"Karin Wulf's Lineage transforms mostly forgotten books and artifacts into vibrant accounts of forgotten pasts. A Wampanoag account book, a lock of hair, and reams of court records, diaries, letters, and plantation accounts affirm that genealogy has never been, nor is it now, purely a matter of private interest.’" —Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

In 18th-century America, genealogy was more than a simple record of family ties—it was a powerful force that shaped society. In Lineage, Karin Wulf delves into an era when individuals, families, and institutions meticulously documented their connections in family records, cultural artifacts, and court documents. Whether created by enslaved individuals seeking freedom or founding fathers seeking status, these materials demonstrate the culturally and historically specific nature of genealogical interest. The legacy of lineage from the colonial period continued to shape the early United States, underscoring the enduring importance of family connections. Join us for a conversation between Karin Wulf and Pulitzer Prize winner Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, as they discuss Lineage and genealogy as a foundational element of American history, illuminating its vital role from the colonial era through the birth of the nation.

Karin Wulf is the Director and Librarian of the John Carter Brown Library and Professor of History at Brown University. A historian of “Vast Early America,” she earned her PhD from Johns Hopkins University and was the Executive Director of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture and Professor of History at William & Mary. She has also taught at American University and Old Dominion University. The author or editor of prize-winning scholarship on gender, family, and politics, she writes regularly for both public and academic audiences about early American history, the humanities, and archives and libraries.

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is 300th Anniversary University Professor emerita at Harvard University. She is the author of seven books including A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 and Well-behaved Women Seldom Make History, exploring the popular phrase which she coined. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1991.

Presented by American Ancestors' American Inspiration Author series in partnership with Massachusetts Historical Society.