
"Argenteur" [Silversmith], Plate 1, by Denis Diderot, 1771.
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
This print of an engraving shows a silversmith in his workspace. Notice the woman working at the table. Women were occasionally, but rarely, silversmiths, but it was not uncommon for wives to assist their husbands in their shops. This illustration is part of a supplement to Diderot's famous Encylopedie, which provides detailed information on eighteenth-century trades.

The Next Electronic Field Trip
is Remember the Ladies
March 15, 2012
Find sources of federal funding for EFTs in this PDF.

Downloadable American History
Lesson Plans from
ABC-CLIO and Colonial Williamsburg
Teaching News
National History Day receives the National Humanities Medal
National History Day, a year-long academic program focused on historical research for 6th to 12th grade students, was awarded the prestigious 2011 National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony on Monday, February 13. Find out more about Colonial Williamsburg's involvement with National History day here.
Turn Snow Days into Learning Opportunities
It's that time of year again when snow closes schools! If you are an Electronic Field Trip subscriber, why not create an account for your students to use at home so they can play interactive web activities, watch recorded video and Q&A segments from the broadcast, and ask questions on the message boards? (Please have all students use one login, instead of an individual account for each student.) Encourage students to share what they've learned from the EFT(s) with their families!

March Podcasts
03/05: The Thirsty Colonist
Vodcast: RevQuest
03/12: Fire!
03/19: Freedom to Slavery
03/26: These Boots are Made for Colonizing
Also check out our Women's History Month podcasts!
The Idea of America
A digital American history program that inspires and prepares high school students for active citizenship, developed by Colonial Williamsburg and distributed by Pearson Education.
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Contents
A common misperception is that women did not hold many jobs in the 18th century. However, although it wasn't commonplace, women held many of the same jobs men did. In this lesson, students will use a map of the Colonial Williamsburg historic area to predict where women would have been able to be employed in the eighteenth century. Then, they will use historical accounts of women in trades to challenge their initial assumptions and make new observations about work for women in colonial America.
Colonial Williamsburg offers a variety of quality
American history instructional materials, including:
- Maria's Story Hardcover Book
- Ann's Story Hardcover Book
- Earning a Living as a Tradesperson in Colonial America Lesson Unit
Check out our Women's History Month specials!


21st Century Award
for Best Practices in Distance Learning, preK–12
United States Distance Learning Association, 2010

Distinguished Achievement Award Finalist 2011
Association of Educational Publishers
Quotation of the Month
"To her, blest shade, a plaintive verse is due,
Lov'd by the muses, and fair sciences too;
And sure a happy proof of this remains,
In her soft numbers, and harmonious strains.
With manly sense, and fortitude of mind,
The softer graces of her sex combin'd,
To form a bright example in her life,
Of friend, of mistress, daughter, mother, wife."
—Verse published to commemorate the death of Clementina Rind, female publisher of the Virginia Gazette.
Virginia Gazette (Pinckney), October 6, 1774

Colonial Williamsburg for Teachers
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