Your Most Obedient & Humble Servant: A Women's History

Jemima Grey, Amabel Grey, and Mary Grey to Catherine Talbot, 15 November 1765 In which Jemima Grey and her two daughters, Bell who is 14 and Mouse who is 9, provide a very comical update about their life near Cambridge. Kathryn Gehred is joined by  Dr. Natasha Simonova , Gwyneth Emily Rankin Official Fellow and Lecturer in English at Exeter College, University of Oxford.   

Jannote Roustant to Jean Roustant, 1 July 1745 AND Johanna Fredericha Teller to Ambrosius Teller, 28 May 1798. In which two separate women deal with the fallout of their absent husbands. I'm thrilled to post this episode that I recorded last July with Dr. Lucas Haasis (@LHaasis) and Lisa Magnin, researchers with the Prize Papers Project. This is an incredible project that is going to be a great re...

Sarah Livingston Jay to Samuel Lyon, 14 Nov. 1794 In which the wife of a diplomat writes to a man about a horse, and things get REALLY messy, really fast. Many thanks to my wonderful guest, Robb Haberman, for talking about this letter with me! Further Reading: The letter: https://exhibitions.library.columbia.edu/exhibits/show/john_jay/item/12342 The Jay Papers Volumes on Rotunda: https://rotunda.u...

Mary Secutor to Eleazar Wheelock, 28 July 1768 In which a woman of the Narragansett tribe politely but firmly departs from Moor's Indian Charity School. Thank you so much to my guest, Dr. Ivy Schweitzer, professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College, for telling me about this fascinating letter and the wonderful Occom Circle project! Resources: The letter, Mary Secutor to Eleazer...

Eleanor Parke Custis (Lewis) to Elizabeth Bordley (Gibson), 14 May 1798 In which rumors are dispelled, patriotic songs are sung, and girls draw on large mustaches with burnt cork. Many thanks to returning guest Samantha Snyder for coming on the show to talk about this letter! Note: at the time of recording neither Samantha nor my book had come out yet. Now both of them have! Please do check them o...

Ellen Wayles Randolph to Martha Jefferson Randolph, 29 March 1819 In which Ellen Wayles Randolph passes quite a few judgments on some ladies in Richmond, and asks an old friend for a favor. My guest this week is the incomparable Danna Kelley, tour guide and house tour supervisor extraordinaire at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Further Reading: The Letter: https://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/1498 Al...

The Testimony of Anne Moody Part the last of Martha Washington's In-Laws! In which Anne Moody explains how she came to own so much silver plate with engravings of parrots. Also featuring: John Custis IV, and this time, he's REAL cranky. Further Reading: "an answer (incomplete) n.d., of Mrs. Anne Moody and Matthew Moody to a bill of complaint of Daniel Parke Custis in an unidentified court in Virgi...

Sarah Stewart to Dolley Madison, 5 July 1844 In which an enslaved woman who has been arrested (because Dolley Madison's son was in debt, and she and her community were held as collateral) writes to her enslaver. This week I am joined by Hilarie M. Hicks, Senior Research Historian at James Madison's Montpelier. Further Reading: Sarah Stewart to Dolley Payne Todd Madison, 5 July 1844, in The Dolley...

In which John Custis IV and Frances Parke make an attempt to live "peace quietly" together. Part IV of the Martha Washington's in laws series. References: A Marriage Agreement. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Jul., 1896, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Jul., 1896), pp. 64-66. John Custis: https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/custis-john-1678-1749/ Custis, John, and Josephine Little Zuppan. The...

Elizabeth Sharaf-un-Nisa to "Philo" In which a Mughal woman who co-habitated with and eventually married a white employee of the East India Company writes to her son about fat babies and beautiful black pigs. I am joined by Dr. Megan Robb, the Julie and Martin Franklin Assistant Professor of South Asian Religion at the University of Pennsylvania, who is creating a digital archive of Sharaf-un-Nisa...

John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough to Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough, 13 Aug. 1704 In which Daniel Parke meets his Tragical End. References: I used the ODNB for research but because of capitalism that's behind a paywall. So here's Abel Boyer's Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Boyer The Political state of Great Britain. London, Eng. : Printed for J. Baker and T....

Selina Powell to Rebecca Powell, 7 Jan. 1850 In which a modern day accountant finds more in common with a Virginia family from the Civil War than she might have expected. Alison Herring joins me this episode to discuss her work in transcribing and publishing the letters of the Powell family. We talk about reading parties, genealogy, kissing bees (way more fun than spelling bees, imo), and more! MO...

William Byrd II to Lucy Parke aka "Fidelia", ca. 1705-6. In which there are a lot of old timey fart jokes. This is the second part of the Martha Washington's In-Laws series, featuring a letter from Colonial Virginian slave-holder and satirical writer, William Byrd II. Heads up, this episode contains mentions of brutal treatment of enslaved people and sexual violence. The Letter: Byrd, William, Wil...

Martha Washington to Mercy Otis Warren, 26 December 1789 In which Martha Washington hits a very low point in her life, but tries to hide that fact from Mercy Otis Warren, a poet. historian, and satirist of Early America. I am joined by friend of the podcast Alexis Coe, the New York Times Bestselling Author of "You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George of Washington," now out in paperback,...

Martin Van Buren to Judith Rives, 1 April 1835 In which Martin Van Buren chides his friend Judith Rives about being a Mrs. Nobody, patriotism, abolitionism, and New York tactics. I am joined this week by my respected colleague and name twin, Kathryn Blizzard. We only reference Seinfeld twice. REFERENCES: Martin Van Buren: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Van-Buren The Martin Van Buren P...

Jane Ludwell Parke to Daniel Parke, July 12, 1705 In which Jane Ludwell Parke has HAD ENOUGH. This is the first part of what will be a multi-part series on Martha Washington's in-laws and the havoc they wreaked on Colonial Virginia. If you have a catchier name for this series, please submit it! Further Reading: The Text of this letter comes from: "Some New Aspects of the Life of Daniel Parke," by...

Rosalie Stier Calvert to Marie Louise Stier, Riversdale, March 2 1804. In which "Madame Bonaparte" (Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte) scandalizes Washington by showing up to a party pretty much undressed, by U.S. fashion standards. Thomas Law, of course, writes a dirty poem about it. Aaron Burr is also involved. Thank you SO MUCH to my amazing guest, Dr. Cassandra Good. Everyone buy and read her book...

Martha Jefferson Randolph to Septimia A. Randolph, 29 Jan. 1829 In which Priscilla Hemmings, an enslaved nurse-maid to Thomas Jefferson's white grandchildren, refuses to do what the white family wants her to do. I'm joined this week by the delighful Lora Cooper, the Continuing Education Coordinator at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Further Reading: The letter: https://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/24...

Elizabeth Lichtenstein Johnston to William Martin Johnston, January 15, 1784 In which an exiled wife of a British loyalist teases her husband for maybe not knowing how old his son is, tries to figure out what to do once Britain cedes Florida to the Spanish, and tries to avoid ending up in Jamaica. Kathryn is joined by her friend from graduate school Sian Leach, who used this letter along with hund...

Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton to Elizabeth Schuyler Church, 8 Nov. 1789 Shortly after her husband became the first Secretary of the Treasury, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton had to once again part from her beloved sister Angelica, who was returning to England after a short visit to the United States. Public historian Jessie Serfilippi joins Kathryn to discuss the now famous Schuyler sisters, their relat...

Abigail "Nabby" Adams to John Quincy Adams, 27 Nov. 1785 In which Nabby Adams describes the Chevalier D'Eon as "a singular figure, as well as an extrordinary Character." Much has been written about the legendary D'Eon, and in this episode Julia Ftacek, a scholar of transgender femininity in 18th century literature, and Kathryn, discuss what D'Eon's life tells us about gender roles both in the 18th...

PART 2 of Elizabeth Parke Custis Law to David Baillie Warden, 20 April, 1808. In which Kathryn and guest host Lizzy Thomas discuss 18th century gender roles, their respective emo phases, and whether Elizabeth Parke Custis Law was arrogant or confident. See previous episode notes for further reading!

Elizabeth Parke Custis Law to David Baillie Warden, 20 April, 1808. In which Elizabeth Parke Custis Law tells David Baillie Warden PRECISELY why she is no one to be toyed with. This is part 1 of a two part episode, because this letter was so long it took up the whole episode. In two weeks I will post the follow up conversation with me and my talented and knowledgeable guest, Lizzy Thomas. Further...

Elizabeth Willing Powel to John Hare Powel, 6-17 April 1809 In which Elizabeth Powel and her nephew bicker through letters over just how unreadable his handwriting is. She argues that "to your mother, it is algebra." Come for the familial banter, stay for the discussion of 18th century epistolary education! I am delighted to be joined this week by the ever lovely and intelligent Samantha Snyder, r...

Cornelia Jefferson Randolph to Virginia Jefferson Randolph Trist, 11 Aug. 1833 In which Thomas Jefferson's granddaughter Cornelia Jefferson Randolph describes the beating of an enslaved woman in the basement of their Washington, D.C. home. Further Reading: Read along with the text of this letter here: https://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/1241 They Were Her Property by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers: http...