The Power Behind the American Founding: Elizabeth Willing Powel and Women’s Influence in Early America with Samantha Snyder

Research librarian and historian Samantha Snyder joins Holley Snaith to explore the life and influence of Elizabeth Willing Powel, one of the most fascinating yet overlooked women of the American founding. Together, they discuss Powel’s role within the political and social world of early Philadelphia, her relationships with figures such as George Washington and John Adams, and the ways women shaped political culture through conversation, correspondence, hospitality, and social networks. Samantha also shares insights from her forthcoming book, A Remarkable Woman: Elizabeth Willing Powel and the Founding of the American Republic, challenging long-standing misconceptions and offering a fresh perspective on women’s influence during the founding era.

Samantha Snyder Biography

Samantha Snyder is a Research Librarian at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. She first encountered Elizabeth Willing Powel through George Washington’s papers and has spent nearly a decade researching her life, bringing together archival research, public history, and narrative biography to recover one of the most compelling women of the founding era.

About Samantha’s Forthcoming Book, A Remarkable Woman: Elizabeth Willing Powel and the Founding of the American Republic

This vivid, deeply researched biography places Elizabeth Willing Powel at the center of the American founding, revealing her as a political influencer, astute businesswoman, and a key figure in shaping elite Philadelphia society. Through rich archival detail and compelling narrative, the book challenges long-held assumptions and restores Powel’s place as an essential voice in the early republic.

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Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

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