"Thomas Jefferson occupies a special niche in the hagiology of American Founding Fathers. His name is invoked for a staggering range of causes; statists and libertarians, nationalists and States' righters, conservatives and radicals all claim his blessing. In this book, Forrest McDonald examines Jefferson's performance as the nation's leader, evaluating his ability as a policy-maker, administrator, and diplomat."--Publisher.

Edward P. Jones reads a section from his Pulitzer Prize-winning fiction novel, THE KNOWN WORLD, at the Arlington County Public Library, Central Branch, in 2004. Jones' novel tells the story of a freed Black man in the Antebellum South who climbs up the social ladder from being an enslaved person to becoming a slave owner himself. Follows a Q&A session with the author.

Presentation by Dean Allard, former President of the Arlington Historical Society, about the presence of the United States Navy in Arlington. Specific focus is given to the Navy Radio Station at Fort Meyer and other radio/communications facilities in the area. The program concludes with a Q&A session.

Recruited by the U.S. Army and Navy from small towns and elite colleges, more than ten thousand women served as codebreakers during World War II. While their brothers and boyfriends took up arms, these women moved to Washington and learned the meticulous work of code-breaking. Their efforts shortened the war, saved countless lives, and gave them access to careers previously denied to them.

Recording of a presentation at Arlington Central Library about the history and impact of the African-American community on American fashion history. Includes a fashion show featuring designs by local fashion designer Rosemary Reed-Miller, and readings about historical Black fashion designers. The program concludes with a Q&A session with Ms. Reed-Miller.

Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, leaving behind a series of mysteries that captured the imaginations of historical investigators-an interest rekindled by the recent revelation that he fathered a child by Sally Hemmings, a woman he legally owned-yet there is still surprisingly little known about him as a man. In Jefferson's Secrets Andrew Burstein focuses on Jefferson's last days to create an emotionally powerful portrait of the uncensored...

Recording of a presentation given by the Arlington County Police Department in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and then anthrax attacks on DC area post offices in the fall of 2001. Contains info for County employees regarding what bioterrorism is, what dangers it poses, and how County employees can help prevent bioterror attacks, especially when it comes to packages and letters laced with anthrax or other dangerous substances sent through the mail.

"Arlington is the smallest, most densely populated county in the United States. Its destiny has been driven by its geographic proximity to Washington, D.C., and very important by the fact that most Potomac River crossings begin in the county. Initially part of a large land grant to Lord Fairfax before the Revolutionary War, what is now Arlington was ceded to help form the new federal government seat by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1790. It remained...

Amid all the stories of tragedy and heroism on September 11, there is one tale that has yet to be told–the gripping account of ordinary men and women braving the inferno at the Pentagon to rescue friends and co-workers, save the nation’s military headquarters, and defend their country.
Pentagon firefighters Alan Wallace and Mark Skipper had just learned the shocking news that planes had struck the World Trade Center when they saw something...

"Sitting just south of the nation's capital, Alexandria has a long and storied history. Still, little is known of Alexandria's twentieth century African American community. Experience the harrowing narratives of trials and triumph as Alexandria's African Americans helped to shape not only their hometown but also the world around them. Rutherford Adkins became one of the first black fighter pilots as a Tuskegee Airman. Samuel Tucker, a twenty-six-year...