Stories in the Soil by Lisa Goff

Stories in the Soil by Lisa Goff

How the everyday objects unearthed at a historic home can help tell the biggest stories in American history

At Montpelier, the Virginia home of US president James Madison and his wife, Dolley, visitors encounter a bold presentation of the foundational role of slavery in the era of the nation's birth. Crucial to Montpelier's success is the involvement of the descendants of those enslaved there in every facet of its mission, from archaeological excavations to historic restorations to the curation of tours and exhibits. Stories in the Soil foregrounds the generations of enslaved laborers and their descendants who built and maintained the estate by redirecting our attention to a handful of material objects, including a piece of quartz, a pair of porcelain vases, a brick wall, and a rusty piece of plowshare. These objects, put in conversation with the landscape, can tell an expansive story about the people who made Montpelier the place that it is. In this innovative history, Lisa Goff explores the material culture of Montpelier and all its inhabitants, discovering hidden connections and bringing the silent testimonies embodied there to light.

Lisa Goff, Associate Professor of English and American Studies and Director of the Institute for Public History at the University of Virginia, is the author of Shantytown, USA: Forgotten Landscapes of the Working Poor.