Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown are proud to host the Talking History Programs, which offers public lectures and first-person performances that link storylines found in the museums’ exhibition galleries and share how these vast moments in America’s past influenced its progression to the present.

Genealogy in Early America; or Why George Washington Was a Genealogist and You Are, Too

September 5 • 2 p.m. • American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

Join us as historian and author Karin Wulf, Ph.D. speaks on "Genealogy in Early America; or, Why George Washington Was a Genealogist and You Are, Too" based on her new book, "Lineage: Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America."

Genealogy is everywhere – online, on screens, and through organizations and conferences and more. Technologies aside, genealogy was everywhere in the 18th century, too. We may think of genealogy as a hobby, but every single Founding Father was a genealogist. While we may think of 18th-century Americans as largely the subject of genealogy research, they were active participants in what was a foundational interest and practice in their own time. Family histories were deeply meaningful for diverse early Americans, baked into the society through law, politics and religion.

This program is included with general admission.

Karin Wulf

Karin Wulf, Ph.D. is the director and librarian of the John Carter Brown Library and Professor of History at Brown University. A historian of early America focused on gender, family and politics, she writes widely for both public and academic audiences about history, the worlds of research and scholarship, and libraries and archives. She serves on a variety of non-profit boards and is a vice-president of the American Historical Association. Wulf is among the academic advisors in the VA250 Signature Exhibition, "Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation," on display at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. 

You might like...

Videos of past presentations may be made available to view online following recorded programs – based on prior approval from individual guest lecturers. Learn more about past lectures.

Commemorating America's 250th Anniversary

The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an educational agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and commemorative partner of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, is presenting exhibitions and events to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. Learn how you can join in the celebration.

About the Museums

Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days. Jamestown Settlement is located on State Route 31 near the Colonial Parkway in James City County, just southwest of Williamsburg and adjacent to Historic Jamestowne. The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown is located on Route 1020 in Yorktown, near Yorktown Battlefield and Historic Yorktown.

The museums allow visitors of all ages to enjoy extensive indoor gallery exhibits and outdoor living-history areas to connect with the stories of our shared history. Admission tickets can be purchased online or in person. Plan your visit today or call (757) 253-4838 for more information.