Mary Wiseman is a firm believer in the philosophy that things are meant to be and when people are fortunate enough to do what they are meant to do life is good.  At sixty-six she has the experience of life lessons to support that philosophy.  Currently Mary is the historical interpreter of Martha Washington at Mount Vernon Estate, devoting five days a week as well as many special events providing a vibrant, historically accurate, and uncanny personal interpretation of this country’s first First Lady. She is very comfortable conversing with the many tourists about Martha’s life as the clever young woman who married George Washington, her years being his faithful wife, his constant companion, who traveled many miles and sacrificed her comfort to be with him during the war years, and the wonderful hostess who provided hospitality to thousands of visitors at Mount Vernon.

Interpreting the life and character of Martha Washington at Mount Vernon may have been “meant to be”, but it took Mary many years to arrive at that juncture in her life.  Mary grew up in the north, married her childhood sweetheart and thought her life was set. Her first challenge to that vision is when her college professor husband accepted a teaching position at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.  She wasn’t happy about living in the south and remembers attending a faculty dinner with him at the Williamsburg Lodge soon after their arrival, all the while wandering through the Lodge hallways not sure what she was doing there.  Eight years later she was in the same room leading a discussion on “Forum for Women in History”, a program emphasizing the contributions of women to 18^th century Williamsburg.

At twenty-seven, Mary found her first similarity with Martha Washington, both single women with two young children to raise, Martha through the death of her first husband, Mary through divorce.  Martha soon married the dashing young George Washington and moved to Mount Vernon, Mary set about defining the living history program at Colonial Williamsburg.  She is the founding force in the development of that program and oversaw the research, casting and development of presentations of historical character interpretation in Williamsburg.  She is also credited with creating “Young Gentlemen of the College” and “ Young Ladies of Accomplishment”, presentations which highlight eighteenth century language, deportment and manners.

As part of the “Forum for Women in History”, Mary appeared as Christiana Campbell, Lady Tyron, and Mrs. Peyton Randolph and became interested in the young Martha Washington.  Another ironic connection between Mary and Martha was the publication of “Worthy Partner:  The Papers of Martha Washington”, compiled by Joseph E. Fields, MD, who in addition to being a historical researcher was Mary’s gynecologist in Williamsburg.  Since Martha burned most of the letters written between she and George, this book is a primary resource for determining the thoughts, habits, daily routines and beliefs of Martha and has been instrumental in Mary’s formulation of the Martha Washington character.

Nearing retirement age from Colonial Williamsburg Mary was concentrating on her portrayal of the First Lady and started contracting with Mount Vernon for appearing at special events.  Appearing at events at both Williamsburg and Mount Vernon created scheduling conflicts and it was Stephanie Pace-Brown, current director of the Alexandria’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, who encouraged Mary to make the move to Alexandria and pursue her present full time position at Mount Vernon.

Hesitant to leave a community and friends she had known for over thirty years, she relied on her “meant to be” philosophy for guidance.  Mary reviewed similarities between the two of them; they have the same initials, “MW”, both became single women at the same age with two small children to raise, they have the same coloring, both born in the month of June, and both attended Bruton Parish in Williamsburg, but it wasn’t until she found her home on “Potomac Avenue” in Alexandria and her landlord said he was honored to rent to Martha Washington that she decided to make a permanent move.  She has never regretted the decision stating that Mount Vernon and Alexandria are perfect settings for her.

Today Mary can be found in Martha’s parlor in a cottage just steps away from the entrance to the mansion at Mount Vernon quietly doing needlepoint while providing the same hospitality to the many tourists visiting the estate that Martha provided to the many visitors seeking guidance and inspiration from her husband, George Washington.

Mary is also very excited about interpreting the role of Martha Washington as the hostess at Mount Vernon in a new exhibit, “Hoecakes and Hospitality:  Cooking with Martha Washington”, opening on February 18^th in celebration of the 280^th anniversary of the birth of George Washington.  She’ll be providing insights to how Martha arranged the seating at large dinners, orchestrated the menus and serving, instigated conversation among guests, and set the standard of hospitality for the new nation.  Mary at age 66 is interpreting Martha Washington at the age of 66.  Another sign to Mary that it was “meant to be”.