Ex President James Monroe

Dennis Bigelow speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center.

Rick Britton is a Charlottesville-based author, lecturer, and cartographer. An award-winning historian, Rick also organizes history-related lecture classes in conjunction with the Charlottesville Senior Center.

On October 11, 2011, Fifth President James Monroe – in the flesh! – presented the final lecture in a new series entitled “Virginia History 201: Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, A Dynasty of Friends.” Monroe, of course, passed away in 1831 (on the Fourth of July), but historical interpreter extraordinaire Dennis Bigelow – in his period clothing, and possessed of a fascinating amount of historical detail – is the personification of our fifth president. (A Vietnam veteran and well-trained thespian, Mr. Bigelow portrays James Monroe for Ash-Lawn Highland, the president’s restored “cabin castle.”) Listen and learn about Monroe’s amazing political career.

This is the final part of our five part series. Click here listen all five parts of this series.

Virginia History with Rick Britton: Cities on the Move

Virginia History with Rick Britton

Airing on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, CPN’s Dan Gould talks with local award-winning historian and cartographer, Rick Britton about a wide range of subjects from Virginia’s colorful 18th and 19th centuries.

In this episode, Dan talks to Rick about how a marching Civil War army was like a city on the move. Learn how soldiers coped with the boredom of long marches and about the instant “cities” that sprang up when they ended.

Click here to listen to all the episodes in this series.

Dolley Madison of Montpelier

Meg Kennedy speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center.

Meg Kennedy speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center.

Rick Britton is a Charlottesville-based author, lecturer, and cartographer. An award-winning historian, Rick also organizes history-related lecture classes in conjunction with the Charlottesville Senior Center.

On Thursday, October 6th, Meg Kennedy presented the fourth lecture in a new series entitled “Virginia History 201: Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, A Dynasty of Friends.” Research Coordinator for the Mansion Interiors Initiative at James Madison’s Montpelier, Kennedy talks about Dolley Madison’s early life as a Quaker, her tragic family losses to the dreaded Yellow Fever, her marriage to James Madison-principle framer of the Constitution-and her wonderful, and welcoming, influence over the White House in the early days of the Republic. Listen and learn about our nation’s first “First Lady!”

This is the forth of five parts for this series. Click here listen all five parts of this series.

Presidential Plantation Slavery

Beth Taylor speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center.

Beth Taylor speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center.

Rick Britton is a Charlottesville-based author, lecturer, and cartographer. An award-winning historian, Rick also organizes history-related lecture classes in conjunction with the Charlottesville Senior Center.

On Thursday, September 22, 2011, Beth Taylor presented the third lecture in our continuing series entitled “Virginia History 201: Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, A Dynasty of Friends.” An historian who’s developed slavery-related interpretive programs at both Montpelier and Monticello, Taylor herein delivers fascinating details about slave life on the plantations owned by the author of the Declaration and the architect of the Constitution. Were enslaved African Americans at Jefferson’s Monticello or Madison’s Montpelier treated any better than bondsmen on other Virginia plantations? Listen and find out!

This is the third of five parts for this series. Click here listen all five parts of this series.

Virginia History with Rick Britton: Walking Pickett’s Charge

Virginia History with Rick Britton

Airing on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, CPN’s Dan Gould talks with with local award-winning historian and cartographer, Rick Britton about a wide range of subjects from Virginia’s colorful 18th and 19th centuries.

In this episode, Dan talks to Rick by telephone as he walks historic Pickett’s charge, the climatic conclusion to the Civil War’s Battle of Gettysburg. Roughly 1/2 of the 440 soldiers from Charlottesville and Albemarle were killed or wounded in just one hour. Our podcast was recorded on October 28, 2011.

Join us next time on Sunday November 27, 2011 when Rick will talk about life on the road for a Civil War soldier.

Click here to listen to all the episodes in this series.

Jefferson Through the Eyes of His Family

Jeff Looney speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center.

Jeff Looney speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center.

Rick Britton is a Charlottesville-based author, lecturer, and cartographer. An award-winning historian, Rick also organizes history-related lecture classes in conjunction with the Charlottesville Senior Center.

On Thursday, September 15, 2011, the second lecture in a new lecture series entitled “Virginia History 201: Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, A Dynasty of Friends” was delivered by Jeff Looney, Senior Editor of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series. Called “Jefferson Through the Eyes of His Family,” Editor Looney’s talk-using anecdotes culled from the many Jefferson and Randolph family letters-presents the human side of the “Sage of Monticello’s” life after his retirement from public office.

This is the second of five parts for this series. Click here listen all five parts of this series.

James Monroe at the Battle of Trenton

Rick Britton speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center.

Rick Britton speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center.

Rick Britton is a Charlottesville-based author, lecturer, and cartographer. An award-winning historian, Rick also organizes history-related lecture classes in conjunction with the Charlottesville Senior Center.

On Thursday, September 8, 2011, Rick Britton himself delivered the first lecture in a new series entitled “Virginia History 201: Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, A Dynasty of Friends”. Entitled “James Monroe at the Battle of Trenton,” the presentation describes how the future 5th president of the United States joined the American Revolution, and focuses specifically on his heroism at one of the war’s pivotal actions.

This is the first of five parts for this series. Click here listen all five parts of this series.

Virginia History with Rick Britton: Fighting Shoulder to Shoulder

Virginia History with Rick Britton

Airing on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, CPN’s Dan Gould talks with with local award-winning historian and cartographer, Rick Britton about a wide range of subjects from Virginia’s colorful 18th and 19th centuries.

In this episode, Dan and Rick continue their discussion of what it was like to be a member of the infantry during the American Civil War. Learn why soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder even though doing so often increased the number of casualties.

Join us next time on Sunday November 13, 2011 when Rick will speak to us from the fields of Gettysburg.

Click here to listen to all the episodes in this series.

Albemarle Boys in Pickett’s Charge

Rick Britton speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center Wednesday.

Rick Britton speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center Wednesday.

Regular listeners of our podcasts might know Rick Britton. He’s a Charlottesville-based author, lecturer, and cartographer. An award-winning historian, Rick also organizes a “Civil War Lecture and Day-Trip Series” in conjunction with the Charlottesville Senior Center.

On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, Rick Britton himself presented a lecture titled “Albemarle Boys in Pickett’s Charge.” Arguably the most famous attack in American history, Pickett’s Charge-fought on July 3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg’s third day-hurled 11,000 Southerners against a very strong Federal defensive line. In the very center of the attack marched 400 men from Charlottesville and Albemarle.

History buffs fill the Charlottesville Senior Center on a rainy Wednesday evening to enjoy the final lecture in this series for 2011.

History buffs fill the Charlottesville Senior Center on a rainy Wednesday evening to enjoy the final lecture in this series for 2011.

On Wednesday, October 26th to Friday the 28th, Rick Britton will be guiding a bus tour of the Gettysburg battlefield. The 3-day Gettysburg trip features guided tours of the most famous portions of the battlefield, a visit to the brand new Visitors Center, and organized evening activities. Bus tour departs from the Charlottesville Senior Center at 8:00 am. There is a fee for the tour. Call (434) 974-6538 for more information.

This is the seventh and final part of this series for 2011. You can listen to all seven parts of this series here.

Virginia History with Rick Britton: Infantrymen in the Civil War Part 3

The Charlottesville Podcasting Network is pleased to offer this exclusive all new series with local award-winning historian and cartographer, Rick Britton. Airing on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, CPN’s Dan Gould talks with Rick about a wide range of subjects from Virginia’s colorful 18th and 19th centuries.

In this, the forth episode of this new series, Dan and Rick continue their discussion of what it was like to be a member of the infantry during the American Civil War. Learn why commanders sometimes limited the use of a soldier’s ammunition in order to win a battle.

For information on all of Rick Britton’s lecture and tour series contact Charlottesville’s Senior Center Inc at (434) 974-6538

The Charlottesville Podcasting Network features many of Rick Britton’s history series. Click here for a complete list.

Virginia History with Rick Britton: Infantrymen in the Civil War Part 2

The Charlottesville Podcasting Network is pleased to offer this exclusive all new series with local award-winning historian and cartographer, Rick Britton. Airing on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, I’ll talk with Rick about a wide range of subjects from Virginia’s colorful 18th and 19th centuries.

In this, the third episode of this new series, learn why 8.5 million Americans would be killed if the Civil War was waged today. For information on all of Rick Britton’s lecture and tour series contact Charlottesville’s Senior Center Inc at (434) 974-6538

The Charlottesville Podcasting Network features many of Rick Britton’s history series. Click here for a complete list.

The Battle of Chancellorsville

Beth Parnicza speaking at the Charlottesville Senior Center Wednesday.

Beth Parnicza speaking at the
Charlottesville Senior Center
Wednesday.

Regular listeners of our podcasts might know Rick Britton.He’s a Charlottesville-based author, lecturer, and cartographer. An award-winning historian, Rick also organizes a “Civil War Lecture and Day-Trip Series” in conjunction with the Charlottesville Senior Center.

On Wednesday, September 21st, NPS historian Beth Parnicza-a recent university graduate whose poise and depth of knowledge were admired by all-delivered a talk on the Chancellorsville campaign and battle. Fought in 1863 over the first four days of May, Chancellorsville pitted Robert E. Lee’s 60,000-man Army of Northern Virginia against “Fighting Joe” Hooker’s 134,000. Amazingly, Lee was able to defeat Hooker and drive him back over the Rappahannock. Was Chancellorsville truly Lee’s masterpiece? Listen and hear what this young historian has to say!

On Wednesday, September 28th, Rick Britton will conduct a tour of the Chancellorsville Battlefield. The tour will take in the Visitors Center in the morning, and hear a presentation on “Stonewall” Jackson’s mortal wounding. After a picnic lunch the tour will spend the afternoon on this well-preserved Virginia battlefield. Bus tour departs from the Charlottesville Senior Center at 9:00 am. There is a fee for the tour. Call 974-6538 for more information.

This is part six of a seven part series for 2011. You can listen to all seven parts of this series here.