The Washington Library's Digital Book Talk series features LIVE conversations with leading historians and scholars of early America.
Approximately one week before each lecture, YouTube links will be posted to this page for free events. You can also join us live on Facebook and Twitter. All times are shown in Eastern Time.
Past Talks
Sandra Moats
Sandra Moats’ new book describes how George Washington and his cabinet formulated policies to enforce neutrality across all three branches of the government and around the globe. This neutrality helped to build a U.S. government capable of supporting its global aspirations.
Andrew Roberts
Andrew Roberts will discuss his new book The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III.
Carolyn Eastman
Dr. Carolyn Eastman will discuss her new book The Strange Genius of Mr. O: The World of the United States' First Forgotten Celebrity.
George Washington and the Age of Discovery
The 2021 USC George Washington Leadership Lecture will feature NASA’s Chief Scientist, Dr. James Green, in a discussion that will parallel George Washington’s age of exploration and discovery with our own time.
Civic Education in America: Origins, Aspirations, Challenges
This year’s exciting program will explore why civic education was so important to America's Founding generation and what we are learning in the twenty-first century about how we should prepare students for a lifetime of citizenship.
Julie Flavell
Join Mount Vernon for a virtual Ford Evening Book Talk with Dr. Julie Flavell. We will discuss her new book The Howe Dynasty: The Untold Story of a Military Family and the Women Behind Britain's Wars for America.
Christopher Pearl
Mount Vernon welcomes author Christopher Pearl to the Smith Auditorium to discuss his new book Conceived in Crisis: The Revolutionary Creation of an American State.
Public Memory and Oral History
Join historian Annette Gordon-Reed as she leads a panel discussion about the importance of oral histories in understanding how individuals and communities experienced the forces of history. The panel will include Andrew Davenport, Justin Reid, and Alan Rice.
Public Programming and Interpreting Slavery in the Founding Era
Join Dr. Márcia Balisciano, Brandon Dillard, and Brenda Parker as they discuss how their three institutions contextualize and interpret Slavery in the Founding Era.
Historic Sites Interpreting Slavery
Dr. Laura Sandy will lead a discussion about interpreting slavery at historic sites on both sides of the Atlantic. The panel will feature Dr. Christo Kefalas, Dr. Antoinette T. Jackson, and Jean-Francis Manicom,
Capitalism and Slavery
Join Dr. Stephen Mullen, Dr. Stephanie Jones-Rogers, Dr. Ronald Bailey, and Dr. Andrew O'Shaughnessy (moderator) as they discuss the connections between slavery and global economic development.
Constitutions and Slavery
Dr. Kevin Butterfield will moderate a discussion about constitutions and slavery in a transatlantic setting. This panel will feature Dr. David Waldstreicher, Dr. Robert J. Cottrol, and Dr. Padraic X. Scanlan.
Transatlantic Abolition and Law
Dr. Miranda Kaufmann will lead a panel discussion on how the law and abolition affected the lives of enslaved people on both sides of the Atlantic. Joining her to discuss this topic are Dr. John Cairns, Dr. Vincent Brown, and Dr. Manisha Sinha.
Religion and the American Revolution: A Conversation with Katherine Carté
Dr. Katherine Carté will discuss her new book Religion and the American Revolution: An Imperial History.
David O. Stewart
Mount Vernon welcomes author David O. Stewart to the Ford Orientation Center's Smith Theater to discuss his book George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father.
Honoring Lady Washington, Character Interpretation at Historic Sites
The Annual Martha Washington Lecture pays special tribute to the groundbreaking career of Mary Wiseman. She will be joined by Beth Kelly of Colonial Williamsburg and Christy Coleman of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
Lorri Glover
During this Ford Evening Book Talk Dr. Lorri Glover will discuss her new book, Eliza Lucas Pinckney: An Independent Woman in the Age of Revolution.
Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
Honorée Fanonne Jeffers will discuss her recent book, The Age of Phillis.
Peter Cozzens
Peter Cozzens will explore his latest book, Tecumseh and the Prophet: The Shawnee Brothers Who Defied a Nation.
Patrick O'Donnell
During this Ford Evening Book Talk Patrick O'Donnell will discuss his new book, The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Marines Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware.
Stephen H. Browne
Join Mount Vernon for a digital Ford Evening Book Talk with Dr. Stephen H. Browne to discuss his new book, The First Inauguration: George Washington and the Invention of the Republic.
Michael Hattem
Dr. Michael D. Hattem will discuss his book, Past and Prologue: Politics and Memory in the American Revolution.
David Head
Dr. David Head will explore his new book, A Crisis of Peace: George Washington, the Newburgh Conspiracy, and the Fate of the American Revolution, which was a finalist for the 2020 George Washington Prize.
The Final Founder
Join the Washington Library, the John Marshall Center for Constitutional History & Civics, and Preservation Virginia's John Marshall House for a virtual talk with Robert Strauss about his new book, John Marshall: The Final Founder.
Tamika Nunley
Dr. Tamika Y. Nunley will discuss her new book, At the Threshold of Liberty: Women, Slavery, and Shifting Identities in Washington, D.C.
Marcus Nevius
Marcus P. Nevius will discuss his latest book, City of Refuge: Slavery and Petit Marronage in the Great Dismal Swamp, 1763-1856.
Elaine A. Peña
We will discuss Elaine A. Peña's new book, ¡Viva George! Celebrating Washington's Birthday at the US-Mexico Border.
Donald Johnson
Donald F. Johnson will explore his new book Occupied America: British Military Rule and the Experience of Revolution.
Nathaniel Green
Nathaniel C. Green will discuss his new book, The Man of the People: Political Dissent and the Making of the American Presidency.
2020 Digital Talks Archive
You can explore the dozens of virtual talks the Washington Library produced in 2020.