Mary Miley Theobald

Historian and writer

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• About Me

  I'm an Army brat who has lived in Virginia most of my adult life. I received my BA and MA in history from the College of William and Mary and taught American history and museum studies at Virginia Commonwealth University for thirteen years. I am the author of almost 200 magazine articles, most on history, travel, and business topics, ten nonfiction books, and two historical mysteries. 

• • Renting Silence
  • Stolen Memories
  • Silent Murders
  • The Impersonator
  • St. Mary's Hospital
  • Rivers and Roads
  • First House
  • Death by Petticoat
  • Stuff After Death
  • Williamsburg Christmas
  • Recipes from Raleigh Tavern Bakery
  • Four Centuries of Virginia Christmas
  • Williamsburg: The First 75 Years
  • Museum Store Management
  • Hirschler Fleischer

• Upcoming Events

  1. Murder in Disguise reading: Chop Suey Books

     August 16 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

  2. Mechanicsburg, PA’s Mystery Author Tea Party

     August 24 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

  3. Renting Silence book talk: Libbie Mill Library

     September 26 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

  4. Fall for the Book Festival: George Mason University

     October 14

  5. Little Book Shop: Midlothian, VA

     October 26 @ 1:00 pm

  View All Events

• Podcasts and Media

  1) VA This Morning 10.10.2014 2) Pumpkin's Progress 3) History's Myths 4) More History Myths 5) History Myths about Antiques 6) Weird-but-True Things Hardly Anyone Knows about the Roaring Twenties lecture 7) DAR headquarters lecture: women's history myths

Be sure to also visit ...

• Mary Miley’s Roaring Twenties

  • How long was a vaudeville act?
  • Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit Grows in the 1890s
  • Houdini’s Rise to Stardom
  • Murder in Disguise Gets a Nice Review

• History Myths Debunked

  • Revisited Myth # 126: “A boot of ale” derives from the custom of using old boots as drinking vessels.
  • Revisited Myth # 125: The word “bar” comes from the cage or bars that barred people out of the bartender’s space.

• Stuff After Death

  • An article from The Economist explains the poor antiques market
  • Unwanted Inheritance
  • Everything But the House, including the Horse
  • Guidelines from a Frequent Reader

• Have Stuff, Will Travel

  To schedule book club visits (in person or via Skype) or lectures, contact me directly at mmtheobald@gmail.com. I usually bring along objects and illustrations that make for a lively presentation and discussion.