For children & families · Thanksgiving
Sarah Had a Little Plan
Meet Sarah Josepha Hale and the determined campaign that helped make Thanksgiving a national holiday.
Author • Speaker • Living Historian
History is a story.
Come live it.
Explore early America with Jen Tousey: first-person historical portrayals, third-person illustrated talks, books for children and adults, hands-on workshops, and thoughtfully organized historical events.
A shared cup of tea, a stitch, a spirited conversation—and suddenly, the past feels wonderfully near.
A little history. A lasting impression.
Notable groups and places Jen has presentedGeorge Washington’s Mount VernonMuseum of the American RevolutionDaughters of the American RevolutionSons of the American Revolution
From the author’s desk
Turn a page.
Step into another time.
Books for children and adults—from illustrated family stories to the taverns, toasts, and hospitality of early America.
For adults · Taverns, toasts & hospitality
Raise a Glass
A spirited look at early American drink, the art of toasting, and modern hosting of the American experiment.
Buy the Kindle edition on Amazon ↗Enquire about a printed copy ↗
For children & families · Christmas
George Washington’s Christmas Homecoming
A journey from the burdens of command to the comforts of Mount Vernon, told in verse for families to share.
For young adventurers
Awesome Travel Activities for Kids
Fun for planes, trains, cars, cruises, and more!
View on Amazon ↗View at Books-A-Million ↗
Third-person talks & author visits
Spark something
revolutionary.
A former educator, published author, and living historian, Jen brings research, warmth, wit, and a touch of theatrical charm to the people and customs of early America.
In third-person talks, Jen speaks as herself, using illustrations, historical objects, and storytelling to explore early America. For an in-character visit, discover her first-person interpretations in Meet the Past below.
Plan a program with Jen
Liber-TEA
Tea, resistance, and women’s political influence, beyond Boston. Optional historical tea pairing with Sage & Folly.
Raise a Glass
Early American drink, tavern culture, spirited toasts, and the enduring art of hospitality.
How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday
Sarah Josepha Hale’s resolve, her remarkable campaign, and a tradition that still gathers us together.
George Washington’s Christmas Homecoming
A farewell to command and the journey home that made Christmas 1783 extraordinary.
Revolutionary Style
What women wore in the eighteenth century, and how revolution found its way into fashion.
More tales worth telling
Churches & Taverns • Revolutionary Women & Everyday Influence • Open Doors, Open Hearts • A Year of Living Curiously • The Art of Flirtation • The Terrible, No Good Christmases of George Washington • Children’s & Family Author Visits
What might suit your audience?
Libraries, museums, schools, churches, historical societies, heritage organisations, and community groups are welcome to enquire. Share your audience, occasion, proposed date, and location so Jen can discuss length, format, fees, and tailored offerings.
A glimpse from the audience
Stories worth gathering round.
From libraries and community gatherings to historic settings and commemorative occasions, see Jen sharing stories with curious audiences.
First-person historical interpretations
Meet the Past
Invite a voice from another time into your gathering. In these first-person interpretations, Jen speaks as the historical character, sharing that person’s world through stories and conversation. Choose a portrayal for your museum, library, school, or community gathering.
Betsy Ross
Meet the woman behind the familiar name through a first-person interpretation of her life, family, and Revolutionary world.
Elizabeth Willing Powel
Step into the company of a Philadelphia hostess whose conversations and connections reached into the founding era.
A Tavern Keeper
Pull up a chair for a first-person encounter with the hospitality and everyday bustle of an early American gathering place.
Photographs of portrayals, programs, and historical gatherings, with one illustrated scene.
Invite a voice from the past
Make something. Discover something.
The past is
in your hands.
There is a particular delight in learning a skill that another pair of hands practised centuries ago. Jen’s historical arts workshops turn curiosity into something tangible.
Historic hand stitchesNeedle booksPocketsApronsPetticoatsPomander ballsQuill pens and inkSachetsCorn husk dolls
Enquire about a project for your group, skill level, materials, and the time you have to spend together.
Arrange a workshop ↗See the workshops in pictures ↓
A glimpse around the workshop table
Willing hands. Wonderful discoveries.
Pomanders, corn husk dolls, sewing, and shared discoveries—for young makers and lifelong learners alike.
Past events created & organized by Jen
History lives where
curiosity gathers.
Jen creates and organizes immersive historical events, bringing interpreters, activities, and storytelling together. Explore these past gatherings, or enquire about an event for your own community.
2024–26
Past event · Three years of living history
Colonial Fair
From “Unsung Heroes” to “Shot Heard Round Middletown” and “Dangerous Ideas & Intrigue,” three years of the Colonial Fair brought early American stories to life in Indianapolis.
Militia drills, music, skits, spy missions, and hands-on discovery made room for the whole family’s curiosity.
Explore the 2026 fair · Gallery ↓Explore the 2025 fair · Gallery ↓
Explore the 2024 fair · Gallery ↓
250
Past event · Commemorating the American story
Indiana Masons 250
The Founding Fathers Day Festival, June 19–20, 2026: a past gathering commemorating America’s founding through shared stories and hands-on discovery.
Explore Indiana Masons 250 · Gallery ↓Discuss a future gathering ↗
From the 2026 Colonial Fair · Past event
Dangerous Ideas & Intrigue
Step back into Middletown: a glimpse of the people, discoveries, and merry company that brought the 2026 fair to life.
Seven photographs and the illustrated Middletown map. Select an image to enlarge it.
From the 2025 Colonial Fair · Past event
Shot Heard Round Middletown
Young recruits on the green, music in the air, and crafts at every turn: revisit the people and everyday discoveries of the 2025 fair.
Select a photograph to enlarge it and explore the collection.
From the 2024 Colonial Fair · Past event
Unsung Heroes
Meet the people behind the stories: skilled hands, curious visitors, camp life, and a fair measure of Middletown mischief.
Select a photograph to enlarge it and explore the collection.
Past event · June 19–20, 2026
Indiana Masons 250
A glimpse of the Founding Fathers Day Festival: historical flags, willing hands, and discoveries shared across generations.
Five photographs and the illustrated campus map. Select an image to explore the collection.
The ruckus continues
Tea & Rebellion Society
History lives where curiosity gathers. Join the conversation about immersive history, shared skills, and spirited gatherings.
Society website — coming soon
Tea & Rebellion Society on Facebook ↗You are most cordially invited
Let us make
a little history.
Planning a program, a workshop, an author visit, or a gathering? Tell Jen what you have in mind.
jennifertousey@icloud.com
310-422-9337
Your most humble servant,
Jen