author
Morton Pennypacker
1872–1956
Best remembered for bringing George Washington’s spy network to a wider audience, this Long Island historian turned local archives into lively stories. His work helped preserve regional history while making the Revolutionary era feel immediate and human.
1 Audiobook
General Washington's spies on Long Island and in New York
by Morton Pennypacker
About the author
Born Frank Knox Morton Pennypacker in 1872, he became known as a devoted collector of Long Island historical material as well as an author and antiquarian. He spent years gathering books, documents, and other records tied to Long Island’s past, and his collection later became an important part of the East Hampton Library.
Pennypacker wrote several books on Long Island history, and he is especially associated with General Washington’s Spies, his account of the Culper Ring. That work played a major role in renewing interest in the Revolutionary War spy network operating on Long Island and in New York.
He died in 1956, leaving behind both published histories and a lasting archival legacy. For listeners who enjoy place-based history, his books reflect the enthusiasm of a writer who cared deeply about preserving the stories, people, and documents of his region.