Leslie Goddard as: "Mary Chesnut"
Daughter of a wealthy planter and wife of a top presidential aide, Mary Chesnut witnessed first-hand many key events in the South during the Civil War, recording them in a diary considered one of the most compelling personal accounts of the war. In this first-person portrayal, Chesnut reads from her journal, sharing stories of the events unfolding around her and her often surprising perspectives on race, political power, and social status. Small wonder her journal has been called "the most famous war diary of a Southern woman" and "one of the best windows we have into southern society during the American Civil War."
With experience as a historian, actor, and museum teacher, Leslie Goddard brings a unique perspective to her history presentations.
Trained as a historian, Leslie earned a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, specializing in U.S. cultural history, American studies, and women's history. She also holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in theater and has been working in the field of museum interpretation for nearly ten years. Her programs combine her experience as a teacher and actor with her background as a historian and researcher.