Department of Research

DOCUMENTARY AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH AT MONTPELIER

Documentary Research
Montpelier's African American Descendants' Project
Resources

The Montpelier Research Department conducts historical inquiry into the life and times of James and Dolley Madison, the Enslaved Community and their descendants, and the United States Constitution. Our research supports Montpelier’s educational and interpretive programs, curatorial exhibitions, and publications.

Research Projects

The Montpelier Research Department conducts numerous projects in support of our mission. Our digital database, available to researchers, scholars, and the general public by appointment, is regularly updated with historical documents and current research reports. To learn more about the work we do, see sample projects, and visit online exhibitions, use the buttons to the right.

The South Yard Dwellings

Archaeology, Architecture & Preservation, Curatorial & Collections, Research
The South Yard Dwellings

The Naming Project

Research
The Naming Project

The Montpelier Home Farm Project

Archaeology, Architecture & Preservation, Research
The Montpelier Home Farm Project

Montpelier Digital Collections Project

Archaeology, Architecture & Preservation, Curatorial & Collections, Research
Montpelier Digital Collections Project

Montpelier Descendants’ Project

Research
Montpelier Descendants’ Project

Researching with the MRD

Research
Researching with the MRD

Paul Jennings Memoir

Research
Paul Jennings Memoir

Digging Deeper Blog

Our blog is where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at all of our projects,  and learn more about what our researchers do. Dive into the day-to-day world of historical research!

Connect Past to the Present

Visit The Mere Distinction of Colour Exhibition!

The Team

HH_photo1_07_2018_JP

Hilarie M. Hicks, MA

Senior Research Historian

Hilarie M. Hicks came to Montpelier in 2010 and joined the Research Department in 2011. She served on the research and writing team for the award-winning exhibition The Mere Distinction of Colour. Hilarie’s current research interests include plantation operations, James and Dolley Madison, and any topic that she hasn’t looked into yet. Having earned her B.A. at the College of William and Mary and her M.A. from the Cooperstown Graduate Program in Museum Studies, Hilarie’s historic site experience includes working as a historical interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg (VA), as curator of interpretation at Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens (New Bern, NC), and as executive director of the Rosewell Ruins (Gloucester, VA). She is a board member of the Orange County Historical Society and volunteers as a judge for the We the People student competition.

Hilarie has since accepted the position of Director of Museum Programs at Montpelier in 2022.