The Mother of Washington in Nineteenth-Century America

TO BE FEATURED IN A MOUNT VERNON BOOK TALK AND AUTHOR SIGNING ON OCTOBER 23,2025

In The Mother of Washington in Nineteenth-Century America, Kate Haulman explores how Mary Ball Washington, mother of George Washington, became a symbol of republican motherhood and national virtue. Tracing nineteenth-century memorials, literature, and public memory, Haulman shows how Americans used Mary’s story to shape ideas of motherhood, gender, and civic responsibility while linking maternal ideals to the nation’s founding. From President Cleveland’s 1894 dedication speech to the completion of her Fredericksburg monument, Haulman uncovers the evolving role of women in commemorating the Revolution, revealing how memory, politics, and identity intersected in the construction of America’s past—and continues to resonate 250 years later.

Details:

• Format: Hardcover
• Genre: History, American Revolution, Women’s Studies, Cultural Memory