About the Episode:

Drawing on Connie Lapallo’s Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky, this episode explores the largely overlooked stories of the women and children who arrived in Jamestown, particularly during the perilous 1609 voyage and the brutal “Starving Time” winter that followed. Through the experiences of real historical figures like Joan Phippen Peirce and her daughter—Lapallo’s own ancestors—we uncover tales of extraordinary courage, heartbreaking loss, resourcefulness, and quiet resilience. These families transformed a struggling military outpost into America’s first permanent English colony, laying the human foundations for what would become the United States.

About Kathryn James

After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from Colorado State University, she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Northern Colorado. Kathryn brings her expertise as an LCS instructor to help us connect historical lessons to today’s learners.

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