Beyond Words: Bringing History to Life Responsibly

Beyond Words: Bringing History to Life Responsibly

For 2026: A Five-Year Conference Series is sponsored jointly by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, William & Mary, and the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture. This evening plenary is part of this year’s conference (year 3 of 5), themed: For 2026: Virginia’s Revolutionary Histories & Beyond. Colonial Williamsburg employees, volunteers, passholders, William & Mary faculty, students, staff, and For 2026 conference attendees are invited to join this esteemed panel for a stimulating discussion.  

Topic: Whether from documentary or material culture evidence of history, how do we use multidisciplinary approaches to address imbalances in the historical record responsibly, using historical content to bring stories to life in a way that is engaging and relevant to the public?

Moderated by Katharine Pittman, Nation Builder, Colonial Williamsburg. This panels includes Amanda Keller, Manager, Historic Interiors, Colonial Williamsburg, Tiffany Momon, Public Historian, Professor, Founder & Co-Director, Black Craftspeople Digital Archive, Mary V. Thompson, Public Historian, Mount Vernon, retired, and Hope Wright, Actor Interpreter, Colonial Williamsburg.

Doors open to the Hennage Auditorium at 4:30 p.m. Cliff Fleet, the Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Distinguished Presidential Chair and CEO, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, will give opening remarks at 5:00 p.m.

Following the panel discussion in the Hennage Auditorium, attendees are invited for a light reception in Dominion Energy Hall, located in the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. Click Here to learn more about the conference series or to register for the full event this year, taking place October 24-26, 2024.