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2008 George Washington Book Prize Awarded at Mount Vernon

May 29, 2008

Marcus Rediker, author of The Slave Ship: A Human History and winner of the 2008 George Washington Book Prize, received a standing ovation when he told the more than 300 dignitaries who attended the May 29 black-tie dinner at Mount Vernon honoring the Book Prize finalists: "My book is about the people who made George Washington possible. It is about the people who made the nation, and much of its wealth possible. As you leave here tonight I would ask you to pause, look around, and think of the ghosts on this beautiful landscape. I would like to think that this prize honors them too."

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President Baird Tipson arrives with Miller Library Director Ruth Shoge, Brandon Righi '07 close behind.
President Baird Tipson arrives with Miller Library Director Ruth Shoge, Brandon Righi '07 close behind.
Elizabeth Clay '08, Jasper Colt '09, History Professor Clayton Black and Jeremy Rothwell '09.
Elizabeth Clay '08, Jasper Colt '09, History Professor Clayton Black and Jeremy Rothwell '09.
Washington College guests gather outside the Mansion, accompanied by fife & drum.
Washington College guests gather outside the Mansion, accompanied by fife & drum.
Jeremy Rothwell '09, C.V. Starr Center Director Adam Goodheart and Bruce Valliant.
Jeremy Rothwell '09, C.V. Starr Center Director Adam Goodheart and Bruce Valliant.
Former Board Chairman Jay Griswold arrives with his wife, Toni.
Former Board Chairman Jay Griswold arrives with his wife, Toni.
Washington College Trustee H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., '85, Mrs. Margaret Nuttle and Adam Goodheart.
Washington College Trustee H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., '85, Mrs. Margaret Nuttle and Adam Goodheart.
Agnes Robinson, former Washington College First Lady Debby Toll, Will Robinson, Art History Professor Donald McColl and Ann McColl.
Agnes Robinson, former Washington College First Lady Debby Toll, Will Robinson, Art History Professor Donald McColl and Ann McColl.
Jeremy Rothwell, '09.
Jeremy Rothwell, '09.
Donald McColl, Murray Drabkin, Ann McColl and President Emeritus John Toll.
Donald McColl, Murray Drabkin, Ann McColl and President Emeritus John Toll.
University of Maryland archaeologist Mark Leone and Starr Center Associate Director Jill Ogline.
University of Maryland archaeologist Mark Leone and Starr Center Associate Director Jill Ogline.
Mary Wood and Starr Center Program Manager Michael Buckley.
Mary Wood and Starr Center Program Manager Michael Buckley.
Ben Kohl, Katherine Honold '08, Brandon Righi '07.
Ben Kohl, Katherine Honold '08, Brandon Righi '07.
Washington College Trustee Benjamin G. Kohl and Board Chairman Edward P. Nordberg '82.
Washington College Trustee Benjamin G. Kohl and Board Chairman Edward P. Nordberg '82.
Guests gathered on the lawn overlooking the Potomac.
Guests gathered on the lawn overlooking the Potomac.
George Washington University Dean of Faculty Peg Barratt, GWU Chair of American Studies Jim Miller, University of Pittsburgh History Department Chair (and book prize winner) Marcus Rediker, Georgetown University History Professor Jim Collins, University of Maryland Distinguished Professor of History Ira Berlin and Martha Berlin.
George Washington University Dean of Faculty Peg Barratt, GWU Chair of American Studies Jim Miller, University of Pittsburgh History Department Chair (and book prize winner) Marcus Rediker, Georgetown University History Professor Jim Collins, University of Maryland Distinguished Professor of History Ira Berlin and Martha Berlin.
National Review editor Richard Brookhiser, author and psychotherapist Jeanne Safer, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.
National Review editor Richard Brookhiser, author and psychotherapist Jeanne Safer, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.
Political Science Professor Christine Wade and her husband, Greg Waddell.
Political Science Professor Christine Wade and her husband, Greg Waddell.
National Portrait Gallery Director Martin E. Sullivan and television journalist Roger Mudd.
National Portrait Gallery Director Martin E. Sullivan and television journalist Roger Mudd.
Ed Nordberg, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Lorraine Polvinale '69 and her husband, Tom Polvinale '70.
Ed Nordberg, Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations Lorraine Polvinale '69 and her husband, Tom Polvinale '70.
Aundra Weissert '08, Elizabeth Clay '08 and Jasper Colt '09 display the Finalists' book covers.
Aundra Weissert '08, Elizabeth Clay '08 and Jasper Colt '09 display the Finalists' book covers.
James Rees, Mount Vernon's Executive Director, welcomes the guests.
James Rees, Mount Vernon's Executive Director, welcomes the guests.
James G. Basker, President of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
James G. Basker, President of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
Adam Goodheart.
Adam Goodheart.
Richard Gilder of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History presents Marcus Rediker with the $50,000 award.
Richard Gilder of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History presents Marcus Rediker with the $50,000 award.
Mount Vernon Regent Boyce Ansley and President Tipson present Marcus Rediker with the George Washington Book Prize medal.
Mount Vernon Regent Boyce Ansley and President Tipson present Marcus Rediker with the George Washington Book Prize medal.
Chestertown's Karen Somerville sings "Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters" before dinner.
Chestertown's Karen Somerville sings "Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters" before dinner.
Martha Sawyer and President Tipson.
Martha Sawyer and President Tipson.
George Sawyer, Vice President for College Advancement Beth Herman (standing) with Margaret Nuttle Melcher '69 and Trustee Emerita Jeannie Baliles '69.
George Sawyer, Vice President for College Advancement Beth Herman (standing) with Margaret Nuttle Melcher '69 and Trustee Emerita Jeannie Baliles '69.
Bruce Valliant, Jenifer Endicott of the Starr Center, John Toll.
Bruce Valliant, Jenifer Endicott of the Starr Center, John Toll.
NYU Professor of History Emerita Patricia Bonomi, who served on the committee that selected the winner, and Brandon Righi '07.
NYU Professor of History Emerita Patricia Bonomi, who served on the committee that selected the winner, and Brandon Righi '07.
Elizabeth Clay '08 with Ira Berlin.
Elizabeth Clay '08 with Ira Berlin.
Steve Clemons of the New America Foundation and Thomas Caplan of the Starr Center Advisory Board.
Steve Clemons of the New America Foundation and Thomas Caplan of the Starr Center Advisory Board.
President Tipson recognizes the Book Prize Finalists.
President Tipson recognizes the Book Prize Finalists.
Marcus Rediker delivers his lecture.
Marcus Rediker delivers his lecture.
Center for Environment & Society Director John Seidel and his wife, Staff Archaeologist Liz Seidel.
Center for Environment & Society Director John Seidel and his wife, Staff Archaeologist Liz Seidel.
The ovation.
The ovation.
The End.
The End.

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