BOOK

\The only unavoidable subject of regret\ : George Washington, slavery, and the enslaved community at Mount Vernon

Thompson, Mary V., 1955- author

2019

Overview

\"American historians began producing in-depth studies of slavery and slave life shortly after World War II, but it was not until the early 1980s that the country's museums took the first tentative steps to interpret those same controversial topics. Perhaps because of the tremendous amount of primary material related to George Washington, almost no one looked into the lives of Mount Vernon's enslaved population. Incorporating the results of detailed digging, of both the archaeological and archival varieties, the number of chapters grew as further questions arose. While a few scholars outside Mount Vernon turned their attention to Washington's changing ideas about slavery, they largely overlooked the daily lives of those who were enslaved on the estate, a subject about which visitors expressed a desire to know more. The resulting book makes use of a wide range of sources, including letters, financial ledgers, work reports, travel diaries kept by visitors to Mount Vernon, the reminiscences of family members, former slaves, and neighbors, reports by archaeologists, and surviving artifacts to flesh out the lives of a people who left few written records, but made up 90 percent of the estate's population. The book begins with a look at George and Martha Washington as slaveowners, before turning to various facets of slave life ranging from work, to family life, housing, foodways, private enterprise, and resistance. Along the way, readers will see a relationship between Washington's military career and his style of plantation management, learn of the many ways slaves rebelled against their condition, and get to know many of the enslaved people who made Mount Vernon their home\"-- Provided by publisher.

• Publisher: University of Virginia Press
• Subject: Washington, George, 1732-1799 Relations with slaves. / Slaves Virginia Mount Vernon (Estate) History 18th century. / Mount Vernon (Va. : Estate) History 18th century.
• ISBN: 9780813941844

Item info:

1 item available

1 item total in all locations

Holdings :

Call Number	Copies	Material	Location
E312.17.T4665 2019	1	BOOK	AUTOSTORE