Category: Washington’s Quill Blog
A Tale of Two Georges
Katie Blizzard
“I cannot tell a lie.” A young George Washington allegedly spoke these words to his father after being caught cutting down a cherry tree, confessing his transgression. While this tale was meant to illustrate young George’s virtues as a worthy hero, it has also been used throughout the years as a moral lesson to American youth. If George Washington could tell the truth in such intimidating circumstances – shouldn’t you?
To Make a Great Cake
Katie Blizzard
Martha Washington’s “Great Cake” recipe is a sweet document, written in a careful hand by her granddaughter on a piece of folded scrap paper. Its instructions are incredible to the 21st century eye. It asks for forty eggs, four pounds each of sugar and butter, five pounds of fruit and flour, a pint of wine, an ounce of nutmeg and mace, and plenty of French brandy.
Three-Dimensional Insights at George Washington’s Boyhood Home
Katie Blizzard
Having shepherded “George Washington, Day-By-Day, 22 February 1732-14 December 1799” into existence, I very much looked forward to visiting Washington’s childhood home bordering the Rappahannock River directly across from Fredericksburg, Virginia. This visit finally occurred on Monday, November 9.
George – and Martha – Washington’s Mount Vernon: Journal of a Recent Visit to Mount Vernon, November 3–5, 2015
Katie Blizzard
On board BA 217, London to DC. I’m looking forward to speaking tomorrow night in the Gay Hart Gaines Distinguished Visiting Lecturer of American History programme. It’s wonderful to speak for the first time about my book, The Washingtons, at Mount Vernon, where I first conceived the idea of writing about America’s first couple.
Barbados Diary Update: Editors Consult with Experts, See Original Manuscript in Washington, DC
Katie Blizzard
Early last week, Washington Papers Assistant Editor Lynn Price and Research Editor Alicia Anderson joined Director Edward G. Lengel at a meeting at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC, to discuss the project’s upcoming publication of George Washington’s Barbados diary of 1751–1752.
On the Set with Associate Editor William M. Ferraro: An Interview About his Role in the Film Monroe Hill
Katie Blizzard
Associate Editor William M. Ferraro will soon be featured as an historical contributor in a documentary about James Monroe’s farm home Monroe Hill. As the film prepares to be debuted at the Virginia Film Festival, Ferraro sat down to answer questions about his experience in being a part of the documentary.
Land for Sale: Inquire Within
Katie Blizzard
George Washington’s ties to the land — to Mount Vernon and his other farms and his extensive knowledge of Lord Fairfax’s vast Virginia properties — are widely known. But far less has been written about the details of his land speculation far to the west, in the Ohio River valley […]
Defending “this damned treaty”: Jay, Washington, and the 1794 Anglo-American Treaty
Katie Blizzard
In a guest blog post for The Selected Papers of John Jay, one of our Senior Editors, David Hoth, outlines GW’s relationship with John Jay throughout the preparation and negotiation of the treaty. Read the article on the Selected Papers of John Jay website.
The Once and Future Presidents
admin
George Washington’s 20 February 1797 letter to John Adams is an interesting document for many reasons. The president and vice president rarely corresponded by letter in the last months of Washington’s administration, presumably having most of their exchanges in face to face interactions. The letter is also of a private—not public—nature, with Washington giving his personal opinion of Adams’ son. Perhaps most remarkably, the letter has the first president writing to the incoming second president about the future sixth president, John Quincy Adams.
Anthrax and the President, 1789
admin
TOPICS: George Washington, Health and Medicine, Washington’s Presidency by James E. Guba, Copy Editor, and Philander D. Chase, former Editor-in-Chief In the middle of June 1789, only about six weeks after George Washington had been inaugurated first president of the United States with great fanfare at New York’s Federal Hall, […]