George Washington and Slavery in American Memory

How should we remember George Washington’s involvement in slavery? What is the proper place of slavery in Washington’s legacy? In this lecture, historian John Garrison Marks will share how, in fact, Americans have argued over these questions for nearly 250 years. More than any other “Founding Father,” Washington’s ties to slavery have vexed us. He enslaved more people than any of his fellow Founders, yet he was the only one of them to emancipate the people he held in bondage. Since his death, Americans have grappled with this contradiction, shaping and re-shaping our collective memory of Washington and slavery—along with our understanding of the nation. Lecture is free and open to the public

Speaker: John Garrison Marks is a historian and writer whose work has appeared in TIME, Washington Post, and Smithsonian Magazine. Marks currently serves as the Vice President of Research and Engagement at the American Association for State and Local History. Previously the author of Black Freedom in the Age of Slavery, he earned his Ph.D. from Rice University. Marks’ newest book is Thy Will Be Done: George Washington’s Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory, published in April 2026.

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