_{The kickoff lecture to our 2025-2026 Wilton Annual Lecture Series!}

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The famous battles that form the backbone of the story put forth of American independence—at Lexington and Concord, Brandywine, Germantown, Saratoga, and Monmouth—while crucial, did not lead to the surrender at Yorktown. It was in the three-plus years between Monmouth and Yorktown that the war was won. Alan Pell Crawford’s riveting new book, This Fierce People, tells the story of these missing three years, long ignored by historians, and of the fierce battles fought in the South that made up the central theater of military operations in the latter years of the Revolutionary War, upending the essential American myth that the War of Independence was fought primarily in the North. Weaving throughout the stories of the heroic men and women, largely unsung patriots—Black Americans and whites, militiamen and “irregulars,” patriots and Tories, Americans, Frenchmen, Brits, and Hessians, Crawford revealed the misperceptions and contradictions of our accepted understanding of how our nation came to be, as well as the national narrative that America’s victory over the British lay solely with General George Washington and his troops.

Alan Pell Crawford is the bestselling author of Unwise Passions: A True Story of a Remarkable Woman—and the First Great Scandal of Eighteenth-Century America and Twilight at Monticello: The Final Years of Thomas Jefferson. His writings have appeared in American History, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, and he is a regular book reviewer for The Wall Street Journal. His newest book is This Fierce People: The Untold Story of America's Revolutionary War in the South.

Join Curator of Exhibitions at DAR Museum, William Strollo, Associate Professor of History at Middle Tennessee State University and Associate Director of the Center for Historic Preservation, Dr. Torren Gatson, and Assistant Professor of History at Sewanee, The University of the South, Dr. Tiffany Momon, to discuss their exciting new exhibition, Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence. This powerful exhibition centers the lives, experiences, trials, and triumphs of Black craftspeople, illuminating their journey towards autonomy and presents inclusive vignettes into the American fight for freedom. Using forty-seven unique objects, paired with rich contextual stories, the exhibit helps visitors reflect on the legacies of enslavement, consider the historical omission of African Americans in the decorative arts, and the lack of appreciation for Black artisans and their impact.

Please join us to hear scholar and interior designer Ralph Harvard speak about Virginia plantation homes along the James River. A die-hard Virginian, Ralph has an unparalleled knowledge of 18th-century material culture and architecture, and there are few, if any, who know more about the early architecture of the coastal South. His best skill, however, may be his knowledge of how to live well and comfortably in a large house. Most importantly, he is supported by a convivial and dedicated staff of six with more than 60 years’ experience amongst them, many of those in related fields giving them expertise in paint, hardware, and the decorative arts. Ralph has been lucky enough to have worked on some of the foremost 18th-century dwellings in the South, including the Dulany House in Alexandria, Carter’s Grove and Evelynton on the James River, the Miles Brewton House in Charleston, and Cottage Gardens in Natchez.

Brooke Welborn, a journeywoman mantua-maker and instructor for Burnley and Trowbridge Company, holds a B.A.in Theatre with a focus on Costume Design & Construction and a History minor from The College of William & Mary. She worked in the Historic Trades Department at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, becoming a journeywoman in 2007 after completing her apprenticeship in millinery and mantua-making. Her expertise lies in the construction of 18th-century women's gowns and jackets, particularly the Polonaise, on which she has published research.

Please join Holt Saulsgiver, Director & Grounds Manager at Historic Tuckahoe Plantation to hear about their exciting new research discovered in archival collections that illuminate the lives of the enslaved who built and shaped Tuckahoe over the generations who lived there.

In the 18th century, tobacco plantations became an economic staple in Virginia. Plantation owners were able to prosper off the fertile land, cultivated by exploiting unpaid labor. An effort is underway at Tuckahoe today to deal more candidly with the brutal institution of slavery that the Randolph family relied upon to build their homes and their wealth. As with many large plantations, The Randolph’s of Tuckahoe relied on enslaved African-Americans and indentured servants for labor in the fields and chores of the household. William Randolph of Turkey Island came to Virginia sometime in the 1670’s. Due to cheap land and fortunate opportunities, William acquired a large amount of property during his lifetime, including the land of Tuckahoe.

During this period, Tuckahoe was owned by Colonel Thomas Mann Randolph and surviving 1780s tax records who list close to 200 enslaved workers by name (though it is not clear if all of them would have worked specifically at Tuckahoe as the Randolphs owned a vast amount of land). After his death in 1793, his estate, including his enslaved workers, were sold off. There were 118 workers listed (including 14 infants), many of whom would have been separated from their families and friends and sold to new owners.

After the Emancipation Proclamation, a number of the freed families remained in the Goochland area. Some continued to work on the property as paid servants into the early 1900’s. Harriet, pictured here with her family, was one of the last to be born into slavery at Tuckahoe, and lived in the North Cabin along Plantation Street. These original slave quarters still stand on the property today.

Research is currently underway, as researchers continue digging into tax records, estate sales, sifting through newspaper ads and searching out personal recollections to uncover more of the untold stories of the enslaved people who labored at Tuckahoe Plantation for so long.

Please join us to hear Ethan Bullard, Curator at the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site in Richmond, Virginia to discuss the material culture world of Maggie L. Walker, an inspirational figure who, despite facing systemic discrimination against women and Black people, achieved significant accomplishments as a bank executive, entrepreneur, philanthopist, and activist.

As a curator at the National Historic Site, Bullard plays a crucial role in safeguarding and sharing Maggie Walker's legacy, managing the site's archival holdings, and providing insights into the Walker family's stewardship of her home and legacy. Bullard revised the finding aid for the Maggie Lena Walker Family Papers and collaborated with the Library of Virginia on the digitization of historical newspapers, including the St. Luke Herald, further contributing to accessibility and scholarship related to the period. Bullard has spoken widely on Maggie Walker's life and the National Park Service's role in preserving her history.

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In eighteenth-century America, genealogy was more than a simple record of family ties--it was a powerful force that shaped society. Lineage delves into an era where individuals, families, and institutions meticulously documented their connections. Whether driven by personal passion or mandated by churches, local governments, and courts, these records appeared in diverse forms-from handwritten notes and account books to intricate silk threads and enduring stone carvings.

Family connections wielded significant influence across governmental, legal, religious, cultural, and social spheres. In the American context, these ties also defined the boundaries of slavery and freedom, with a child's status often determined by their mother, despite the prevailing patriarchy. This book reveals the profound importance of genealogy that was chronicled by family records, cultural artifacts, and court documents. These materials, created by both enslaved individuals seeking freedom and founding fathers seeking status, demonstrate the culturally and historically specific nature of genealogical interest.

Even as the American Revolution transformed society, the significance of genealogy endured. The legacy of lineage from the colonial period continued to shape the early United States, underscoring the enduring importance of family connections. Lineage offers a deep understanding of genealogy as a foundational element of American history, illuminating its vital role from the colonial era through the birth of the nation

Karin Wulf is the Director and Librarian of the John Carter Brown Library and Professor of History at Brown University. A historian of “Vast Early America,” she earned her PhD from Johns Hopkins University and was the Executive Director of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture and Professor of History at William & Mary. She has also taught at American University and Old Dominion University. The author or editor of prize-winning scholarship on gender, family, and politics, she writes regularly for both public and academic audiences about early American history, the humanities, and archives and libraries.

Christy S. Coleman began working as a living-history interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg and recognized how museums can help people appreciate the complexity of history beyond heritage and memory. She has held leadership roles at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, in Detroit, and the American Civil War Museum, in Richmond, where she oversaw development of its inclusive and complex interpretation of the Civil War. As co-chair of Richmond's Monument Avenue Commission, she guided often-contentious conversations about how to understand the monuments that memorialized the Lost Cause.

Since 2019 Coleman has served as executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, a state agency that operates two museums that explore the 17th-century confluence of American Indian, European, and African cultures and the American Revolution. Throughout a career spanning more than 35 years, she has been a tireless advocate for the power of museums, narrative correction, diversity, and inclusiveness.

The author of numerous articles, Coleman is also an accomplished screenwriter and public speaker, and has appeared on several national news and history programs. She served as the historical consultant for the award-winning film Harriett and Showtime's The Good Lord Bird. She has also appeared in the award-winning documentaries Abraham Lincoln, Grant, The Neutral Ground and How the Monuments Came Down.

Coleman has received numerous accolades, including three honorary doctorates, for her leadership in encouraging museums to disrupt comfortable history constructively. In 2018 Time magazine named her one of the "31 People Changing the South," and in 2019 Worth magazine named her one of "29 Women Changing the World." Coleman is currently serving on the curatorial team for The Shockoe Project in Richmond. To learn more, please visit: https://theshockoeproject.com/

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