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Online Program: Revealing the Life of Belle Grove’s Mistress Ann Maury Hite

Join Jess Pritchard-Ritter for a discussion about her new online exhibit about Ann Tunstall Maury Hite. Mrs. Hite was the second wife of Isaac Hite Jr. and mistress of Belle Grove from 1803 to 1851. Jess will explain the challenges of presenting her not just as a wife, mother, and plantation mistress, but also an enslaver. Using Mrs. Hite’s own letters, the website reveals the depth of this wealthy, powerful, and influential woman navigating her way through life in the Shenandoah Valley in the early 1800s. Pre-registration by April 5 is required. 

Jess is a digital historian interested in conducting research, designing websites, writing content, and creating educational resources that help museums and other historical organizations share their stories. She's currently finishing up the Digital Public Humanities program at George Mason University, interning at the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media, and working with Belle Grove Plantation to create virtual exhibits that break down and interpret their site’s rich history.