The David Library of the American Revolution will present “’In a Private Manner, Without Parade or Funeral Oration’: The Funeral George Washington Wanted but Didn’t Get,” a lecture by Mary V. Thompson, on Wednesday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. It will take place at the David Library, 1201 River Road, Washington Crossing. Although the lecture is admission free, reservations are required, and can be made by calling (215) 493-6776 ext. 100, or by sending an email to rsvp@dlar.org.

In George Washington’s last will and testament, he took care to note that he wanted a simple, private funeral. When Washington died unexpectedly five months after drawing up his will, Congress saw an opportunity to structure national mourning around public commemorations to foster unity and a sense of national identity. The lecture will examine the common funeral and mourning customs of the time, as well as the decisions around Washington’s funeral that established traditions still evident in modern “state” funerals.

Mary V. Thompson is a staff historian at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. She curated the travelling exhibition, “Treasures from Mount Vernon: George Washington Revealed.” Her first book, In the Hands of a Good Providence: Religion in the Life of George Washington, received the Alexandria History Award and the George Washington Memorial Award.