Virginia History Podcast: Recent Episodes
Robert Van Ness
The Virginia History Podcast covers the rich history that has made the Commonwealth what it is today. Events covered during this podcast will include -
Colonial Era
American War for Independence
Pre-Civil War
Civil War
Reconstruction
Early Modern
Virginia During the World's Wars
Cold War Virginia
Contemporary Virginia
Along the way, I will blog, mostly small notes, resources, and pictures to supplement the history at www.vahistorypodcast.com
In which Governor Berkeley returns to Virginia and sets the Commonwealth on disastrous course.
In which the Alexandria Historical Society's Scott Vierick discusses the enduring legend of Poe's Alexandria visit.
In which we look at the Carters after Robert "King"Carter, including other Carter lines that bring us Country Music and the 39th President of the United States.
In which Robert "King" Carter's importance is illustrated, showing just how important the Carter family had become.
In which Dr. Alena Pirok discusses Ghost Stories' importance to Colonial Williamsburg and Virginia's history.
In which Dr. Alena Pirok discusses Ghost Stories' importance to Colonial Williamsburg and Virginia's history.
In which Katy Brown talks about the Barter Theatre's past, community involvment, and enduring legacy.
In which Jeremy Moss discusses his new book - Colonial Virginia's War Against Piracy: The Governor and the Buccaneer.
In which I interview Dr. Samuel Mitcham about his new book The Encyclopedia of Confederate Generals.
In which the Wormeley family is outlined from their earliest days as Norman Conquerors to their important time in Virginia.
In which I discuss the Armisteads and their important connections to Virginia's history.
In which the Nelson family of Virginia's founding and influence upon Virginia and the United States is discussed.
In which the Custis influence from the time of John Custis IV to George Washington Parke Custis is discussed.
In which the Custis family foundations up to John Custis IV of Williamsburg are discussed.
In which Evelyn Byrd's life is summarily illustrated, and stories about her ghost are told.
In which Dr. Phillip Magness explains much of the criticism levied at The New York Times' 1619 Project.
In which the Lafayette Trail's Julien Icher discusses Lafayette's 1824 tour of the United States, and his work to highlight that famous visit.
In which the Fitzhugh story, dating back to 13th Century England, is illustrated from those humble beginnings to William "The Immigrant", his Virginia progeny, and beyond.
In which Museum Director Bethany Sullivan highlights the James Madison Museum of Orange County, Virginia.
In which the Taliaferro family's immigration to Virginia, as well as their spread throughout Virginia and the United States touching many lives along the way is outlined.
In which Dr. Mallios discusses how gift giving played a pivotal part in Ajcan's downfall, as well as gift giving's influence at the later Roanoke and Jamestown colonies.
In which the Randolph's Virginia beginnings are detailed, and some of their fascinating later generations are highlighted.
In which Tuckahoe's Jessica Stith tells some of Tuckahoe Plantation's haunted history such as the famous Gray Lady Ghost and other spooky happenings.
In which historian Scott Dawson tells the "Lost Colony" story based upon primary sources and archaeological evidence found on Hatteras Island, NC.
In which a young Henry Corbin emigrates to Virginia and builds a strong family that profoundly touches Virginia's story is recounted.
In which Brent Tarter and I discuss the shaping of Modern Virginia as she emerged from the Civil War and into the 20th and 21st Centuries.
In which historian Brent Tarter and I discuss the 18th Century and events leading up to the Civil War.
In which I interview historian Brent Tarter for the first of three episodes in advance of his upcoming book Virginians and Their Histories.
In which historian Tony Williams and I discuss his book The Pox and the Covenant to learn about how Bostonians handled the serious 1721 Smallpox epidemic in comparison to today's current virus pandemic.
In which the Page family's 17th Century rise, 18th Century zenith, and 19th Century demise are recounted.
In which the Harrison Family's founding as well as their influence on Virginia and the United States is illustrated.
In which Lee family patriarch Richard I and wife Anne Constable's lives as well as the lives of many of their descendants are briefly illustrated.
In which a series outlining Virginia's "First Families" is begun by introducing the Bolling Family Line.
In which I had the pleasure of interviewing Cherles Berkeley, 27th generation owner of Berkeley Castle, and we discuss the Gloucestershire influence upon Berkeley Plantation and Virginia's history.
In which a few haunted tales from Virginia Beach's Thoroughgood House are retold from L.B. Taylor's The Ghosts of Tidewater.
In which Governor Berkeley challenges the Navigation Acts before The Council for Foreign Plantations and King Charles II's Privy Council, while the Virginia settler landscape evolves.
In which Thomas Mathews - portrayed by Historic Jamestowne's Willie Balderson - recalls the terrible events and aftermath of Bacon's Rebellion.
In which Sir William Berkeley and King Charles II return to power and begin organizing their lands under the renewed Stuart cause once again.
In which Dr. Warren Billings and I talk about Sir William Berkeley's importance on 17th Century Virginia's development.
In which fallout from the English Civil War is felt in Virginia and Maryland as both colonies endure changes under the English Protectorate.
In which I interview Dr. Ashley Spivey concerning Native Virginian history, culture, influence, as well as past, present, and future Native concerns.
In which events surrounding the English Civil War, Virginia religious freedom, and free trade are used by the Matthews-Claiborne faction to remove Governor Berkeley from office are detailed.
In which author, genealogist, and historian K.I. Knight discusses how the First Africans arrived in Virginia, what happened to them after 1619, and how slavery evolved during 17th Century Virginia.
In which continued English expansion beyond the James River brought the English into conflict with the Powhatan Tribes and to an extent themselves.
In which Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Historian Nancy Egloff and I discuss Tenacity an exhibition covering 17th Century Virginia Women.
In which archaeologist Lyle Browning discusses the history of Falling Creek Ironworks, as well as the archaeological work being done at Virginia and America's first ironworks.
In which Tony Williams and I discuss how economics impacted Virginia's development, which in turn still influences America's growth today.
In which Historic St. Luke's John Ericson discusses how religious wars impacted 17th Century Virginia's religious thought, and how that thought influenced the way America's Founding Fathers created religious freedom. This discussion is based upon Reverend Ericson's lecture "From Religious Wars to Religious Freedom."
In which Jon Kukla and I discuss 17th Century Virginia governmental and societal stability. This discussion is based off of Dr. Kukla's 1985 American Historical Review article "Order and Chaos in Early America: Political and Social Stability in Pre-Restoration Virginia", which challenged the then prevailing notion that 17th Century Virginia was chaotic and unstable.
In which issues surrounding the English Civil War begin affecting Governor Berkeley's Virginia.
In which I interview Graham Woodlief concerning the upcoming 400th Anniversary of the First Thanksgiving in Virginia.
In which I interview the Shades of Our Past re-enactors about Grace Sherwood - The Witch of Pungo.
In which the influence of Samuel Mathews, Sr. and William Claiborne is detailed more closely. Special attention is given to showing how their influence paved the way for Sir William Berkeley's timely arrival.
In which Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation's Nancy Egloff and I discuss the foundation of Virginia's House of Burgesses.
In which Sir John Harvey becomes Virginia's Governor, fights with his Council, especially the Mathews-Claiborne faction, and loses his wealth and position is recounted.
In which the Library of Virginia's Sandra Gioia Treadway tells us about 5 remarkable women - Cockacoeske, Anna Maria Lane, Elizabeth Van Lew, Caroline Putnam, and Mary Jackson, and how they impacted Virginia and beyond.
In which the fallout from Opechancanough's 1622 Massacre reaches England and brings the Virginia Company to her death.
In which I interview Robert Russa Moton Museum Education Director Cainan Townsend for American Evolution: Virginia to America 1619-2019. Cainan discusses how a group of African-American high school students led a 1951 protest which had a major influence on Brown vs. Board of Education and the Civil Rights movement that soon followed.
In which the events leading up to and of the infamous 1622 Opechancanough led massacre are narrated.
In which the disastrous political situation surrounding the Virginia Company of London and is brought to her demise is recounted.
In which the New World's first representative government, the House of Burgesses, is outlined.
In which the details of the First Thanksgiving, which took place in 1619 Virginia, is narrated.
In which the continued growth along the James River is outlined detailing the first ironworks, the first representative government, the first Thanksgiving, and other changes stemming from the newest plantations being founded in Virginia.
In which L.B. Taylor's Essay about Shirley Plantation's Haunted Aunt Pratt is read for this Halloween Special Podcast.
In which the Company realizes that they have no other choice but to offer land to investors, and that land is transformed into vibrant plantations.
In which details concerning Henricus being further fortified and Thomas Dale's shifting power up the James River in order to establish a series of plantations along the James River is recounted.
In which Thomas Dale tries to shape the colony, Rolfe's tobacco experiment, the growth of the James River Plantations, the Rolfes' travel to England, and Pocahontas dies are recounted.
In which a brief overview of Virginia's history leading to her contribution to Memorial Day is recounted.
In which Thomas Dale arrives, founds Henricus, fights Powhatan, is challenged by the Spanish, and asks for new settlers. The Virginia Company obliges, but has to use Bermuda to raise funds.
In which the Sea Venture survivors arrive, attempt to leave, and are turned back as Lord Delaware shows up, reorganizes the colony, joins a war, and returns to England.
In which the Sea Venture castaways settled into Bermuda, but a series of mutinies threatened to derail their escape plans. Perhaps they would have wished they would have remained on Devil's Isle after they reached Jamestown in May 1610.
In which the surviving 6 ships make it to Jamestown only to see chaos erupt and John Smith leave Virginia.
In which the third resupply mission sails away from England, endures 7 weeks of calm seas and disease before being tormented by a hurricane. The Sea Venture is then run aground at a frightening location.
In which Smith fights enemies in Virginia and England, endures, but the Virginia Company reforms itself, and thus legally ends Smith's control in Jamestown.
In which a ghost stories pertaining to Gloucester's Rosewell Plantation from LB Taylor Jr's Ghosts of Tidewater are read.
In which Smith and his men endure a winter storm plagued journey to Werowocomoco, dodge death at Powhatan's hands, and then confront Opechancanough in a deadly standoff.
In which the beginning of John Smith's Presidency, which is challenged by Christopher Newport's arrival, is narrated.
In which, Newport returns, saves John Smith again, meets Powhatan, and returns to England. Then Smith explores the Chesapeake Bay region on two missions before returning to Jamestown to take control of the struggling colony on September 10, 1608 is recounted.
In which details about John Smith's early life are recounted as a segue into his early attempts to save Jamestown from collapse. Along the way, Opechancanough, Powhatan, and Pocahontas are met.
In which Christopher Newport returns to courtly intrigue, while spy games threaten to undermine the Virginia venture. Meanwhile, harsh summer conditions plague the Jamestown colonists, death claims half of the men, and chaos rules supreme. The time is right for a brash upstart to take control.
In which Christopher Newport explores Powhatan lands along what the English would name the James River, Jamestown is attacked by an Indian alliance, and James Fort had to be built, all before Newport decided to sail back to England on June 22, 1607.
In which the two week period between First Landing at Cape Henry and the colonists choose Jamestown Island as their home is recounted.
In which events concerning the formation of the London Company and the 1607 voyage to Virginia are illustrated.
In which the White attempts to return to Roanoke, only to be plagued bycontinuing failure and anguish.
In which the Lost Colony adventure is detailed leading up to John White's initial departure from Roanoke in August 1587.
In which details surrounding the English 1585 colonization attempt, and the colony's disastrous conclusion are outlined.
In which Sir Walter Raleigh's early profile up to his Virginia colonization attempt is briefly illustrated.
In which Early English exploration attempts are (very) briefly recounted. Those attempts would greatly influence Sir Walter Raleigh, and the earliest Virginian settlements.
In which Virginia's History explodes into life through the events surrounding Don Luis and the Spanish Ajacan Mission.
The Virginia History Podcast covers the rich history that has made the Commonwealth what it is today. Events covered during this podcast will include -
Colonial Era
American War for Independence
Pre-Civil War
Civil War
Reconstruction
Early Modern
Virginia During the World's Wars
Cold War Virginia
Contemporary Virginia
Along the way, I will blog, mostly small notes, resources, and pictures to supplement the history at www.vahistorypodcast.com