraries and archives can make their collec…"

Jpa1622 | March 14, 2024

Very informative

"Really well researched and thought out. I am excited to see what else the Mount Vernon crew pulls out of their archive."

fauxintel | June 19, 2023
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