I had never heard of Paul Jennings until we encountered him on a Nerd Trip to Montpelier, home to our fourth president James Madison. Jennings was a slave who served as Madison’s personal assistant during the White House years and afterward. Jennings is a fascinating witness to history, writing the first White House memoir, called “A Colored Man’s Reminiscence of James Madison,” published in 1865. I bought a copy at the Montpelier gift shop.
Read More“Behold The Man,” that’s the phrase on this American folk art watercolor I discovered today at the Maryland Antiques Show. The painting shows George Washington with his arm extended in the style of the famous Gilbert Stuart painting.
Read MoreHappy Birthday to George Washington. The “Father of Our Country” was born February 22, 1732.
There are lots of places with connections to George Washington, so you know we’ve encountered him on a Nerd Trip or two!
Read More