VMHC Lectures

Latest Episodes:

From Marshall to Moussaoui: Federal Justice in the Eastern District of Virginia by John O. Peters Feb 12, 2015

Show notes

On February 5 at noon, John O. Peters, author of "From Marshall to Moussaoui: Federal Justice in the Eastern District of Virginia," was interviewed by The Honorable Henry E. Hudson, Judge of the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia, on the fascinating stories in Peters's book. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has, arguably, the most interesting and important history of any trial jurisdiction in the country, state or federal. The Honorable Henry E. Hudson, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District, will interview John O. Peters, author of From Marshall to Moussaoui: Federal Justice in the Eastern District of Virginia, who will explain what makes this such a great story. Peters will discuss the role of Chief Justice John Marshall, who sat on the bench of this court for thirty-four years as a trial judge, including the trial of Aaron Burr for treason. Other topics will include the court's role during the Civil War and Reconstruction; the trials of some of America's most notorious spies and terrorists, culminating with the trial of Zacharias Moussaoui; more than twenty years of school desegregation litigation that changed the face of America and Virginia’s way of life; and a colorful admiralty jurisdiction that has seen cases related to pirates, privateers, prize ships, the Titanic, and Spanish gold. John O. Peters, a former commercial litigator who appeared before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District on numerous occasions, began writing about courts, judges, and lawyers in 1969 with the publication of Courts of the Richmond Area—A Primer. His other books include Virginia’s Historic Courthouses (1995), Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery (2010), and From Marshall to Moussaoui: Federal Justice in the Eastern District of Virginia (2013). U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson started his legal career as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Arlington. During his tenure in public service, he has served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, director of the U.S. Marshal Service, and as a circuit court judge for Fairfax County. Judge Hudson received his commission as a federal district judge in August 2002 and sits in the Richmond Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He is the author of Quest for Justice: From Deputy Sheriff to Federal Judge . . . and the Lessons Learned Along the Way (2007). This lecture is cosponsored with the Historical Society of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

From Marshall to Moussaoui: Federal Justice in the Eastern District of Virginia Feb 10, 2015

Show notes

On February 5, 2015, John O. Peters, author of "From Marshall to Moussaoui: Federal Justice in the Eastern District of Virginia," was interviewed by The Honorable Henry E. Hudson, Judge of the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia, on the fascinating stories in Peters's book. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has, arguably, the most interesting and important history of any trial jurisdiction in the country, state or federal. The Honorable Henry E. Hudson, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District, will interview John O. Peters, author of From Marshall to Moussaoui: Federal Justice in the Eastern District of Virginia, who will explain what makes this such a great story. Peters will discuss the role of Chief Justice John Marshall, who sat on the bench of this court for thirty-four years as a trial judge, including the trial of Aaron Burr for treason. Other topics will include the court's role during the Civil War and Reconstruction; the trials of some of America's most notorious spies and terrorists, culminating with the trial of Zacharias Moussaoui; more than twenty years of school desegregation litigation that changed the face of America and Virginia’s way of life; and a colorful admiralty jurisdiction that has seen cases related to pirates, privateers, prize ships, the Titanic, and Spanish gold. John O. Peters, a former commercial litigator who appeared before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District on numerous occasions, began writing about courts, judges, and lawyers in 1969 with the publication of Courts of the Richmond Area—A Primer. His other books include Virginia’s Historic Courthouses (1995), Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery (2010), and From Marshall to Moussaoui: Federal Justice in the Eastern District of Virginia (2013). U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson started his legal career as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Arlington. During his tenure in public service, he has served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, director of the U.S. Marshal Service, and as a circuit court judge for Fairfax County. Judge Hudson received his commission as a federal district judge in August 2002 and sits in the Richmond Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He is the author of Quest for Justice: From Deputy Sheriff to Federal Judge . . . and the Lessons Learned Along the Way (2007). This lecture is cosponsored with the Historical Society of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery—Where War Comes Home by Robert M. Poole (Audio) Jan 28, 2015

Show notes

Robert Poole’s newest book, Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery—Where War Comes Home, is the powerful contemporary biography of a fourteen-acre plot where many of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan have been laid to rest alongside service members from earlier wars. It is a portrait of our national cemetery as a living, breathing community, and a narrative about how improvised explosive devices, suicide bombs, and enemies who blend in with local populations have changed the nature and aftermath of conflict. Using Section 60 as a window into the latest wars, Poole recounts stories of courage and sacrifice by fallen heroes, and he explores the ways in which soldiers’ comrades, friends, and families honor and remember those lost to war—carrying on with life in the aftermath of wartime tragedy. Section 60 is a moving tribute to those who have fought and died for our country, and to those who love them. Robert M. Poole, former executive editor of National Geographic, is a writer whose work has taken him around the world. His books include On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington Cemetery and Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery—Where War Comes Home.

Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery Where War Comes Home Jan 26, 2015

Show notes

On January 22, 2015, Robert M. Poole delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery—Where War Comes Home." Writer and reporter Robert Poole’s newest book, Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery—Where War Comes Home, is the powerful contemporary biography of a fourteen-acre plot where many of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan have been laid to rest alongside service members from earlier wars. It is a portrait of our national cemetery as a living, breathing community, and a narrative about how improvised explosive devices, suicide bombs, and enemies who blend in with local populations have changed the nature and aftermath of conflict. Using Section 60 as a window into the latest wars, Poole recounts stories of courage and sacrifice by fallen heroes, and he explores the ways in which soldiers’ comrades, friends, and families honor and remember those lost to war—carrying on with life in the aftermath of wartime tragedy. Section 60 is a moving tribute to those who have fought and died for our country, and to those who love them. Robert M. Poole, former executive editor of National Geographic, is a writer whose work has taken him around the world. His books include On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington Cemetery and Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery—Where War Comes Home. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

A Gunner in Lee's Army: The Civil War Letters of Thomas Henry Carter by Graham Dozier (Audio) Dec 18, 2014

Show notes

On December 4 at noon, Graham Dozier delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "A Gunner in Lee's Army: The Civil War Letters of Thomas Henry Carter to His Wife" In May 1861, Thomas Henry Carter raised an artillery battery and joined the Confederate army. Over the next four years he rose steadily in rank from captain to colonel, placing him among the senior artillerists in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. During that time, Carter wrote more than 100 revealing letters to his wife Susan about his service in the South’s most successful army. In this lecture, Graham Dozier will discuss the process of editing the letters; tell the story of Tom Carter's life before, during, and after the Civil War; and share some of the many fascinating observations that can be found in the letters. Graham Dozier is the managing editor of publications at the VHS and the editor of A Gunner in Lee’s Army: The Civil War Letters of Thomas Henry Carter.

A Gunner in Lee's Army: The Civil War Letters of Thomas Henry Carter Dec 09, 2014

Show notes

On December 4, 2014, Graham Dozier delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "A Gunner in Lee's Army: The Civil War Letters of Thomas Henry Carter to His Wife" In May 1861, Thomas Henry Carter raised an artillery battery and joined the Confederate army. Over the next four years he rose steadily in rank from captain to colonel, placing him among the senior artillerists in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. During that time, Carter wrote more than 100 revealing letters to his wife Susan about his service in the South’s most successful army. In this lecture, Graham Dozier will discuss the process of editing the letters; tell the story of Tom Carter's life before, during, and after the Civil War; and share some of the many fascinating observations that can be found in the letters. Graham Dozier is the managing editor of publications at the VHS and the editor of A Gunner in Lee’s Army: The Civil War Letters of Thomas Henry Carter The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War by Karen Abbott (Audio) Nov 21, 2014

Show notes

On Tuesday, November 11, at noon, Karen Abbott delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War." After shooting a Union soldier in her front hall with a pocket pistol, Belle Boyd became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds cut off her hair and assumed the identity of a man to enlist as a Union private, witnessing the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Rose O’Neale Greenhow, engaged in affairs with powerful northern politicians to gather intelligence for the Confederacy. Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond abolitionist, hid behind her proper southern manners as she orchestrated a far-reaching espionage ring. Using a wealth of primary source material and interviews with the spies’ descendants, Karen Abbott illuminates one of the most fascinating yet little-known aspects of the Civil War: the stories of four courageous women—a socialite, a farmgirl, an abolitionist, and a widow—who were spies.

The Life of Duncan Lee, Red Spy and Cold Warrior by Mark A. Bradley (Audio) Nov 21, 2014

Show notes

On November 6 at noon, Mark A. Bradley delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "The Life of Duncan Lee, Red Spy and Cold Warrior." Duncan Chaplin Lee was a Rhodes Scholar, patriot, and descendent of one of America’s most distinguished families—and possibly the best-placed mole ever to infiltrate U.S. intelligence operations. In his new book, Mark A. Bradley traces the tangled roots of Lee’s betrayal and reveals his harrowing struggle to stay one step ahead of America’s spy hunters during and after World War II. Drawing on Lee’s letters and thousands of previously unreleased CIA, FBI, and state department records, Bradley tells the unlikely story of a spy who chose his conscience over his country and its dark consequences. Mark Bradley is a former CIA intelligence officer and is currently serving as an attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division. He is the author of A Very Principled Boy: The Life of Duncan Lee, Red Spy and Cold Warrior.

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War Nov 13, 2014

Show notes

On Tuesday, November 11, 2014, Karen Abbott delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War." After shooting a Union soldier in her front hall with a pocket pistol, Belle Boyd became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds cut off her hair and assumed the identity of a man to enlist as a Union private, witnessing the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Rose O’Neale Greenhow, engaged in affairs with powerful northern politicians to gather intelligence for the Confederacy. Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond abolitionist, hid behind her proper southern manners as she orchestrated a far-reaching espionage ring. Using a wealth of primary source material and interviews with the spies’ descendants, Karen Abbott illuminates one of the most fascinating yet little-known aspects of the Civil War: the stories of four courageous women—a socialite, a farmgirl, an abolitionist, and a widow—who were spies. Abbott is a featured contributor to Smithsonian's history blog, Past Imperfect, and also writes for Disunion, the New York Times series about the Civil War. She is the author of several books, including American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee (2010) and Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War (2014). This lecture is cosponsored with the American Civil War Museum. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

The Life of Duncan Lee, Red Spy and Cold Warrior Nov 07, 2014

Show notes

On November 6, 2014, Mark A. Bradley delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "The Life of Duncan Lee, Red Spy and Cold Warrior." Duncan Chaplin Lee was a Rhodes Scholar, patriot, and descendent of one of America’s most distinguished families—and possibly the best-placed mole ever to infiltrate U.S. intelligence operations. In his new book, Mark A. Bradley traces the tangled roots of Lee’s betrayal and reveals his harrowing struggle to stay one step ahead of America’s spy hunters during and after World War II. Drawing on Lee’s letters and thousands of previously unreleased CIA, FBI, and state department records, Bradley tells the unlikely story of a spy who chose his conscience over his country and its dark consequences. Mark Bradley is a former CIA intelligence officer and is currently serving as an attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division. He is the author of A Very Principled Boy: The Life of Duncan Lee, Red Spy and Cold Warrior. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected