Mary Thompson
Mary V. Thompson
Research Historian Emerita
| Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
An accomplished researcher with a particular passion and expertise in the 18th century and Colonial American History, Mary V. Thompson excelled for over 40 years at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the first President’s expansive estate with a mansion and four gardens. Starting in 1980 as a museum attendant and advancing to curatorial assistant for six years, she subsequently became a curatorial registrar and research specialist over the course of two decades. From 2008 to 2022, she was active as a research historian and has been honored with the title of research historian emerita since her retirement.
Crediting her success to a love for conducting research, Ms. Thompson dedicated four decades to improving the experience for visitors at Mount Vernon—particularly those with limited knowledge of history. Over the course of her time there, she developed experience in such fields as collection management, exhibitions, special projects, and publications. Having written several articles and book chapters, she authored the books “A Short Biography of Martha Washington” in 2017 and both “The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret: George Washington, Slavery, and the Enslaved Community at Mount Vernon”—which she considers her most significant accomplishment—and “In the Hands of a Good Providence: Religion in the Life of George Washington” in 2019. For these works, she won the Alexandria History Award and the James Bradford Biography Prize.
In addition, Ms. Thompson’s given numerous lectures and taught classes for groups ranging from historical interpreters to college students and military officers. She also spent many years helping those who work inside the site’s library, including fellow scholars, those pursuing their graduate degrees, and full professors who visit Mount Vernon to work on projects while on sabbatical from their primary teaching positions.
Outside of Mount Vernon, Ms. Thompson has found success as a board member with the Alexandria Historical Society since 2023. She previously launched her career as a volunteer at two United States Army museums and as a volunteer field researcher, studying folk craft survivals in rural Alabama. Her father, Parker Campbell Thompson, an Army chaplain for over 30 years, passed his love of history down to her; wherever the family was stationed—as his work took them to all parts of the world—he brought them to historic sites and museums. Her father ultimately became the curator of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Museum when she was in junior high school, during which time she’d help him run exhibits.
From these formative experiences, Ms. Thompson went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in History and graduate magna cum laude from Samford University in 1977 and then a Master of Arts in Modern Europe and Colonial America from the University of Virginia in 1980.
Press Release
Marquis Who’s Who Honors Mary V. Thompson for Success in American History
Mary V. Thompson is an expert in 18th-century religious history who dedicated over 40 years to her field
Mary V. Thompson has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Thompson is an accomplished research historian emerita at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, where she dedicated over four decades to studying and interpreting American history. Before her retirement in 2022, she was instrumental in assisting scholars, graduate students and professors who visit the library to work on various projects. Ms. Thompson’s expertise in religion in Washington’s life and 18th-century history has made her an invaluable resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of this pivotal era.
Having begun her career at Mount Vernon in 1980, Ms. Thompson was a museum attendant and historical interpreter. Over the years, she has advanced through several roles, including curatorial assistant, curatorial registrar, research specialist, and research historian. Her extensive tenure at Mount Vernon allowed her to contribute significantly to the site’s historical narrative and visitor experience.
Among many accomplishments at Mount Vernon, Ms. Thompson became fluent in interpretation, special projects, collection management and exhibitions. She became a seasoned researcher and has contributed numerous articles and chapters for books, and authored three books, including “In the Hands of a Good Providence: Religion in the Life of George Washington” in 2008 and “The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret: Slavery at the Home of George Washington” in 2019. The latter book reflects her deep commitment to addressing the often-overlooked subject of slavery in historical narratives. She is particularly proud of the progress made at Mount Vernon in interpreting slavery and fostering positive relationships with the descendants of enslaved people from the estate. Moreover, Ms. Thompson has given lectures and taught classes for various groups, including historical interpreters and military officers and curated a significant traveling exhibition to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s death and a traveling banner show with the National Institutes of Health.
A graduate of Samford University, Ms. Thompson received a Bachelor of Arts in history, magna cum laude, in 1977. She also garnered a Master of Arts in history with a focus on early modern Europe and colonial America from the University of Virginia in 1980.
In addition to her professional achievements, Ms. Thompson is actively involved in various professional and civic organizations. She was a member of the Arnold Air Society in college and is currently a member of the board of the Alexandria Historical Society. Her long-standing commitment to community service included a volunteer role with the Sierra Club in the early 1980s. Her earlier volunteer work also included working with the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum and the U.S. Army Chaplain Museum. Ms. Thompson also served as a volunteer tour guide at Meridian House from 1985 to 1990, chaired the preservation committee for the Tauxemont Community Association between 2003 and 2009, and was a volunteer judge for Virginia History Day District 5 from 2012 to 2015.
Ms. Thompson’s dedication to historical scholarship has earned her numerous accolades, including the Alexandria History Award from the Historical Society and the James Bradford Biography Prize in 2019. As she prepares for future endeavors, she aims to remain open-minded and embrace new opportunities while continuing her work on significant historical projects like her upcoming book about the animals of Mount Vernon and another on Martha Washington’s experiences during the Revolutionary War.