Jensen, Merrill, John P. Kaminiski, and Gaspare J. Saladino, eds. Madison, WI: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1976.

From Olney Winsor to Mrs. Olney Winsor: “…we…arrived at Mount Vernon about one—where we were received by the General & his family with great freedom and politeness, at the same time without any ceremonious parade….Mrs. Washington is an elegant figure for a person of her years, perhaps 45 [she was actually almost 57].—she is rather fleshy, of good complexion, has a large portly double chin, and an open & engageing [sic] Countenance, on which a pleasing smile sets during Conversation, in which she bears an agreeable part.-…She was dressed in a plain black Sattin [sic] gown, with long Sleves [sic], figured Lawn Apron & Handkf, guaze [sic] french [sic] night Cap with black bowes [sic]—all very neat—but not guady [sic]—.” (523)

Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, and James L. Whitehead, ed. The Autobiography of Peter Stephen Du Ponceau. Philadelphia: Offprint from the Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography, April, 1939, through April, 1940.

“[November 1780]…We parted with General Greene somewhere in the State of Delaware and pursued our route to Richmond in Virginia. On our way the Baron paid a visit to Mrs. Washington at Mount Vernon; we were most cordially received and invited to dinner….The Baron having accepted the invitation we sat down to dinner. Mrs. Washington was accompanied by a young lady, a relative, whose name, I think, was Miss Custis. The table was abundantly served, but without profusion….After dinner was over, while the Baron and Major Walker in company with the young lady were viewing the grounds I had the honour of sitting in the parlour tete-a-tete with Mrs. Washington. I shall never forget the affability, and, at the same time, the dignity of her demeanour. Our conversation was on general subjects. I can only remember the impression it left upon my mind; she reminded me of the Roman matrons of whom I had read so much, and I thought that she well deserved to be the companion and friend of the greatest man of the age.”

Tawa, Nicholas E. "Secular Music in the Late-Eighteenth Century American Home," Musical Quarterly, 61 4 (October, 1975): 511-527.

Britt, Judith S. Nothing More Agreeable: Music in George Washington's Family." Mount Vernon, Va.: Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, 1984.

Vail, R.W.G., ed. "A Dinner at Mount Vernon: From the Unpublished Journal of Joshua Brookes (1773-1859)." New York Historical Society Quarterly April, 1947: 72-85.

From John Pintard's Journal (1759-1844). Excerpted in R.W.G. Vail, "Two early visitors to Mount Vernon" (Oct 1958 349-365).

“[Friday, 7/31/1801] Mr. Allyn & myself were received very friendly by Mrs. [Martha] Washington who bears her age remarkably well. She converses without reserve & [with] seeming pleasure on every subject that recalls the memory & virtues of her august consort….A miniature drawn last winter or spring by a Mr. Robert Field, now in Washington, of Mrs. W., is a striking likeness. She is drawn to please her grand children [sic] in the usual long laced cap & neckkershief [sic], that they may see her as she affected it in her every day [sic] face….Mrs W. was very attentive at table. I sat between her & Mrs. [Nelly Custis] Lewis who was very chatty. The conversation was quite free easy & familiar. At ½ past 4 took leave of Mrs. W. & returned the same evening to the city [of Washington].” (350, 352-353)

From R.W.G. Vail, ed. "A Dinner at Mount Vernon: From the Unpublished Journal of Joshua Brookes (1773-1859): “[2/4/1799]…About half past two the General returned….He sat about five minutes, said little. He mentioned he went to change his dress, prior to which he introduced Mrs. Washington [who was] dressed in a Mazareen blue satin gown with three belts over her handkerchief across the body, about five feet high, rather lusty than spare, of respectable appearance, cheerful, about 70 years of age, mildness and affability depicted in her countenance. [She] enquired for news, said she was no politician but liked to read the newspapers, wore a loose cap, hair combed straight, grey locks, sat about half an hour when she went out….Of the whole, Mrs. Washington and Miss Custis pleased me most, especially the former. Her affability, free manner and mild, placid countenance brought vividly to my mind my dear mother and I thought I saw in both resignation to God with the pure spirit of religion, humility, meekness, etc….In a small parlor in front [were]…[oil portraits of] George Washington and Mrs. Washington taken 30 or 35 years [the Virginia Colonel portrait of GW by Charles Willson Peale and the Wollaston of Mrs. Wsahington] before in his English uniform. He has a bluff, Prussian appearance. Mrs. Washington looks very handsome. There is one done lately of George Washington and Mrs. Washington, excellent likenesses [the Sharples portraits?], and an admirable portrait of Miss Custis….We were much pleased with Mrs. Washington who sat about half an hour with us….” (74-75, 78-80)

From Thomas Jefferson's conversation with Joshua Brooks, Monticello, 8/10/1799: “Mrs. Washington is a rather weak woman. It is singular that she was incapable of being injured by flattery, for she received more of it from the ladies of Philadelphia than ever any woman had before, but it did not affect her. I attribute this to the goodness of her heart, not to the strength of her mind. No woman could be more idolized or have more incense paid her than she had, yet she had not the least degree of pride or affectation….George Washington is a hard master, very severe, a hard husband, a hard father, a hard governor….A man from New England called one time on George Washington when President and, [while] going up stairs, he met Mrs. Washington. The man asked her: ‘Is His Majesty at home?’, [to which she replied:] ‘Sir, Is His Majesty at home! Mr. Washington is at home, Sir!’” (81-82)

Ribblett, David L. Nelly Custis: Child of Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon, Va.: Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, 1993.

Heintze, James R. "Music of the Washington Family: A Little-Known Collection." Musical Quarterly, 56 2 (April, 1970): 288-293.

Marshall, Ann Parks. Martha Washington's Rules for Cooking Used Everyday at Mt. Vernon. Washington, D.C.: Ransdell Incorporated, 1931.

Kross, Jessica. "Mansions, Men, Women, and the Creation of Multiple Publics in Eighteenth-Century British North America." Journal of Social History, 33 2 (Winter 1999): 385-408.

DeButts, Mary Custis Lee, ed. Growing Up in the 1850s: The Journal of Agnes Lee. Chapel Hill: Published for the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association by the University of North Carolina Press, 1984.

Sunday, 3/23/1856

“[Sunday, 3/23/1856] I had forgotten that during the time my journal was discontinued, dear old Mammy died about seventy-eight years old. One morning before Christmas, when Sister went to carry her julip she was cold & lifeless, but O I trust her spirit is in Heaven. She was as faithful as could be. How I missed her Christmas. When we paid the servants our usual visits there was one pair of steep steps up which I had no cause to go. She is the last but two of the Mt. Vernon servants. What tales she could tell of “those good old times” of Mrs. Washington’s beauty & good management. How “she was one of the out-door gals & would run to open the gate for the Gen.” And when my beautiful Aunt Lewis was married “how ole Mistis let all the servants come in to see it & gave them such good things to eat,” “how Ole Mistis was dressed so splendid, in a light flowered satin your Aunt Lewis all in something white, beautiful too.” But though a celebrated beauty she did not come up to “Ole Mistis” in Mammy’s eyes! she [sic] could not see why so much fuss was made over “the genl, he was only a man!”, a very good master she was sure, but she didn’t suppose he was so much better than anyone else.” O those nice talks! we [sic] won’t have any more….”