Of the 56 individuals who signed the Declaration of Independence, only a handful are remembered. This podcast produced by Colonial Williamsburg tells the tale of one less illustrious signer: George Wythe. According to interviewer Harmony Hunter, "his is the story of a noble life, and one that ends with a surprising murder mystery." Listen as Hunter interviews Chris Hull—one of Colonial Williamsburg's many historic reenactors—to discover the story of this often overlooked historic figure.

From the Colonial Williamsburg: Past and Present Podcasts website—

"The manners of the parlor codify the feminine culture. Kristen Spivey keeps up appearances in The Polite Academy."

For a full transcript of this podcast, click here.

Interested listeners can also click here to read an excerpt from a book on Colonial manners.

Ever wondered about the state of 18th-century literature? Then this podcast produced by Colonial Williamsburg is perfect for you. Discover what reading, books, and printing were like during the colonial period.

From the Colonial Williamsburg: Past and Present Podcasts site—

"Doctors treating madness in 1773 embraced methods like bleeding, vomiting, restraint and intimidation. Interpreter Donna Wolf researched the topic for her program, 'A Method for Madness.'"

From the Colonial Williamsburg: Past and Present Podcasts site—

"The first combat submarine was invented as a vehicle to transport underwater bombs. Jerry Roberts of the Connecticut River Museum tells the story of an intrepid American inventor."

Interested listeners can also learn more about David Bushnell's American Turtle here.

From the Colonial Williamsburg: Past and Present Podcasts site—

"Edith Cumbo was a rare individual in colonial Virginia: a free African woman. Learn about her life and her stature in this interview with Emily James."

From Colonial Williamsburg: Past and Present Podcasts

"Williamsburg's most prestigious buildings start with humble clay. Brickmaker Jason Whitehead tells the story."

To learn more about the brick making trade, follow this link.

From Colonial Williamsburg: Past and Present Podcasts

"Wry humor softens the sharp wit of this quintessentially American founding father. Interpreter John Hamant talks about portraying Benjamin Franklin."

To learn more about this illustrious Founding Father, click here for a short biography.

From Colonial Williamsburg: Past and Present Podcasts

"Two gravestones are unearthed during a construction project. Historians and curators work to solve the mysteries below. Emily Williams tells their story."

To discover more about death and burials in colonial Virginia, check out this essay by Ivor Noël Hume.

From Colonial Williamsburg: Past and Present Podcasts

"Restoration presents a paradox when repairing old instruments could mean erasing their stories. Conservator John Watson walks the fine line."

Interested readers can also learn more about the material culture present at Colonial Williamsburg by exploring the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg website.