Renowned decorative arts scholar Pat Kane reveals the remarkable story of Connecticut's Wethersfield chest tradition in this specialized lecture. Explore the intersection of artistry, craftsmanship, and cultural identity through these colonial masterpieces that represent some of America's finest early furniture making.
Join decorative art expert Genevieve Wheeler Brown for an illustrated book talk uncovering the hidden women behind Delftware's iconic blue and white ceramics.
Join WDS and America's Tapestry to learn about the prominent role needle art is playing in our nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. America’s Tapestry founder and director Stefan Romero will discuss the creation of this collaborative community embroidery project highlighting lesser-known stories from the American Revolution.
Join textile historian Ned Lazaro, Associate Curator of Textiles and Costumes at The Wadsworth Atheneum and former curator of textiles at Historic Deerfield for a moderated discussion on the history of collecting schoolgirl samplers and other forms of needlepoint in the United States.
They were allies, rivals, and collaborators — sometimes all at once. The Feuding Founders Collective launches at WDS with a daylong symposium exploring the real Silas Deane, John Jay, and the Lee brothers of Virginia. Walk the historic houses, hear from scholars at three partner sites, and discover why these 250-year-old rivalries feel so familiar. This is the real story — not the tidy one.
One man painted the Revolution. Another held the Bible at Washington's inauguration. Both have deep Connecticut roots. Historian Damien Cregeau traces six extraordinary Revolutionary War lives—including Wethersfield's own Samuel Webb—in this richly illustrated presentation. In person and via Zoom. Books available for signing on-site.
Head Gardener Peter Winne explores the science and folklore behind the influence of sound on plant life—part lecture, part live demonstration, and completely unlike anything else on our calendar.
This companion lecture to the exhibition American Girlhood by guest curator Emily Whitted will explore the larger history of needlework as part of early American education for girls.
Onsite at Jay Heritage Center in Rye, NY | Spy codes, smear campaigns, and fragile alliances: explore John Jay as diplomat and spymaster at the Jay Heritage Center in Rye, NY. Part of the Feuding Founders Collective.
Onsite at Stratford and Menokin in Virginia | Richard Henry, Francis Lightfoot, William, and Arthur Lee helped drive the push for independence — then clashed with Silas Deane and John Jay over how to see it through. Join the Feuding Founders Collective at Stratford Hall and Menokin for a day of roundtable discussion and historic tours.