Lecture: "Plymouth Colony First Lady Penelope Winslow"

Lecture: “Plymouth Colony First Lady Penelope Winslow: Reconstructing a Life through Material Culture” by Michelle Marchetti Coughlin

Penelope Pelham Winslow, a member of the English gentry who was married to Plymouth Colony Governor Josiah Winslow, was one of the most powerful women in Plymouth Colony’s history. Like most of her female contemporaries, however, she has largely been forgotten. Though she authored or is mentioned in few surviving documents, she left behind a trove of physical evidence—from surviving homes and possessions to archaeological artifacts—that provide great insight into her experiences. They also offer a portal into the world of Plymouth Colony’s women. In her new book, Penelope Winslow, Plymouth Colony First Lady: Re-Imagining a Life, Michelle Marchetti Coughlin discovers that blending historical records with material culture provides the keys to re-imagining Winslow’s world in all its rich complexity.

This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served at 12:30 pm with the talk to begin at 1 pm.