Last week, The Felicity Generation blog post exploded across the internet—Instagram, Facebook, even local online papers picked it up! It just goes to show that something as seemingly simple as a child’s toy can have a major impact on our lives. …
We Are the “Felicity Generation”
In the 1980’s, Pleasant T. Rowland, a teacher and publisher of educational texts, created Pleasant Company and developed a line of historically themed dolls and their stories which featured difficult topics like child labor, slavery, and war. And she did it in a way that young girls, girls just like me, who were beginning to read chapter books, could easily understand. …
Maria Cosway: The Most Fascinating 18th-century Woman You’ve Never Heard Of!
According to legend, Thomas Jefferson was walking along a street in Paris, when he spied the famous painter Maria Cosway. He leapt over a fence to get close to her—and fell and broke his wrist. How did this girl, born to English parents in Florence, Italy, become an artistic luminary in the innermost circles of London society—and so ensnare the heart of Thomas Jefferson? Maria (rhymes with Messiah) Cosway is about to make her public debut for Colonial Williamsburg in New Orleans for the 95th Annual Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies. Portrayed by… me….
To Catch a Witch: The True Story of Grace Sherwood
In “Cry Witch,” a popular evening program that reenacts a 1706 witchcraft trial, the audience gets to decide the outcome. Here is the true story behind it.
It all started with the untimely deaths of some pigs and a failed cotton crop. In Pungo, a settlement a couple of miles from the Atlantic Ocean in what is now Virginia Beach, John and Jane Gisburne were convinced there had to be a reason for the bad luck.
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Guest Blog: “Lady Skipwith, Lady Skipwith, I’ve Found Your Red Shoe…”
I visited Colonial Williamsburg for the first time when I was in high school and attended a summer history program at the College of William & Mary. In between field trips and writing journal entries, our advisors took us on Colonial Williamsburg’s Ghosts Amongst Us. We crowded nervously through the front door of the Wythe House, and just when we had settled in, a beautiful lady in a silk gown descended the stairs. She was gorgeous (and terrifying). And she wove a tale of love, lust, and loss….
The Ghost of a Young Woman Killed by Carriage Returns Home
Ah yes. We all know how the story goes. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, and live happily ever after. Or do they?
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Learning the Ropes of 18th-Century Farming
I’ve been spending my Saturdays at Great Hopes Plantation learning all about Domestic Arts as well as 18th-century farming techniques. Needless to say, I’m having the time of my life….
Musings From the Millinery: Creating a Custom Gown for Mrs. Virginia
Two weeks ago people from across the Foundation came together for a very special project—creating a custom gown for Jatana Jackson (Mrs. Virginia 2015). Janea and I were really excited about our roles in the process as we took on the challenge of designing and sewing the full gown, hand-quilted petticoat, and the millinery for Jatana. The next two weeks, leading up to Thursday, September 10 were a mad dash of collection visits, sewing, and fittings. And we have a behind-the-scenes look at the process from beginning to end….
Founders and Their Mothers
There was no day in May to honor Mom in the 18th century. So how did our founders honor their mothers?…
Musings from the Millinery: What It’s Like to be a 21st-century Apprentice
It’s Abby again, from the Margaret Hunter Millinery shop. This time, I’d like to talk about our apprenticeships and hopefully this post will answer any questions that might be floating around out there….