Delaware: Courage to Save the Words That Built America (with Anna Crowley Redding) | Episode 118

How close did America come to losing its foundational words forever? In this episode of Stories That Live In Us, host Crista Cowan (The Barefoot Genealogist) takes us to Delaware—the First State—as our countdown to America’s 250th birthday reaches its finale.Our guest is Anna Crowley Redding, an Emmy Award-winning investigative television reporter turned acclaimed children’s book author. Anna shares the thrilling, forgotten history behind her book, Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: How We Almost Lost the Words That Built America. Together, Crista and Anna unpack the incredible true story of Stephen Pleasanton, an ordinary State Department clerk who risked everything to save the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and thousands of historic documents from British torches during the War of 1812.Beyond the history books, this episode dives deep into the personal. Anna opens up about her own profound trial of courage, balancing the grief of losing an infant nephew and a sudden breast cancer diagnosis at age 39, all while fighting to get her stories out into the world.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The Midnight Ride You Never Heard Of: How a low-level clerk outsmarted the Secretary of War to pack up three floors of irreplaceable parchment as British troops closed in on Washington, D.C. in 1814.The Power of Primary Sources: Why historical artifacts, old census records, and even 19th-century maps can spark an immediate, tangible curiosity in children.Grief and Resilience: How to find the fortitude to face a blank page (or a major life crisis) and keep moving forward.Family History Tips for Parents: Simple, actionable ways to share your genealogical discoveries with your kids without needing to be a professional writer."You can be a regular person... and yet, an opportunity can arrive in your lap to do something courageous, and you can come through in a way that makes a real difference." — Anna Crowley ReddingHit subscribe to follow along as we journey through all 50 states to uncover the deep connections and stories that live in all of us!Links & Resources:Learn more about Anna Crowley Redding: https://annacrowleyredding.com/Buy Rescuing the Declaration of Independence: https://amzn.to/4xTJfe5〰️ 🌳 🧬 〰️  🎧 Ready to discover more stories that could transform your family connections? Subscribe to 'Stories That Live In Us' wherever you get your podcasts, and leave a review to help other families find their path to deeper connection through family history. Together, we're building a community of families committed to preserving and sharing the stories that matter most. 🖼️  Ready to get your family tree out of your computer and onto your wall? Visit FamilyChartmasters.com to create a family tree chart that will help your family share stories for generations.♥  Want more family history tips and inspiration? Follow me @CristaCowan on Instagram where I share behind-the-scenes looks at my own family discoveries and practical ways to uncover yours!