America's First Ladies

We wrap up the life of Dolley Madison this week with a quick jaunt through the 1830s and 1840s. There are plenty of fun anecdotes in this episode! See the earliest known photo of a First Lady (technically a daguerrotype) and find the transcript at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-14/ Music by Matt Dull You can stream Matt's latest musical work by searching for his stage name "Austin Matthe...

After 16 years of service to the government, Dolley and James finally get to leave Washington and retire to Montpelier for good. Portraits and transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-13/ Music by Matt Dull The book I mention toward the end of this episode, Madison's Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention by Mary Sarah Bilder, can be found here .

We finally wrap up the War of 1812 this week, but not without plenty of drama. Note: at one point, I say that James sent instructions to the peace commissioners on October 4, 1815, but I meant to say 1814. By October 1815, the war was long over. Sometimes it's hard to keep track of all these dates! Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-12/ Music by Matt Dull

This week we cover two more years of war, 1813 and 1814, including the dramatic burning of Washington and the President's House in August 1814. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-11/ Music by Matt Dull

This week we finally get to the War of 1812! Also, Dolley's sister gets married in the first-ever White House wedding (even though we're still not calling it the White House). And James Madison wins reelection.  Transcript and further reading available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-10/ Music by Matt Dull

This week we cover the early part of James's first term as President, including Dolley's work redecorating the President's House and throwing parties left and right.  Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-9/ Music by Matt Dull

This week we cover James's second term as Secretary of State, the election of 1808, and more background on the run-up to the War of 1812. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-8/ Music by Matt Dull

This week we learn more about Dolley's role as Jefferson's presidential hostess, and cover a couple of important events that took place during Jefferson's first term; namely, the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis & Clark expedition. Maps, portraits, and transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-7/ Music by Matt Dull

This week we cover the four short years that the Madisons spent at Montpelier before James was dragged back into government service, and we get our first look at Dolley's new role as presidential hostess. Transcript and links available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-6/ Music by Matt Dull Link to S.193 Link to H.R. 630

After taking a brisk review of the ratification of the new U.S. Constitution, we finally get Dolley and James together this week, covering their courtship, wedding, and early years of marriage in Philadelphia. Transcript and portaits available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-5/ Music by Matt Dull

This week we do a deep dive into the Constitutional Convention - think of it as getting to see how the sausage is made, with the sausage being the legal document that still rules our lives today. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-4/ Music by Matt Dull

This week we hit pause on Dolley Madison to focus on young James Madison as he develops into the statesman who will eventually play such a large role in creating the U.S. Constitution. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-3/ Music by Matt Dull

This week we'll learn about Dolley's teenage years in Philadelphia, her first marriage to John Todd, Jr., and the aftermath of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-2/ Music by Matt Dull

Welcome to Season 4! We're covering Dolley and James Madison this season, and today we cover Dolley's family history and early life in North Carolina and Virginia. List of reference books available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-4/ Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-4-1/ Music by Matt Dull

Part 2 of our supplemental series on the Constitution. There were too many amendments to put them in the same episode as the main body of the document. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-3-supplemental-b/ Music by Matthew Dull

The one where I read the Constitution of the United States of America to you. If nothing else, you can listen to it when you can't sleep! Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-3-supplemental-a/ Music by Matthew Dull

This week we wrap up Martha Patsy Jefferson Randolph with a gallop through the final 18 years of her life. Transcript and the final portrait painted of Martha available at  americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-7/ Music by Matthew Dull

This week we cover Thomas Jefferson's presidency and Patsy/Martha's admittedly minor role in it. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-6/ Music by Matthew Dull

This week, the Jefferson family returns to America, and Patsy almost immediately decides to marry and start having children. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-5/ Music by Matthew Dull

This week we travel from Philadelphia to Boston, and then on to Paris. Thomas and Patsy spent about five years in Paris, leaving just as the French Revolution was getting underway in 1789. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-4/  Music by Matthew Dull 

We'll make it to the end of the Revolutionary War this week, but Patty Jefferson doesn't live to see the end. Thomas Jefferson serves two terms as Virginia governor during the war, and the Jefferson family has to evade the British army after they invade Virginia. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-3/  Music by Matthew Dull

This week we cover the majority of Patty and Thomas Jefferson's marriage, which happens to overlap with some signficant moments in the American Revolution, including the Declaration of Independence, which Thomas Jefferson wrote. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-2/ Music by Matthew Dull

We kick off season 3 with background information on Martha "Patty" Wayles and her future second husband, Thomas Jefferson. Transcript and background materials available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-3-1/  Links to the books I used this season and some photos of the two Marthas at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-3/ Music by Matthew Dull

Before we kick off season 3, I want to read you the Declaration of Independence, which Thomas Jefferson wrote, and John Adams played such a large role in getting approved by Congress. I'm willing to bet you've never read it in full, so it's worth a listen! Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-2-supplemental/ Music by Matthew Dull

We wrap up Abigail Adams's season with the final year of her husband's presidency and the years they spent post-presidency, finally getting to enjoy a private retirement. Programming note: we'll take a couple of weeks off to let listeners catch up. New episodes will resume on January 16, 2026. Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/episode-2-13/ Links to books for Season 2 americas...