Shownotes Episode 5: Dolley Payne Madison

Shownotes Episode 5: Dolley Payne Madison

Get out your best china and polish that silver! Don a feathered turban, and settle in for a chat about a woman who was not only one of the greatest hostesses in the history of party throwing,  but  a woman who was an extraordinary networker, before networking was cool. Not just another first lady…the first, First Lady.

In this episode we shine the spotlight on a woman who lived in one, Dolley Payne Todd Madison.

Dolley after shedding her Quaker garb

Dolley Payne was not born of high society, but into a simple Quaker family in North Carolina in 1768. Dolley- her given name- true!- was the third of eight children born to John and Mary Payne. The family moved when Dolley was young, first to Virginia and then to Philadelphia.

This tall, dark haired, blue eyed beauty married a Quaker lawyer, John Todd when she was 21. The couple had two sons. Tragically, John and the youngest son ( who was only 3 months at the time) died of yellow fever when Dolley is 25. This event unleashes the rest of her life that plays out like a classy, well mannered, dynamic  soap opera!

<em> <strong>(Click here for more fabulous shownotes!)</strong> </em>!

Minicast Shownotes: Abigail Adams-Feminist?

At the end of our full episode about Abigail Adams, we decided to leave talking about her legacy as a feminist for a mini-cast. We are going to be honest here– our goal is to get YOU to think about it and come to your own conclusions. Sometimes history is about the facts- history as science– but a lot of the time it is about the lens through which we look at the facts. This is one of those times.

This mini-cast contains a discussion where we view her legacy through our lenses.

<em> <strong>(Click here for more fabulous shownotes!)</strong> </em>!

Episode 4: Abigail Adams


Dearest  Friends,

Greetings from this side of the page and mic.

The woman that we discuss in this episode lived a life of devotion and sacrifice during an exciting, yet turbulent, period of American History. By all accounts she was an intelligent wife, mother, patriot, home fire-tender, Second Lady, First Lady and oh, yes, mother of the sixth president of the United States. As if that were not enough, she was a self-educated, letter writing machine!

A young Abigail Smith Adams

Abigail Smith was born in November 1, 1744, the second of four children to William and Elizabeth Quincy Smith in Weymouth, MA.  Her father was a Congregationalist minister and her mother’s family was rooted in politics- Abigail’s grandfather held the position of Speaker for Massachusetts for 40 years. Abigail’s life was lived out during the formative, and historically thrilling, early years of the United States.

It’s easy to get lost in all the Quincys, Smiths and Johns in her life, we’ll admit that. But wade through them because this remarkably resilient and faith driven woman lived a rather difficult life of sacrifice as she strove for the greater good. Even if all you know at this point is that she was the wife of one of the early presidents, and something about “remember the ladies!”- you should put on your thinking caps. This woman was an intellectual powerhouse! PLUS, her marriage was one based in a very real romance, intellectual stimulation and mutual respect. We all can learn a lot from her.

<em> <strong>(Click here for more fabulous shownotes!)</strong> </em>!