John Garrison Marks is a historian and writer exploring the United States' histories of race,
slavery, and public memory. He is the author or editor of three books, and his writing has
appeared in the Washington Post, TIME, Smithsonian Magazine, and elsewhere. His latest book,
Thy Will Be Done: George Washington's Legacy of Slavery and the Fight for American Memory,
explores how generations of Americans have made sense of George Washington's involvement
in slavery. Marks currently works as the Vice President of Research and Engagement for the
American Association for State and Local History, the national professional association for
public history practitioners and institutions. He earned his Ph.D. in history from Rice University.