Wedgwood’s storied history as an iconic creator of beautiful ceramics art is the focus of American Spirit‘s September/October issue.

In 1759, Josiah Wedgwood, an apprentice potter in England, left his job at an established potter’s workshop and opened his own pottery business. This year, to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Wedgwood will join the DAR Museum as it presents a new exhibition, “Wedgwood: 250 Years of Innovation and Artistry” from October 3 through February 27, 2010. Our story illustrates the legacy of a talented visionary and encourages visitors to check out the exhibit, which will feature 200 diverse pieces dating from the 1700s to today.

Did you know there was a baby boom before the 20th century’s baby boom? Only twice in U.S. history has the fertility rate been on the rise: during Colonial times and post-WWII. In Benjamin Franklin’s time, the U.S. population doubled about every 24 years, reflecting a remarkable annual growth rate of 3 percent. Our feature explores reasons for the rise in birth rate and its rather steep fall after independence was won.
The issue also has a story on the many contributions made by the College of William and Mary to the new republic. Founded in 1698, William and Mary was where Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Marshall and other Founding Fathers were educated, and it claims several “firsts,” including the first college in the nation to institute an honor code. (Hammock trivia: It’s also the alma mater of our own John Lavey.)