Slavery at the Home of George Washington

George Washington BookShelf

by Philip J. Schwarz (Editor)

George Washington inherited his first slave at the age of eleven, and he was the only founding father to free his slaves in his will. This highly readable selection of articles focuses on Washington’s changing attitudes toward the institution of slavery and his everyday relationships with the slaves who shared his Mount Vernon estate. Along with his insightful introduction, editor Philip J. Schwarz has included James C. Rees’s essay "Looking Back, Moving The Changing Interpretation of Slave Life on the Mount Vernon Estate," Dennis J. Pogue’s essay "Slave Lifeways at Mount An Archaeological Perspective," and Lorena S. Walsh’s essay "Slavery and Agriculture at Mount Vernon," as well as essays by Jean B. Lee, Mary V. Thompson, and Edna Greene Medford.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

182 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2002

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the authors are fairly considered in their judgements, I think some parts would be phrased differently if written today. But it offers much useful and interesting information about slavery at Mount Vernon, and the final two chapters—about the descendents of the enslaved workforce and the salience of slavery during the estate's time as a tourist attraction—are very moving.

[Robert Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has several really enlightening articles about slavery at Mount Vernon, very clearly written and well-sourced. The material may be somewhat out of date in 2019, as it comes from a 1994 conference, but the research remains valid today.

[Rhiana Stygles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot from this book and learned a lot of things you don’t hear about in history class or other books even at mt Vernon itself. Definitely recommend to someone who like yo learn about slavery and George Washington.