In 1791, James Madison became friends with an unlikely companion, Italian sculptor Guiseppe Ceracchi (1751-1801) who moved to the new American capitol to carve a commemorative monument of the American Revolution. Madison, then a congressman from Virginia’s fifth district, lodged with Ceracchi at Mary House’s boardinghouse on the corner of Fifth and Market Streets. Madison described Ceracchi, whom he “knew well,” as “an artist celebrated by his genius.” Similarly, Ceracchi described Madison as having the “Eminent Genius to draw the plan of the present Costitution [sic].” After his initial meeting with Madison, Ceracchi wrote Thomas Jefferson that he was satisfied to confirm Madison’s merit, noting that he would “honor my chisel with cutting his bust.” Continue Reading…
Posted January 21, 2012 at 11:24 am. Add a comment
When Paul Jennings created his memoirs, he probably never imagined he would have an audience of millions. This is exactly what happened on last night’s episode of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” though. Former Montpelier Director of Education Elizabeth Dowling Taylor joined Stewart to discuss her new book “A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons.” You can watch the episode on “The Daily Show” website.
Taylor’s book details the fascinating life of Paul Jennings, who was born a slave at Montpelier, helped rescue George Washington’s portrait before the British burned the White House, and served as the enslaved manservant to James Madison. Talk about a witness to history!
Jennings was a history-maker, too. He eventually achieved his freedom through Senator Daniel Webster and worked in the U.S. Pension Office. He became a prominent, property-owning citizen in the newly-established nation’s capital. Finally, he authored the first White House memoirs: “A Colored Man’s Reminiscences of James Madison.”
Taylor will host her first lecture and book signing at Montpelier on February 1 at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Visit our website to learn more. We hope you will join us for this special event!
Posted January 5, 2012 at 5:41 pm. Add a comment
The archaeology department recently finished its field season in the South Yard and just began an analysis of all the artifacts recovered during the nine-month excavation season. The analysis of the household items recovered from the South Yard will be very important for our overall archaeological study of Montpelier’s enslaved community. Comparing the items different households owned between quarters in the house, field, and crafts complex will provide critical information on how each was able to take advantage of opportunities or in turn oppressed by plantation labor. Here is a brief glimpse of the range of artifacts we recovered this season.
Architectural Items
Combined with the architectural features we have found at the site we have found a range of architectural artifacts that provide important details on the structures present in the South Yard. From window sash hardware to door hinges and fasteners, these artifacts will be used to determine the appearance of the structures. The iron artifacts below have been conserved by staff archaeologists in the archaeology lab.
Iron Staple used for securing a door.
Iron strap hinge
Iron window sash weight
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Clothing Items
Some of the more personal items we found in the South Yard come from the clothing the enslaved residents owned, repaired and wore on a daily basis.
Brass Navy coat buttons
Brass hook and clasp used for securing clothing
Bone button recovered from South Yard
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Personal Items
Like clothing, personal items allowed individuals to express their personal identity. Therefore, clothing offers valuable insight into the lives of the people who lived and worked in the South Yard. These items include beads worn on clothing, jewelry, smoking pipes, and even marbles that represent childhood games.
Glass beads from South Yard
Clay tobacco pipe stem fragment.
Brass rowel for a spur
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Ceramic and Glass Sherds
Some of the most frequently found artifacts are fragile items which enter the archaeological record when they are broken rather than lost. These items offer a greater challenge for analysis as not only do these to be washed but also mended. These include ceramics for both the table and teawares, bottles, and other items we need to mend back together to restore the ceramic and glass items back to their original form.
Chinese Export Porcelain fragment
Glass pharmeceutical bottle base
Hand painted teaware (bowl-Straffordshire England)
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If you are interested in taking part in this process of restoration, look into taking part in this year’s ceramic work shop.
To see more artifacts we have recovered from our previous work in the South Yard see the following post.
Posted January 4, 2012 at 4:55 pm. Add a comment
Christmas day has come and gone at Montpelier and like Christmas, New Year’s Day gave the Madisons and their contemporaries an opportunity to send holiday greetings to family and friends along with wishes for a prosperous and healthy year to come. Continue Reading…
Posted January 1, 2012 at 6:50 pm. Add a comment
As we count down the final days of 2011, we want to thank you for your support and wish you a happy holiday season! Your support made the “Twelve Days of Montpelier” possible.
Christmas at Montpelier
Twelve Archaeology Expeditions
This year, 98 volunteers in twelve Archaeology Expeditions helped unearth historic treasures at Montpelier.
Eleven Dolley Madison Costumes
In June, Montpelier unveiled a new exhibit that showcases eleven costumes from the PBS documentary “Dolley Madison: America’s First Lady.” The exhibit will be open until April 2012. Continue Reading…
Posted December 25, 2011 at 2:59 pm. Add a comment
During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Christmas was primarily celebrated through fellowship, festive entertainment, visits to neighbors and family, and holiday tidings sent to friends and loved ones. While there is no evidence to suggest that holiday decorations were placed in the interior or the exterior of Montpelier during the Madisons’ time, James and Dolley had other Christmas traditions.
Continue Reading…
Posted December 21, 2011 at 4:10 pm. Add a comment
Completed excavations of the South Yard slave quarters--December 2011 (click on image for larger view).
This week we are putting the South Yard to bed for the winter after a long and productive season. We opened up an area 85′x45′ (approximately 180 5ft. x 5ft. units) and completely exposed two house areas in the South Yard. The South Yard is the site for the homes and work areas for the Madisons’ house slaves. The two homes we excavated were part of a six-building complex within the formal grounds of the mansion. These structures were built in the 1810s and removed in the late 1840s by owners subsequent to the Madisons.
The most exciting part of this year’s excavations has been the incredible preservation regarding the position of the structures in the South Yard and the form these structures took. Excavating two homes during the same season has allowed for comparative analysis between the two structures. Despite the chimney base and foundations being built of completely different materials (one brick and the other stone) the correspondence between structure size (16′x32′), alignment and size of chimney bases, presence of window glass, and both having evidence for raised wooden floors inspires us to confidently state the structures were similar in appearance. It is the chimneys, however, that provide some of the best evidence for the appearance of the structures.
Each structure contained a masonry chimney as opposed to a stick-and-mud chimney, like those we saw in the Stable Quarter last summer. In the 18th and early-19th century, having a masonry chimney reflected one’s status. In order to build a brick or stone chimney, a person would need enough resources to hire a mason and arrange for the processing of raw materials—bricks would need to be manufactured, stone quarried, and mortar produced. Such resources and time spent in labor would not be available to the enslaved community. For this reason, the most common form of architecture for slave quarters was a log structure that featured a stick-and-mud chimney. Continue Reading…
Posted December 7, 2011 at 6:10 pm. 3 comments
‘Tis the season for holiday traditions: decorating, baking, caroling and shopping are underway across the country. As we prepare for ”A Christmas Evening at Montpelier,” we’re also decking the halls with modern and Madison-era works of art to show our guests.
A Gingerbread Montpelier!
Beginning today, our visitors will see original works by the Firnew Farm Artists’ Circle. The pieces are charming depictions of Montpelier in its early days and present day landscapes of the grounds. There is even a Montpelier Gingerbread house! The Firnew Farm Artists’ Circle works will be available for viewing and sale through December 18 at the Visitor Center.
Also, Montpelier recently installed a variety of historic Montpelier depictions in the Grills Gallery. Entry to all exhibits is free with paid admission to Montpelier.
Posted December 2, 2011 at 6:28 pm. 1 comment
The Joe and Marge Grills Gallery is now showcasing a series a of historical images, objects, and artwork depicting the Montpelier estate. The exhibit is comprised of works from the early nineteenth to late twentieth centuries, and includes Anna Maria Brodeau Thornton’s 1802 watercolor, View of Montpelier.
Anna Maria Brodeau Thornton, View of Montpelier, United States, early nineteenth century, watercolor on wove paper, Montpelier Foundation, 2011.4.1.
The work, commonly known as the Thornton Watercolor, is significant as the earliest extant depiction of Montpelier prior to the addition of the wings ca. 1808-1812. Other items on display include an early sketch of Madison’s temple, architectural drawings, and embroidered textiles. The Grills Gallery is open to Montpelier visitors during regular business hours.
Posted December 1, 2011 at 4:30 pm. 5 comments
Mr. Marion Broglie, a long-time participant in the Center for the Constitution’s seminars for teachers recently took a few moments to share his thoughts on his experiences. Mr. Broglie is an eighth grade civics teacher at Lynnhaven Middle School in Virginia Beach, Va.
I often ponder my good fortune of being a social studies teacher in the Commonwealth of Virginia. With countless historic sites within a day trip of where I teach in Virginia Beach, I am awash in the history of our nation. To be honest, it’s often overwhelming and I never feel that I fully utilize the great resources that are so close at hand. But one of those resources is a must-see for any of my fellow social studies teachers.
James Madison may not be given his full due as one of our Founding Fathers, even though he was the father of our Constitution, a document that now serves as the world’s longest-serving experiment in creating a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” But the Center for the Constitution at James Madison’s Montpelier is working to restore James Madison’s legacy of self-government through its plethora of resources and professional development opportunities.
Since its creation almost a decade ago, I have probably taken part in as many seminars and trainings sponsored by the Center as anyone. And yet, I truly feel that I have barely scratched the surface of the opportunities afforded me by the Center’s programs. For instance, as I write this in November 2011, I am lamenting the fact that I missed two events at Montpelier in just the last month that I dearly wanted to attend.
Continue Reading…
Posted December 1, 2011 at 11:44 am. Add a comment
