Letter, Martha Washington to Elizabeth Powel, May 20, 1797

Martha Washington as Mistress of the Household

In this letter to her Philadelphia friend Elizabeth Powel, Martha Washington refers to her search for additional slaves to assist in the kitchen at Mount Vernon. It is notable especially for a paragraph alluding to the suspect trustworthiness of slaves. George Washington apparently drafted the letter which Martha then sent out with her own signature (image courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association).

Martha Washington

1797-05-20

eng

Benjamin Henry Latrobe, An Overseer Doing His Duty, pen, ink and watercolor sketch

Images of slavery

Benjamin Henry Latrobe was most famous as an architect, especially for his design for the new U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. He was also an accomplished artist. Soon after arriving in the U.S. from his native Britain in 1796, Latrobe spent several years in Virginia. This watercolor depicting slaves working under the eye of an overseer was “sketched from life near Fredericksburg, 13 March 1798” (image courtesy of the Maryland Historical Society).

Benjamin Henry Latrobe

1798

eng

1960-108-1-3-21

Letter, Martha Washington to Fanny Bassett Washington, May 24, 1795

Martha Washington, Fanny Bassett Washington

While George Washington served his second Presidental term in Philadelphia, Martha Washington’s niece Fanny lived at Mount Vernon and oversaw the household. This letter suggests that even when she was away from her home, Martha continued to play an important role in maintaining the household. It also suggests Martha’s attitude toward household slaves and toward African Americans.

Martha Washington

1795-05-24

eng