Bonus Episode: Dagger or Paper Cutter? Patrick Henry's Prop

Media Type

Audio

Topics

American Revolution

18 min 8 s

Season 1

RevolutionRevisited_S1Bonus_DaggerOrPaperCutter_Transcript.pdf211.84 KB

He held this item when he declared, “Give me liberty or give me death”, and in fact pretended to plunge it into his breast as if it were a dagger.

In this mini-episode of Revolution Revisited, host Maggie Creech and guest Cody Youngblood, Director of Historic Preservation and Collections at Patrick Henry's Red Hill, explore the story behind Patrick Henry's paper cutter. This seemingly unassuming artifact played a pivotal role in Henry's iconic 'Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death' speech.

Inside the Episode:

The episode delves into Henry's complex personal life, including his contradictory legacy as a revolutionary figure and enslaver. Youngblood provides insights into Henry's family life, his dramatic flair, and new discoveries around the paper cutter that enhance our understanding of this historic object. The episode underscores the enduring impact of Patrick Henry and his contributions to American history.

Guest:

Cody Youngblood: Director of Historic Preservation & Collections at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill
Cody Youngblood is an architectural historian and the Director of Historic Preservation & Collections at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill. He holds a B.A. in Historic Preservation and Museum Studies from the University of Mary Washington and an M.A. in the Conservation of Historic Buildings from the University of York. He has formerly served as Museum Director of George C. Marshall’s Dodona Manor and Collections Manager at Oatlands Historic House & Gardens in Leesburg, Virginia. At Red Hill, Cody stewards a collection of nearly 3,000 artifacts and manages the preservation of its historic built environment. He remains a lifelong taphophile and enjoys genealogical research in his spare time.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Revolution Revisited
00:00 Introduction to Revolution Revisited
00:53 Spotlight on Patrick Henry's Paper Cutter
01:49 Patrick Henry's Personal Life and Legacy
03:38 The Complexities of Henry's Family Life
07:12 Henry's Early Career and Rise to Fame
08:22 The Significance of the Paper Cutter
10:15 Historical Context and Preservation
13:00 Patrick Henry's Theatrical Flair
16:50 Conclusion

COLLECTION SPOTLIGHT:

A long, flat, slightly curved ivory-colored object with rounded ends and a smooth surface, showing signs of wear and dark specks. It is a whalebone paper cutter used for opening letters or cutting pages in books.

Courtesy of Patrick Henry’s Red Hill

Patrick Henry’s Paper Cutter

Known for his theatrics, it is believed that as Henry brought his appeal to the Second Virginia Convention at St. John’ Church to a close, he raised this paper cutter into the air as he said, "Give me liberty," and dramatically plunged it toward his breast like a dagger on the word "death."

VMHC 1934.2

Patrick Henry's Spectacles

After interviewing people who had seen Henry’s speeches, one historian noted that, “if his remarks were to be brief, his spectacles would remain on his nose. But if he was seen to give his spectacles a cant to the top of his wig, it was a declaration of war, and his adversaries must stand clear.”

Bonus Episode: Dagger or Paper Cutter? Patrick Henry's Prop