author
Thomas K. Ford
Best known for lively, accessible books on colonial trades, this writer helped bring the working world of eighteenth-century Williamsburg to life for modern readers. His short histories blend careful research with a strong feel for everyday craft, tools, and people.
5 Audiobooks
The Miller in Eighteenth-Century Virginia An Account of Mills & the Craft of Milling, as Well as a Description of the Windmill near the Palace in Williamsburg
by Thomas K. Ford
The Leatherworker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg Being an Account of the Nature of Leather, & of the Crafts Commonly Engaged in the Making & Using of It.
by Thomas K. Ford
The Apothecary in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg Being an Account of his medical and chirurgical Services, as well as of his trade Practices as a Chymist
by Thomas K. Ford
About the author
Thomas K. Ford wrote a number of concise historical works about trades and daily life in colonial Virginia, especially for Colonial Williamsburg’s well-known craft series. His books include The Leatherworker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg, The Silversmith in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg, The Miller in Eighteenth-Century Virginia, The Apothecary in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg, and The Bookbinder in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg.
Sources available online describe him as an editor of Colonial Williamsburg publications, with one record noting that he served in that role until 1976. Several catalog and archival records also show that some of his books were built from research or monographs prepared by subject specialists and historians, which helps explain the clear, practical tone of the series.
Ford’s appeal lies in how readable these works remain. Rather than treating history as distant and abstract, he focused on how people actually made things, earned a living, and moved through the world of early Williamsburg — making his books especially enjoyable for readers who like social history, material culture, and the stories behind everyday work.