Interpreting the American Founding
A 10-week workshop on 18th century history interpretation
Live instruction delivered online
Sundays, January 4 - March 8, 2026
8:00 - 9:30 p.m. EST
(6:00 - 7:30 p.m. MST)
Sessions will be record and made be available to workshiop participants through August, 2026.
Workshop Facilitator
Daniel Shippey
Workshop Sessions
Session 1. Visitor Engagement
Learn to transcend simple facts and immerse guests fully in the period. We’ll explore effective storytelling, using primary sources to build compelling narratives, and mastering the art of interactive dialogue that encourages deeper curiosity.
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Nathaniel Lasley is a Nation Builder at Colonial Williamsburg, portraying the famed orator Patrick Henry. Lasley began his career in history interpretation in 2004 and has portrayed other historical figures such as Lt. Colonel James Innes and Edmund Randolph. Lasley is dedicated to deep research, studying Henry for months to fully embody the revolutionary leader known for his "Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!" speech.
Session 2. The Craft of Character Interpretation
Finding the voice in a primary source can be daunting. Who is speaking? What do they mean? How did they feel about this moment and how will it affect them moving forward? The method of bringing life to a document can take various paths. Explore those methods and paths as we dissect several primary sources to discover how to interpret them.
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Katharine Pittman holds a degree in Theater and History from Wake Forest University. She is currently one of the "Nation Builders" at Colonial Williamsburg (CW), where she has portrayed Martha Washington since 2012. When not portraying the Nations first, first lady, she can often be found conducing research and developing programs for CW.
Session 3. 18th-Century Language
Master the authentic cadence and vocabulary of 18th-century English. Move beyond simple period words to understand period rhetoric, common phrases, and social speech customs.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Cathleene B. Hellier is a Senior Historian at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, conducting original research to inform the institution’s educational programming and interpretation. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the College of William & Mary. Her expertise centers on 18th-century American life, specializing in the history of the family, gentry girls, and enslaved male domestics, as well as the politics of the American Revolution. Her dedication to linguistic authenticity is highlighted by her authorship of Eighteenth-Century English as a Second Language.
Session 4. Persona Development
Learn the essential tools for developing and embodying a fully realized 18th-century persona. Learn how to develop a character's backstory, social standing, and specific worldview.
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Noah Lewis is the author of Edward "Ned" Hector - Revolutionary War Hero and has portrayed Hector since 2000. He currently engages in history interpretation for the American Historical Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Session 5. Research in Primary and Secondary Sources
Go beyond the textbook. Learn techniques for dissecting, contextualizing, and utilizing period documents, pamphlets, and personal correspondence in your interpretation.
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Alex Robb is a full-time interpretive program specialist at the Washington Crossing Historic Park at Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, where he develops educational programs to fullfill the park's mission to commemorate Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River.
Session 6. Interpreting Difficult Histories
Learn techniques to address challenging 18th-century topics like slavery, conflict, disease, and social inequity with sensitivity and accuracy. Learn to move beyond simplified narratives to facilitate honest, nuanced conversations with visitors.
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Kurt Smith is one of two men in the world who make their living full-time by portraying Mr. Jefferson. He has portrayed Mr. Jefferson for US Supreme Court Justices, The US Congress, State Governors, State Supreme Court Chief Justices, Federal Cabinet Members, Presidential candidates, and royalty around the globe. He currently conducts research about Jefferson and portrays him at Colonial Williamsburg.
Session 7. The Business of Living History
Learn to market your unique persona and skill set, develop professional rate structures, and craft strong contracts for historic sites and private events. Get skills to build a compelling portfolio and leveraging digital platforms to find clients.
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Daniel Shippy is the past official George Washington at Mount Vernon and a nationally renowned George Washington, scholar, interpreter, and impersonator. Seen at museums, battlefields, parades, schools, films, embassies, in commercials, corporate events, as keynote speaker. He has portrayed Washington since 2008.
Session 8. Language of 18th-Century Commerce
Explore the specialized terminology and language used in 18th-century trade, finance, and daily commerce. Learn to use authentic vocabulary related to currency, credit, mercantilism, shipping, shopkeeping, and bookkeeping.
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Robert Weathers is a Nation Builder at Colonial Williamsburg, where he portrays George Wythe, the revered law professor, judge, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Weathers began his work as an actor-interpreter in 2008 and has since portrayed over 20 figures. At Colonial Willimsburg, he conducts original research and develops plays and other programming that have delighted delighed visitors for more than a decade.
Session 9. 18th-Century Hospitality
Experience the etiquette, service, and social customs of 18th-century hospitality. Learn the nuanced language of invitations, greetings, and farewells, alongside the appropriate delivery and consumption of period foods and beverages.
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Jen Tousey is a living historian, author, and engaging speaker specializing in the social customs and daily life of the eighteenth century, with particular emphasis on hospitality, material culture, and the art of human connection in the Revolutionary era. Through immersive interpretation, hands-on demonstrations, and storytelling grounded in primary sources, she brings the manners, expectations, and rituals of the past vividly to life.
Session 10. 18th-Century Clothing
Elevate your interpretation by recognizing how clothes function as powerful visual and material sources for telling the full story of the period. Participants will gain practical skills in correctly assembling, wearing and maintaining period attire.
Sunday, March 08, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Formerly a history interpreter at Colonial Williamburg, Michael Ramsey is a dedicated member of the Historical Clothing and Dress department at Colonial Williamsburg, specializing in 18th-century apparel. With meticulous attention to detail and a passion for material culture, he researches, drafts, and creates historically accurate reproductions of clothing worn by the diverse residents of colonial Virginia.
Session 11. America's Founding Values
During the 169 years prior to the Declaration of Independence, the British colonies gradually developed a culture that was quite distinct from mother England. Some of the changes were a result of Parliament's actions, and others arose as a result of factors beyond their control. By 1775, the cultural differences were so severe that reconciliation seemed impossible, and war was the result. In this presentation, we will examine seven shared cultural values that made Americans who they were at the founding; we will see that our nation no longer considers five of them part of our national identity.
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Meet your Instructor:
Formerly a professor at Brigham Young University, Gove Allen has been a historical interpreter since 2011, when he developed the bakehouse exhibit for the Colonial Heritage Festival. In 2012, he oversaw the construction of the English Common Press that he currently uses in his interpretation of Boston printer Isaiah Thomas. Dr. Allen travels nationally, portraying the patriot printer and lecturing on topics relating to the American founding.
Secure Your Place
Workshop Fee:
$125 for all sessions
OR $20 each for individual sessions
Email questions to gove@colonialheritage.org