February 14, 2015 - Members Meeting
Guest Speaker - Special presentation by Dee Collier portraying Martha Washington.
Dee Collier, a former elementary school teacher, who loves drama and history. The combination of those skills and interests meld perfectly for her presentations. She believes strongly that people of all ages need to know about the incredible lives that have changed the world. She was in Character for our February General Meeting as Martha Washington.
Dee Collier, a former elementary school teacher, who loves drama and history. The combination of those skills and interests meld perfectly for her presentations. She believes strongly that people of all ages need to know about the incredible lives that have changed the world. She was in Character for our February General Meeting as Martha Washington.
Left click on picture to enlarge
L - R: Dee Collier, portraying Martha Washington, receives a Certificate of Appreciation and a booklet with the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence from 1st Vice-President Clyde Elza Johnson. Ms. Collier gave a presentation on the life of Martha Washington during her years with General George Washington during the American Revolution.
MARTHA WASHINGTON
Martha Washington: Who was she really? Martha was known to her friends and family as “Patsy”. And of course we know she was the first of our 1st ladies of the United States. Was she as stodgy and frumpy as her pictures appear? Or was she a force to be reckoned with, way beyond her years?
At this meeting we listened in on some of her most private thoughts as she (Dee Collier as Martha) corresponds with a close friend whose family was loyal to the British throne and moved back to England before the Revolutionary War.
After the Washington's returned to Mount Vernon, their granddaughter, Nelly, married George’s nephew, Lawrence Lewis. Nelly’s first child, Frances Parke Lewis, was born at Mount Vernon. Less than three weeks later, George Washington died, December 14, 1799, after suffering a severe throat infection.
Martha Washington lived until May 22, 1802. George had freed half the slaves of Mount Vernon, and Martha freed the rest before her death. Martha Washington is buried with her husband in a tomb at Mount Vernon
George Washington Parke Custis’ daughter, Mary Custis Lee, married Robert E. Lee. A part of the Custis estate which had passed through George Washington Parke Custis to his son-in-law was confiscated by the federal government during the Civil War, though the United States Supreme Court eventually found that the government had to reimburse the family. That plot of land is now Arlington National Cemetery.
In 1901, Martha Washington became the first woman whose image was depicted on a US postage stamp.
At this meeting we listened in on some of her most private thoughts as she (Dee Collier as Martha) corresponds with a close friend whose family was loyal to the British throne and moved back to England before the Revolutionary War.
After the Washington's returned to Mount Vernon, their granddaughter, Nelly, married George’s nephew, Lawrence Lewis. Nelly’s first child, Frances Parke Lewis, was born at Mount Vernon. Less than three weeks later, George Washington died, December 14, 1799, after suffering a severe throat infection.
Martha Washington lived until May 22, 1802. George had freed half the slaves of Mount Vernon, and Martha freed the rest before her death. Martha Washington is buried with her husband in a tomb at Mount Vernon
George Washington Parke Custis’ daughter, Mary Custis Lee, married Robert E. Lee. A part of the Custis estate which had passed through George Washington Parke Custis to his son-in-law was confiscated by the federal government during the Civil War, though the United States Supreme Court eventually found that the government had to reimburse the family. That plot of land is now Arlington National Cemetery.
In 1901, Martha Washington became the first woman whose image was depicted on a US postage stamp.
Members Meetings 2015