THE WRITINGS OF GEORGE MASON, ELEANOR PARKE CUSTIS LEWIS, AND GEORGE WASHINGTON

THE WRITINGS OF GEORGE MASON, ELEANOR PARKE CUSTIS LEWIS, AND GEORGE WASHINGTON

When we take off the cloak of heroism from our historical figures, we find that they are men and women just like us. They have hopes and fears, highs and lows, and dreams and disappointments. They have done and said things that they later regretted, and many of them of changed their minds on controversial issues such independence from England and the abolition of slavery. Moreover, many have suffered from inferiority complexes, depression, and debilitating physical ailments. By reading history books and biographies, we get a secondhand account of their thoughts, feelings, and ideas of these famous figures. However, when we read their diaries, journals, letters, and other personal writings, we are afforded a unique opportunity to experience their “real” lives firsthand.
In our visits to Gunston Hall, Woodlawn Plantation, and Mount Vernon, I found that in 18th century America, writing in diaries ...