Library 10 Year Program Book

The George Washington Presidential Library

10 th-Anniversary Celebration at Mount Vernon

September 30, 2023

Honorary Co-Chairs

Adrienne Bevis Mars

Vice Regent Emerita for Wyoming

Gay Hart Gaines

Vice Regent Emerita for Florida

Co-Chairs

Andrea Notman Sahin

Vice Regent for Massachusetts

Hilary Carter West

Vice Regent for the District of Columbia

The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

“I have not houses to build, except one, which I must erect for the accommodation and security of my military, civil and private papers, which are voluminous and may be interesting.”

—George Washington to his friend James McHenry, April 3, 1797

From the Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

Tonight, we commemorate a significant anniversary: ten years of making history at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.

Of course, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association has been making history since 1853. It was in 1859 that the library collection began in earnest when Ann Pamela Cunningham received four original George Washington documents from John Augustine Washington III. He thought they would help her fix the house. She, of course, understood the greater value. Now, more than 164 years later, here we are celebrating the successful realization of George Washington’s dream: a library to house his “military, civil and private papers, which are voluminous and may be interesting.”

The opening of the library cemented Mount Vernon as the foremost resource for scholarly research inspired by Washington’s life and legacy. Now, we can enjoy the fruits of our labors: ten years of revolutionary scholarship, teacher institutes, leadership programs, symposia, and new acquisitions – all with the mission of keeping George Washington first.

We are honored to mark this milestone with you, and we thank you for your commitment and support of our mission of education and preservation. Together, we will continue to protect and advance the enduring legacy of George Washington.

Margaret Hartman Nichols Regent, The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

From the President & CEO of George Washington's Mount Vernon

Ten years ago, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association launched a powerful new educational effort, a research library and center for studying George Washington’s life and legacy. The latest presidential library, overdue for our first and greatest president, quickly became a robust and dynamic addition to Mount Vernon. As the Founding Director of the George Washington Presidential Library, I am delighted to say we have exceeded the great expectations heralded by the pomp and circumstance of our fantastic opening.

We have brought home thousands of original manuscripts, discovered lost and forgotten Washington materials, and illuminated countless stories and heroes of our founding. We have patronized hundreds of scholars, sharing their work with broad audiences, creating a stimulating environment of creative scholarship, and encouraging an effervescence of new ideas and powerful connections. We have reorganized the MVLA archives which document more than 160 years of preservation and women’s leadership, and we have shared our efforts with the world, including millions of students, through digital collections, databases, classroom films, podcasts, book talks, streams, and more. We have inspired and educated thousands of leaders—in the military, government, academic, and business communities—with the lessons of leadership derived from the stellar example of America’s first leader, George Washington.

It has been a team effort with great support from staff and the irreplaceable generosity of a stellar corps of volunteers, our far-sighted and enthusiastic Board, and thousands of donors, friends, allies, and advocates. And we are just getting started.

Thank you so much for celebrating these accomplishments tonight.

Douglas Bradburn, Ph.D. President & CEO, George Washington’s Mount Vernon

In Ten Years...

The George Washington Presidential Library has hosted 187 research fellows, resulting in 57 new books on the founding era.

From the Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library

In the ten years since its opening, the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon has become a leading site of knowledge creation and exchange. It is a place where new ideas are formed and shared, a site of both discovery and discussion.

Looking ahead to the next ten years, the library must maintain its history-making tradition of excellence. It must acquire additional items that document this country’s founding so scholars can tell us new things about our shared past. It must also reach beyond its physical grounds by embracing new technology to share these materials and the stories they tell with anyone, anywhere. And it should continue to convene important conversations, now more than ever.

With a series of significant national anniversaries on the horizon, including the 250th of American Independence in 2026, the 300th of Washington’s birth in 2032, and the 250th of the Constitutional Convention in 2037, the library will be both a hub of intellectual exchange and innovation and a champion of the humanities in American life by showcasing the role historical understanding should play in shaping our public dialogue.

As Washington believed, a democracy was only as strong as its citizenry, and the George Washington Presidential Library has a key role to play in fortifying our historic literacy. We appreciate your continued support.

Patrick Spero, Ph.D. Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library

Menu

FIRST COURSE

Roasted Heirloom Carrots

ENTRÉE

Thyme Roasted Short Rib

DESSERT

Chocolate Hazelnut Opera Cake

Educational Impact

Mount Vernon is dedicated to teaching people around the world about the life and legacies of George Washington. In its first ten years, the George Washington Presidential Library has been incredibly impactful in accomplishing this mission.

The Washington Library’s collection of original Washington books and manuscripts—which continues to be augmented with new acquisitions—offers researchers, teachers, students, and the general public invaluable insights into Washington’s life, character, and influence. Annual classes of Research Fellows conduct creative and compelling scholarly research that expands public understanding about Washington and the founding era. Resulting scholarship provides content for the library’s abundance of in-person and online programming that disseminates new insights and interpretations through lectures, symposia, conferences, book talks, and gatherings of thought leaders. The support for scholarship has increased the library’s international presence through fellowships and conferences, and various dignitaries and foreign leaders have visited the facility.

Leadership programs, grounded in historical context, bring fresh new thinking to modern problems and emphasize Washington’s continued relevance. On-site and virtual teacher programs and free digital educational resources make the lessons of Washington’s life and legacy accessible to students and educators around the world. The library’s Center for Digital History reaches the next generation, advances access, and expands knowledge through technology including research databases and the production of award-winning videos, digital programming, and podcasts.

As we reflect on the George Washington Presidential Library’s first decade and celebrate its achievements, we eagerly anticipate what will be accomplished in the next ten years as the library continues to advance the education and preservation mission of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.

2013-Today

2013:

• September 27 – The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington opens.

• The George Washington Leadership Institute launches.

• Fellowships begin for academic research and the creation of teacher resources, fostering new scholarship about Washington and the founding era.

• The first acquisition after the library’s opening was the Fairfax Family Ledger. Its contents have informed our preservation and curatorial efforts, resulting in a more authentically presented Mansion.

2015:

• An archivist is hired, and an archival management system is implemented to make finding aids available online.

2016:

• The Washington Library joins the Georgian Papers Programme, which was launched at Windsor Castle in the presence of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

• Mount Vernon’s first podcast Conversations at the Washington Library is launched. The podcast features interviews with authors, research fellows, and Mount Vernon staff about George Washington and the founding era.

2014:

• Programs and symposia launch, opening the library’s doors to the public and sharing the latest research.

• Digitized collections are made available to the public on Mount Vernon’s website.

2017:

• International academic conferences begin, convening experts from around the world to discuss the founding era.

2017: Turin, Italy, In the Footsteps of George Washington: Founders, Nations, and Constitutions in Comparative Perspectives

2019: Paris, France, The Republics of France and the United States: 240 Years of Friendship

2022: Madrid, Spain, Spain and the Global Struggle for U.S. Independence

2020:

• The Richard Brown Revolutionary War Map Collection of more than 300 loose-leaf and 1,200 bound historic maps is donated, positioning the Washington Library as one of the world’s leading centers for the study of cartography in the era of the American Revolution.

• Lectures, educational programs, symposia, and collections are hosted online, increasing access to Mount Vernon’s ever-growing resources.

2018:

• The effort to re-create Washington’s original library continues with the acquisition of Washington’s copy of The Compleat Surveyor by William Leybourn (1679).

2019:

• The interactive Be Washington: It’s Your Turn to Lead experience is made available online, and the live-action role-playing Situation Room experience for students launches.

2021:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits. He joins many illustrious visitors, including former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, Supreme Court Justices, Cabinet members, governors, and more.

• The podcast Intertwined: The Enslaved Community at George Washington’s Mount Vernon launches.

2022:

• The American Revolutionary Geographies Online (ARGO) launches in partnership with the Leventhal Map and Education Center at the Boston Public Library, combining founding era maps from many repositories into a single portal for broader public access, learning, and interpretation.

• The film George Washington and the Pursuit of Religious Freedom is released, adding to the collection of educational films and classroom resources available for free to teachers, students, and the general public.

2023:

• September 30 – the 10th-anniversary library celebration is held at Mount Vernon, making history as the most successful fundraiser to date!

Thank You

The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association is most grateful to the following contributors who have supported this celebration of the George Washington Presidential Library’s 10th anniversary. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Campaign for Mount Vernon in support of Mount Vernon’s mission to preserve the home of George Washington to the highest standard and educate the world about his life and legacy.

The Washington Library, through its research, scholarship, and collections, continues to shed new light on the life of George Washington and the founding era. As the birthplace of historic preservation in America and the leading educational institution focused on Washington’s life and legacy: making history is what we do at Mount Vernon.

Commander in Chief

Ariel Corporation

Ford Motor Company

Karen Buchwald Wright and Tom Rastin

Triple Benefactor

Helen Herboth Laughery

General

Mr. Richard H. Brown and Ms. Mary Jo Otsea

Sarah Miller Coulson

Manuel and Mary Johnson Foundation

Ms. Deborah Smith Magness

Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Smith, Jr.

Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Smith

Jamie and Rob Taylor

Catherine M. and Frederick H. Waddell

Benefactor Anonymous (2)

Cricket Bauer and Tim Messman

Mrs. Barbara Becker and Mrs. Lindalee Fitton

Ann and John Bookout

Maribeth and Hal Borthwick

Dr. and Mrs. Doug Bradburn

CIBC Private Wealth

Lucia B. and Joseph W. Henderson

Mrs. Holliday L. Hurd and Kate Shuster

Adrian and Larsen Jay

Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson W. Kirby

A. Michael and Ruth C. Lipper

Ms. Jacqueline B. Mars

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mauran IV

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin McCarthy

Medlin-Hale Foundation, Elizabeth and Sheffield Hale

Margaret and David E. Nichols

Anne Neal Petri and Thomas E. Petri

Wayne and Grace Rickert

Mr. and Mrs. J. Schley Rutherford

Andrea and Kenan Sahin

Ann Cady Scott

Stella Boyle Smith Trust, Cathy and Mike Mayton, Trustees

Jeffrey and Barbara Steele

Susan M. and P. Coleman Townsend

Gail Berry West and Hilary Carter West

Next Generation

John and Stavroula Alachnowicz

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher P. Aldredge

Burke & Herbert Bank

Mr. and Mrs. Red Cavaney

Mr. Remmel T. Dickinson

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley N. Gaines

Mr. and Mrs. David Giachetti

Dr. and Mrs. John W. Given

Mr. and Mrs. Glen G. Hamel

Dr. Robert Highsmith and Dr. Sarah Fogg

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Horton

Nathan and Valerie McCarry

James D. and Pamela J. Penny

Richard S. Reynolds Foundation

Mrs. Stanley DeForest Scott

Eleanor R. Seaman

The Honorable and Mrs. Lee L. Verstandig

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Welsh

Leader

Mrs. Margaret Allison

George and Charlotte Benz

Mary Lang Bishop and C. Morton Bishop III

Ellen Boer

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry A. Brady

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Coleman

The Honorable and Mrs. Sean Connaughton

Theodore F. and St. Clair Craver

Peter and Sarah Anne Cressy

Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Crosby

Ms. Martha Dippell and Mr. Daniel Korengold

Mrs. Monica Greenberg

Robert and Mimie Helm

Ms. Karen E. Hooper

John L. Hunter and Zoe T. Hunter

John H. Kerby and Theresa Thompson

Lambert Kayden Family Fund, Sanda and Jeremiah Lambert

Alice and Harry Legum

Mr. Michael J. Mars and Ms. Terri Campbell

Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Mayer

Mac and Cathy McClelland

Mr. and Mrs. David McCreery

Mr. Mark Z. Orr

Ann and John Pyne

Ed and Lori Ryan

Steven W. Spandle and Kev Massoyan

Mrs. Kenneth W. Starr

Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. J. Sullivan, Jr.

Catharine W. Trauernicht and K. Dunlop Scott

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Travis

Mr. Robert L. Tritt

Frances Culp Wheeler

More than 15 million people have utilized the Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington. In Ten Years...

Thank You

The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association extends a special thank you to members of Mount Vernon's leadership groups for their support of this milestone and their ongoing commitment to the legacy and home of George Washington.

Washington Cabinet

David Rubenstein, Chair

Life Guard Society

Cricket Bauer, Chair

Connoisseur Society

Lucy Rhame, Chair

Founders, Washington Committee

Valerie Burden, Chair

Neighborhood Friends Steering Committee

Joseph and Ann Somerset, Chairs

In Ten Years...

The Washington Library has hosted more than 123 free Ford Evening Book Talks, with more than 545,000 virtual views.

Members of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

Regent

Margaret Hartman Nichols

Maine Vice Regents

Cameron Kock Mayer

Vice Regent for Louisiana

Maribeth Armstrong Borthwick

Vice Regent for California

Ann Haunschild Bookout

Vice Regent for Texas

Virginia Dawson Lane

Vice Regent for South Carolina

Laura Peebles Rutherford

Vice Regent for Alabama

Susan Marshall Townsend

Vice Regent for Delaware

Anne Neal Petri

Vice Regent for Wisconsin

Liz Rollins Mauran Vice Regent for Rhode Island

Ann Cady Scott

Vice Regent for Missouri

Sarah Miller Coulson Vice Regent for Pennsylvania

Andrea Notman Sahin

Vice Regent for Massachusetts

Catherine Hamilton Mayton

Vice Regent for Arkansas

Helen Herboth Laughery

Vice Regent for Wyoming

Catherine Marlette Waddell

Vice Regent for Illinois

Lucia Bosqui Henderson

Vice Regent for Virginia

Mary Lang Bishop Vice Regent for Oregon

Elizabeth Medlin Hale

Vice Regent for Georgia

Ann Sherrill Pyne

Vice Regent for New York

Karen McCabe Kirby

Vice Regent for New Jersey

Hilary Carter West

Vice Regent for the District of Columbia

Adrian MacLean Jay

Vice Regent for Tennessee

Sarah Seaman Alijani

Vice Regent for Colorado

Susan Brewster McCarthy

Vice Regent for Minnesota

The mission of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association is to preserve, restore, and manage the estate of George Washington to the highest standards and to educate visitors and people throughout the world about the life and legacies of George Washington, so that his examples of character and leadership will continue to inform and inspire future generations.

“Today, in this beautiful setting on this magnificent morning, we are opening a library at Mount Vernon. How thrilling. How important. Not just because it is long overdue but because of the influence, the inspiration, the effect, the impact that this gathering place, this center of learning will have on future generations of all people of all kinds from all over the world.”

—David McCullough | September 27, 2013