Colonial Williamsburg: Past and Present: Podcasts

2008 Podcasts
- Behind the Scenes
  - We hold these truths Episode one of July's Revolutionary Documents series.
    
    Hear the words that started a war, read by Thomas Jefferson interpreter Bill Barker. Monday, June 30, 2008
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    Learn more about the Declaration of Independence.
  - The Jefferson Blog
    A new blog subjects Thomas Jefferson's ideals to modern scrutiny. Add your two cents, beginning this July. Monday, June 23, 2008
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    Learn more about Thomas Jefferson.
  - Natural History
    A foreign landscape is revealed to a curious world by naturalist Mark Catesby. Interpreter Robb Warren talks about the man and his art. Monday, June 16, 2008
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    Learn more about Mark Catesby.
  - Love and Revolution
    Divergent views on politics and religion fuel a feud between two prominent Williamsburg families. Museum educator Anne Willis tells the story of their children's unlikely marriage. Monday, June 09, 2008
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    Learn more about the Randolph family.
    
    Learn more about the Nicholas family.
  - The King's Man
    Could Lord Dunmore have prevented the Revolution? Interpreter Phil Shultz considers the question. Monday, June 02, 2008
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    Learn more about Dunmore's Proclamation.
  - In Other Words
    The cost of modern speech is paid in verbs as America trades eloquence for speed. Historian Cathy Hellier explains the change. Monday, May 26, 2008
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    Learn more about 18th-century speech.
  - For What Ails You
    For poxes, headaches, and fevers, the apothecary has a preparation to ease your symptoms. Medical historian Susan Pryor details the treatments. Monday, May 19, 2008
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    Learn more about the apothecary.
  - Fifes and Drums at 50
    A new documentary reflects on five decades of Fifes and Drums. Director Mike Durling talks about building a film that looks through the years and across the country. Monday, May 12, 2008
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    Learn more about Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums.
    
    Purchase Drummers Call: America's Fife and Drum Tradition.
  - Fashion and Function
    The engineered strictness of a pair of stays defined the shape of the 18th-century woman. Journeywoman Brooke Welborn explains the trend. Monday, May 05, 2008
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    Learn more about 18th-century clothing.
  - Disgustingly Adorable
    Never at a loss for words, Rare Breeds Manager Elaine Shirley coins the phrase "disgustingly adorable" to describe this year's lambs. Monday, April 28, 2008
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    Learn more about rare breeds.
  - The Frenchman's Map
    New questions are raised as old ones are answered in the study of the Frenchman's Map. Architectural researcher Ed Chappell talks about the document. Monday, April 21, 2008
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    Read In Search of the Frenchman's Map from the Colonial Williamsburg journal.
  - Fakes and Forgeries
    Fakes and phonies are stopped with a squint. Curator John Davis discusses the subtleties of form. Monday, April 14, 2008
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    Learn more about The Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
  - Smart as an Ox
    Bovine behemoths boast brains and brawn. Oxman Darin Tschopp describes these beasts of burden. Monday, April 07, 2008
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    Read the story "Smart as an Ox" from the spring Colonial Williamsburg journal.
    
    Watch an audio slideshow. View with Quicktime 7.
  - Great Escapes
    Stories of famous captures are rivaled only by stories of famous escapes at Williamsburg's Public Gaol. Tom Hay shares his favorites. Monday, March 31, 2008
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    Learn more about the Public Gaol.
  - Liberty or Death
    Patrick Henry spoke with a minister's conviction and a patriot's passion. Colonial Williamsburg interpreter Richard Schumann discusses Henry's seminal speech. Monday, March 24, 2008
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    Learn more about Patrick Henry.
    
    Read "The Speech: It May Not Be the One That Patrick Henry So Famously Made."
  - Wit's Last Stake
    Eighteenth-century farce delights 21st-century audiences. Todd Norris describes timeless comic themes. Monday, March 17, 2008
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    Find performance times at the Kimball Theatre.
    
    Learn more about colonial theater.
  - A Rarity Restored
    Two artists collaborate across the centuries: one working with a brush, and the other with a micro spatula. Curator Barbara Luck and conservator Pam Young describe the restoration of a rare watercolor.
    Monday, March 10, 2008
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    Learn more about the technology of conservation.
  - Treasure Keepers
    Good as new isn't always as good as old. Curator John Watson talks about conservation at Colonial Williamsburg. Monday, March 03, 2008
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    Learn more about The Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
  - The Butcher, the Baker
    One sheep's fleece supplies half a dozen trades. Shepherdess Carrie MacDougal spins the tale. Monday, February 25, 2008
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    Learn more about Leicester Longwools.
  - Washington as a Symbol
    Washington's leadership was an appealing surrogate for the king's paternal presence. Historian Kevin Kelly discusses the first president's legacy. Monday, February 18, 2008
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    Learn more about George Washington.
  - Wealth on the Shelf
    When a single book cost half a year's wages, tomes were rare treasures. Bruce Plumley describes the bookbinding trade. Monday, February 11, 2008
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    Learn more about the bookbinder.
  - No Master Over Me
    A man purchases his enslaved family to set them free. James Ingram shares the tale. Monday, February 04, 2008
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    Learn more about Electronic Field Trips.
    
    Read about African Americans in Virginia.
  - Mythical Beasts, Magical Creatures
    Dragons, mermaids and griffins lurk in the museum collections. Christina Westenberger leads the hunt. Monday, January 28, 2008
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    Visit the Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.
  - The Restoration, Part Two
    Single-minded determination is the Historic Area's salvation. Author Will Molineux continues his discussion of the restoration. Monday, January 21, 2008
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    Learn more about Bruton Parish Church.
    
    Read the words of Dr. Goodwin.
  - The Restoration, Part One
    A determined rector reclaims history from the ravages of progress and poverty. Monday, January 14, 2008
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    Learn more about the restoration.
    
    Read The Architect of Colonial Williamsburg by Will Molineux.
  - The Town Before the Town
    An early plantation slumbers beneath Williamsburg's streets and foundations. Monday, January 07, 2008
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    Learn more about archaeology at Colonial Williamsburg.
2007 Podcasts
- Behind the Scenes
  - Twelfth Night
    Holiday celebrations culminate with Twelfth Night revelries. Monday, December 31, 2007
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    Read "Once Around the Colonial Seasons" from the holiday '06 journal.
  - An Irish Christmas
    In clear voice and high spirits, Kelly Kennedy sings Irish Christmas melodies. Monday, December 24, 2007
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    Learn more about tavern performers.
  - A Child's-Eye View
    Old toy trains and sprawling dollhouses connect imaginations through the span of years. Curator Jan Gilliam has the happy task of laying them out. Monday, December 17, 2007
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    Visit our family of museums.
    
    See "The Joys of Toys" slideshow.
  - Jewish Holy Days
    Jewish holidays were celebrated by a faithful few in 18th-century colonies. Martha Katz-Hyman outlines the early traditions. Monday, December 10, 2007
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    Read Early American Jewish Holy Days online.
  - Founders or Traitors, Part Two
    Not all colonists were ready to follow their leaders into revolution. Interpreters Steve Holloway and John Hamant debate in character as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Monday, December 03, 2007
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    See the Electronic Field Trip.
    
    Learn what led to the Revolution.
  - Founders and Traitors, Part One
    Taking the shape of a founding father calls for equal parts of preparation and imagination. Interpreters John Hamant and Steve Holloway detail the process. Monday, November 26, 2007
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    Learn more about Electronic Field Trips.
    
    Read about politics in colonial Virginia.
  - A Laden Table
    A table crowded with local game, seafood, custards and savories is a feast of gratitude. Journeyman Rob Brantley describes the dishes. Monday, November 19, 2007
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    Learn more about historic foodways.
  - Outfitting an Army
    The Powder Magazine stood ready to arm soldiers against the oppressors of the age. Historic interpreter Chris Geist details the building's purpose. Monday, November 12, 2007
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    Learn more about the Magazine.
    
    Read the online edition of the Colonial Williamsburg journal.
  - Emissaries of Peace
    Adept negotiators in pursuit of peace, the Cherokee tribe endures through centuries of change. Colonial Williamsburg director and producer Linda Randulfe talks about the November 8 Electronic Field Trip, "Emissaries of Peace." Monday, November 05, 2007
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    See the Electronic Field Trip.
  - Cry Witch, Part Two
    Hear the verdict in the trial of Grace Sherwood, the "Virginia Witch." Monday, October 29, 2007
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    Learn more about Evening Programs.
  - Cry Witch, Part One
    Take a seat at the trial of Grace Sherwood, the "Virginia Witch." Monday, October 22, 2007
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    Make plans to see "Cry Witch."
  - Wren's Formal Garden
    After three summers of digging, archaeologist Steve Archer hits pay dirt. Monday, October 15, 2007
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    Learn more about the Wren building.
    
    Explore colonial gardens.
  - Jamestown Unearthed, Part Two
    With 60 percent of James Fort unexplored, the island outpost guards a wealth of stories. Bill Kelso continues the hunt for discovery. Monday, October 08, 2007
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    Learn more about Electronic Field Trips.
    
    Read "The Technology of History" to learn about archaeological methods.
  - Jamestown Unearthed, Part One
    The most impartial chronicle of Jamestown Settlement is in its trash. Curator Bly Straube explains. Monday, October 01, 2007
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    Learn more about Electronic Field Trips.
    
    Read "Jamestown Revisited" from the Spring '04 Colonial Williamsburg journal.
  - Prelude to Victory
    "Prelude to Victory" celebrates the anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown with three days of special programs that recall September 26, 27, and 28, 1781. Monday, September 24, 2007
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    Learn more about General George Washington.
  - The Gunpowder Plot
    Add your shouts to the clamor for revolution in Colonial Williamsburg's evening program, "The Gunpowder Plot." Author Gina DeAngelis explains. Monday, September 17, 2007
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    Read "The Monstrous Absurdity" from the summer 2006 Colonial Williamsburg journal.
  - Under Storytelling's Spell
    Storytellers from around the world will gather at Colonial Williamsburg to participate in the Third Annual Storytelling Festival, including Williamsburg's own Art Johnson. Monday, September 10, 2007
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    Make plans to see the Third Annual Storytelling Festival.
    
    Hear a podcast about the 2006 Storytelling Festival.
  - Carriages, Carts and Wagons
    Conjuring a wheel from elm and iron is one big geometry problem for John Boag, Colonial Williamsburg wheelwright. Monday, September 03, 2007
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    Learn more about the wheelwright's trade.
    
    Read "Wheels and Riding Carts" from the winter '04-'05 journal.
  - Colonial Children's Dance
    Youth interpreters in Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area enliven parlors and stages with dancing demonstrations. Kelly McEvoy details the colonial pastime. Monday, August 27, 2007
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    Hear more about colonial dance traditions in this podcast with Marcy Wright.
  - A Different Kind of Founder
    Candlesticks, buckles, bells, and sword hilts are just a few objects that Colonial Williamsburg founder Doc Hassell is called to manufacture. Monday, August 20, 2007
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    Learn about the brass founder.
  - Southern Hospitality
    A gracious host, the Governor's Palace met the needs of nine governors and the Continental Army. Tom Spear details the venerable building's past. Monday, August 13, 2007
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    Learn more about the Governor's Palace.
  - The Age of Wood
    Making the job up as he goes along is one of Garland Wood's favorite aspects of his job as carpenter at Colonial Williamsburg. Monday, August 06, 2007
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    Read about the carpenter's trade.
  - Tempted to Enlist
    The prospect of ready money tempted many middling men to enlist. Bryan Simpers and Bereni New interpret the Hoys at Colonial Williamsburg. Monday, July 30, 2007
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    Learn more about Alexander Hoy.
    
    Learn more about Barbry Hoy.
  - A Loyal Subject
    Loyal subjects of the king walked among Williamsburg's revolutionaries. Colonial Williamsburg's Jack Flintom interprets John Randolph's allegiance to King George III. Monday, July 23, 2007
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    Read about the Randolph family.
  - A Slave's Perspective
    The Declaration of Independence was a promise extended to white men only. Hope Smith portrays Eve, a slave in the Peyton Randolph house. Monday, July 16, 2007
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    Read Eve's biography.
    
    Learn about the house where Eve was a slave.
  - Marquis de Lafayette
    Portraying the Marquis de Lafayette, Colonial Williamsburg's Mark Schneider tells the story of the Frenchman who helped save the American Revolution. Monday, July 09, 2007
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    Read a Marquis de Lafayette bio.
  - The Declaration of Independence
    Hear the words that were catalyst to the Revolution, read by Bill Barker, Colonial Williamsburg's Thomas Jefferson. Monday, July 02, 2007
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    Download a new Declaration of Independence Screensaver.
    
    Learn more about the reasons for revolution.
  - Under the Redcoat
    The Revolutionary War wasn't always a winning proposition for the colonists, explains Tim Sutphin. "Under the Redcoat" recalls the British occupation of Williamsburg. Monday, June 25, 2007
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    Read about this special event.
    
    See a video clip.
  - The Art of the Cut
    Translating a man's measurements into suits for all seasons is the task of the skillful tailor, says apprentice Neal Hurst. Monday, June 18, 2007
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    Learn about the tailor's trade.
    
    Read "Tailor Made for History" from the autumn '05 journal.
  - Caring for the Mentally Ill
    Williamsburg's Public Hospital was the first facility for the treatment of the mentally ill in British North America. Monday, June 11, 2007
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    Read about the Public Hospital.
  - The Murder of George Wythe
    Colonial Williamsburg's Jim McDonald explains how a confluence of convenient circumstances protects the chief suspect. Monday, June 4, 2007
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    Learn more about George Wythe.
    
    Read about Lydia Broadnax's life.
  - Martha Washington Remembers
    This first lady devoted herself to her husband and his troops. Monday, May 28, 2007
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    Read more about the lives of George and Martha Washington.
  - Slavery and Manumission
    The little-known process of manumission was a means of securing freedom for a handful of Virginia slaves. Monday, May 21, 2007
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    Read and listen to the experiences of African Americans in Williamsburg.
  - Drummer's Call
    The noble tradition of the fifes and drums is celebrated May 18-20 during Drummer's Call. Monday, May 14, 2007
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    Learn more about Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums.
    
    Make plans to see Drummer's Call Weekend.
  - Historical Rivalry
    Despite its 14-year lead, many don't know that Jamestown was settled before Plymouth. James Axtell's article, "Historical Rivalry," explores the reasons why. Monday, May 7, 2007
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    Read Jim Axtell's "Historical Rivalry" from the Winter 2007 journal.
    
    Learn more about the upcoming 400th anniversary commemoration.
  - The Photo of a Lifetime
    Photographer and author Chiles Larson snapped an iconic picture of Queen Elizabeth II in 1957, which he hopes to make one of a pair during her 2007 visit to Jamestown. Monday, April 30, 2007
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    See a slideshow of images from the queen's 1957 visit.
    
    Learn more about the queen's May 2007 visit.
  - Jamestown Unearthed
    Portraying lesser-known historical figures gives Willie Balderson an opportunity to relate the experiences of the everyday man. Monday, April 23, 2007
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    Tune in for the Electronic Field Trip, "Jamestown Unearthed"
    
    Read "Jamestown Revisited" from the spring 2004 journal.
  - Chapters in the Soil
    Staff Archaeologist Meredith Poole explains how each layer of soil yields subtle clues. Monday, April 16, 2007
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    Read "Tailoring the Tenant House," from the winter 2002 Colonial Williamsburg Journal.
    
    Read about the Ravenscroft excavation.
  - Music Suited to a Lady
    Colonial ladies played instruments that showed their graceful features to the best advantage, and they never showed their elbows. Music Interpreter Jane Hanson explains. Monday, April 9, 2007
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    Learn how harpsichords are made in "Peter Redstone Builds a Barton Portable" from the spring '02 journal.
    
    Read about organist and jailer Peter Pelham.
  - Education for Citizenship, Part Two
    Citizen participation is as vital to democracy today as it was at the dawn of our nation, says Colonial Williamsburg Foundation President Colin Campbell.

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Colonial Williamsburg: Past & Present: Podcasts