About Me

I have a Ph.D. in History from the Department of History and Art History at George Mason University. My dissertation examined the intersection of family strategies and the formation of national identity for Americans abroad in the post revolutionary period, using the Maury family of Virginia and Liverpool as a case study. My scholarly interests include the long eighteenth century in the British Atlantic, material culture, and families as networks.

I have a BA in History from Vassar College and an MSc in Scottish Studies from the University of Edinburgh. From 2008 to 2011, I was part of the Curatorial Department at James Madison’s Montpelier, conducting documentary research to aid in the restoration of the interiors.

I am an experienced public historian and digital humanist. From 2014 through 2002, I was the Digital History Associate at the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. My work with RRCHNM ranged from technical planning and project management through content creation and sometimes outreach. Projects which I managed included the award-winning Histories of the National Mall website and the Papers of the War Department community transcription project. I served as the End User Outreach Coordinator for the Omeka web publishing platform for seven years, in which capacity I wrote user manuals, conducted accessibility audits, and developed and conducted training workshops.

A smiling woman in a blue shirt

In addition, I’m a crafter – crochet, sewing, and sketching – who enjoys making projects I can finish in one day. I share photos of historic sites, cool things in the woods, and sometimes my crafts on Instagram.

To contact me, please email mebrett at this domain.

2 comments

  1. Hello Megan Brett,

    While Googling for information on a Scottish silversmith called Alexander Rollo (active Dundee late C18th) I saw that you had written your thesis on John Rollo, goldsmith, of Edinburgh. As part of your research did you come across any children or cousins/brother bearing the name Alexander who became gold/silversmiths?

    I’ve been researching some of the C19th silversmiths in Dundee and have published one article on James Sturrock of Montrose. I’m currently researching William Constable of Dundee. But Alexander Rollo I can find very little on.

    I’d be very grateful for any help you might have to offer.

    Kind regards,

    Laurence Joyce

    1. Hello Laurence Joyce,

      I am afraid my research did not carry very far to the next generation. John Rollo of Edinburgh left the goldsmith business in the 1740s to become a customs inspector in Banff, and became the sixth Lord Rollo on the death of his brother Andrew in 1765. I have more complete genealogical information on my home computer and will be glad to check this evening. If it is convenient, I can email you with what I have.

      Best,

      Megan Brett

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