author
Wilcomb E. Washburn
A longtime Smithsonian historian, this writer explored early America, Native American history, and the ways museums shape public memory. His work is known for combining deep scholarship with a broad interest in American culture and institutions.
1 Audiobook
Virginia Under Charles I And Cromwell, 1625-1660
by Wilcomb E. Washburn
About the author
Born in 1925 and active for much of the twentieth century, he was an American historian whose career was closely tied to the Smithsonian Institution. After earning a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and a PhD in the History of American Civilization from Harvard University, he taught at the College of William and Mary before joining the Smithsonian in 1958.
At the Smithsonian, he served as curator of Political History at the National Museum of History and Technology and later led the institution's American Studies Program for many years. His research ranged widely, including early American history, exploration, Indian-white relations, museums, and cultural history.
He wrote and edited numerous books and articles, and his work helped shape conversations about American identity, historical interpretation, and the role of museums in public life. He died on February 1, 1997.