INSIDE JYF
SPRING 2025
from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
It’s a new year at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, where our history museums are ready to captivate guests with centuries-old stories of people and events that shaped America. 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of historic events leading to the Declaration of Independence and ensuing American Revolution, and JYF is in the middle of it all. Across the Commonwealth, JYF is leaving its imprint on signature exhibitions and events to mark the revolutionary moment. Commemorations are in JYF’s DNA, with both museums rooted in historic milestones dating to 1957 with the 350th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the 1976 Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence.
The museums’ storylines have evolved over the decades to reveal perspectives of prominent and lesser-known witnesses to our nation’s founding. At every benchmark, new discoveries, new research and new points of view reshape our understanding of our nation’s past and underscore reasons why history matters.
In this issue, we highlight the important work of interpreters, curators, registrars and educators to rethink ways to make cultural connections with the past and engage Indigenous communities in our public interpretation and programs.
Our spring calendar is robust, bursting with opportunities to take in fascinating conversations at the Director’s Series, learn about the impact of the American Girl ® empire or the whiskey rebellion. Military Through the Ages returns for its 41st year, kicking off a spring season of events to remember.
We remain grateful to our dedicated board members, donors, staff and volunteers who steer our museums and uphold the agency’s educational mission. As we follow the road to Revolution, we invite you to rediscover and reignite what patriotism means to you with a visit to our museums.
Best wishes,
Christy S. Coleman Executive Director
INSIDE JYF
MARK MULLIGAN TRACY PERKINS
Editors
JOAN HEIKENS JANET KANE
Production Management
HOLLAND WINSLOW
Designer CONTRIBUTORS
Cindy Daniel, Brian Forrester, Constance Graham, Heather Hower, Lianne Koch, Mariruth Leftwich, Lisa Lucas, Sally Meyer, Deana Ricks, Melissa Gill Thompson, Glenda Turner, Meghan van Joosten
WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS
Felicia Abrams, Harvey Bakari, Morgan Culbertson, Abby Currier, Dexter Johnson, Gretchen Johnson, Janet Kane, Travis Henline, Homer Lanier, Lisa Lucas, Heather Minty, Konstantin Rega, Deana Ricks, Bly Straube
Enjoy INSIDE JYF? Support the museums by donating to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc. If you no longer wish to receive INSIDE JYF in print or would like to convert to digital, email insidejyf@jyf.virginia.gov or call (757) 253-4139.
INSIDE JYF
Volume 5, No. 1 – printed February 2025
The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an educational institution of the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, fosters through its museums—Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown—an awareness and understanding of the early history, settlement, and development of the United States through the convergence of American Indian, European, and African cultures and the enduring legacies bequeathed to the nation.
JAMESTOWN-YORKTOWN FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 1607, Williamsburg, VA 23187 (757) 253-4838
jyfmuseums.org
table of CONTENTS
About the Cover
Baskets outside the Revolution-era farm quarters for enslaved people reflect a cross-cultural approach to interpretation at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Vessels used and crafted by diverse cultures for fishing, poultry and farm produce serve as an immersive learning and interpretation tool that invites visitors to delve deeper into lesser-known aspects of America’s past. 4 8 At the Helm Christy Coleman reflects on
Cultural Art, Bead by Bead Museum Shops feature cultural bead art with community connections.
On the Road to Revolution
The countdown to 2026 – America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence – is underway with commemorative exhibitions and events on the horizon. Discover the integral work of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and its two museums to mark these historic milestones, from recalling the 1976 Bicentennial to engaging a whole new generation. 20 18
‘White Gold’ in Early Jamestown Chinese porcelain exhibit to explore origins of precious goods.
New to the Board
Trustee David Botkins is a champion of history. 14
Trustee Vicki Vasques shares why she supports JYF. 17
Donor Spotlight
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS TO THE REVOLUTION
Splitting strips of white oak, Terry Thon fixes her attention to the next layer of basket to weave.
Working from the bottom up, her crisscross formation used to shape and strengthen the bottom of the basket is more than functional; it symbolizes an essential skill across generations and cultures.
Thon is a master basket maker and living-history interpreter at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, where she and others are refining ways of interpretation to make personal connections with museum visitors and share centuries-old stories and traditions interwoven into the American identity.
“Baskets are one of those unique items that people all around the world have in common,” said Gretchen Johnson, living history manager overseeing interpretation in the museum’s re-created Revolution-era farm and Continental Army encampment. “In a rural setting like a tobacco farm, both free and enslaved men, women and children would have this skill.”
As part of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation’s new interpretive plan, the museums’ interpreters, educators and curators are developing programs and experiences to create cultural connections, foster curiosity and build belonging among its guests.
Among the refinements are new interactive signage to engage visitors in the story of the American Revolution, material culture of underrepresented groups, and cultural representation in storytelling during interpretive programs and events.
Formation of Soldiers to ‘Insert’ Guests into the Story of the Revolution
“American Revolutionary Patriots,” a new interactive cutout of life-size soldiers to be added to the TowneBank Pavilion this spring, will illustrate the diverse roles and backgrounds of those who fought for American independence.
The life-size cutouts showing two ranks of soldiers in regimental formation, shoulder to shoulder, holding their muskets with fixed bayonets, and ready to serve, offer guests an immersive experience. They can literally insert themselves in the story of the American Revolution and peer through the faces of the soldiers to view the Continental
Baskets Crisscross Cultures
Terry Thon, a master basket maker and living-history interpreter, demonstrates her trade at the Revolution-era farm. The basket is more than functional; it symbolizes an essential skill across generations and cultures.
Army encampment where living-history interpreters depict the life of a regimental soldier. Armed with a #jyfmuseums hashtag, the signage allows visitors to share their museum experiences on social media.
“The new signage will introduce visitors to patriots they may not have considered,” said Harvey Bakari, curator of Black History and Culture. “General George Washington’s troops were racially integrated throughout the war. The Rhode Island Regiment consisted of men of European, Indigenous and African ancestry from rural and urban communities.”
Some Indigenous soldiers were enlisted into the army, wearing the same uniforms as other patriot soldiers, while non-enlisted Indigenous allies led by White officers did not wear American uniforms while supporting patriot regiments, Bakari noted. While free Blacks and enslaved men fought in the Rhode Island Regiment, only free Black soldiers, who were primarily biracial, were allowed to fight under arms in Virginia. Enslaved men served in the war as substitutes for their owners or as noncombatant laborers.
An interactive map of the Siege of Yorktown, slated for installation later this year, will allow visitors to engage with the allied American and French army and naval operations critical to the 1781 decisive Revolutionary War victory that effectively ended the conflict.
Expanding Interpretation of Indigenous History
Lesser-known stories of the Revolution unfold in the museum’s extensive gallery exhibits and films and through outdoor interpretations in re-created settings. Tangible reproduction objects throughout dwellings and livinghistory spaces make America’s past relevant for guests, some of whom may relish in historical topics and others whose interest may not yet have been piqued.
Incorporating inclusive narratives into the museum’s programming and interpretation illustrates the complex and personal nature of the founding of America, including Indigenous history.
For Travis Henline, curator of Indigenous History and Culture, it is important to engage with tribal nations, including those affiliated with the American Revolution, in outreach and relationship-building to have them participate in gallery exhibits, public programs, interpretation and presentations of material culture. This method of shared authority gives voice to tribes to present their own histories and cultures to the public, a directive of the Indigenous Peoples Program established in 2021.
The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown held a commemorative event in September 2024 marking the 250th anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s War, a 1774 conflict between Virginia and the tribes on its western borders.
1774 Dunmore’s War Event
A Shawnee Encampment event in September 2024 featured tribal citizens of the Shawnee, Seneca-Cayuga and Lenape (Delaware) to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s War, a 1774 conflict between Virginia and tribal nations on its western borders. At right, a museum visitor interacts with a Shawnee citizen.
The two-day event featured cultural educators who are tribal citizens, including Shawnee, Seneca-Cayuga, Lenape (Delaware) and others, who created a livinghistory encampment with interpretive demonstrations of traditional food and cooking, tool making, warfare and captive taking, gender roles and seasonal lifeways.
Shawnee tribal citizen Jeremy Turner presented a formal lecture about his tribe’s participation in the 1774 conflict. These programs offered museum guests an opportunity to directly engage with tribal citizens and experience their unique, lived perspectives, learning about both their historical and present-day realities. “This approach is critical for facilitating understanding and empathy in our museum interpretations,” Henline said.
The shared programming also is a chance for interpretive collaboration. T.J. Savage, museum content and training supervisor, developed an interpretive program about westward expansion and the impact of settlement on Indigenous peoples, notably the Shawnee. He gathered material culture to tell the story, including deer pelts, wampum beads, quahog shells, tomahawks and surveying equipment, the latter he had a hand in crafting.
Savage already had a circumferentor (surveyor’s compass) and tripod among the surveying tools, and he worked to acquire two Gunter’s chains (early measuring tapes). He made 10 chaining arrows (wooden pins to mark distances) and two leather quivers to hold them. In addition to these materials, he worked with Henline to develop a training program to facilitate program delivery in the museum’s living-history areas and education programs, virtually and in Virginia classrooms.
To illustrate an Indigenous presence in the 18thcentury Tidewater area, material culture is being added to the Continental Army camp and Revolution-era farm, including pottery and baskets historically crafted and sold in colonial Virginia by tribal peoples.
Harvey Bakari, Curator of Black History and Culture; Travis Henline, Curator of Indigenous History and Culture; and Gretchen Johnson, Living History Manager, contributed to this story.
History in Site
T.J. Savage, content and training supervisor at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, developed an interpretive program about westward expansion and the impact of settlement on Indigenous peoples, including hand-crafting elements of 18th-century surveying equipment.
Join
Our museums come to life because of the interpretive features that make history tangible — from authentic artifacts and interactive signage to re-created structures and dynamic educational programs and initiatives, such as the Indigenous Peoples Program. None of it is possible without donor support. To make a gift, visit jyfmuseums.org/donate.
5 Big things
with Christy Coleman
2025 marks Christy Coleman’s fifth year at the helm of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Alot has happened since 2020, when Christy arrived as the new executive director, six weeks shy of a global pandemic — faced with how to reopen the history museums safely and regain public confidence in an uncertain world. On her milestone anniversary, she reflects on the work of the museums and what lies ahead with the approach of America’s 250th anniversary.
1Vision for JYF
On the fringes of the pandemic, “I thought how can we best seize the disruption caused by the pandemic to think deeply about how to better meet our mission — how to better serve our communities — locally and nationally. I also spent a lot of time thinking about how we support employees in such turbulent times. The summer of 2020 was a challenging time on so many levels.” She worked with staff and then upper management to develop a new strategic plan, a roadmap for JYF and its future to take to the Board of Trustees for approval. The five-year strategic plan focuses on three pillars: people, programs and communication.
3
Opportunities
Reaching new audiences of visitors and educators are top of mind for Christy, who regularly monitors museum business trends and research to convert that data into action. She rallies around opportunities for collaboration with other tourism and education institutions to raise the profile of Virginia and the Historic Triangle as a quality tourism destination.
“The whole region has the capacity not just to partner on tourism initiatives or marketing but create programmatic partnerships in meaningful ways. We have opportunities in how we serve the needs of educators. We have done an extraordinary job working with them to build their skill sets and help them address history through expanding digital media and education materials for their classrooms.”
Looking to the Future
Christy is encouraged by innovative efforts to create seamless visitor experiences at the two museums, including enhancements to technical infrastructure and ticketing systems and future renovations to Jamestown Settlement galleries and living-history areas, which last underwent a major capital revitalization in 2007 with some enhancements in 2019. New research is driving changes to James Fort, and the museum’s flagship, the Susan Constant, is away for a multiyear restoration, returning in Summer 2026.
“The big thing I would really love to see is renovations to our Jamestown facility, improve our lobby and café area. Some of the core galleries are nearing 20 years, so that redesign is not an inexpensive proposition. We want to make the building more energy efficient for long-term sustainability, both in terms of finances but environmentally, by using less energy resources to operate our facilities.”
2Proudest Moments
Christy strongly believes in the power of museums to share cultures, invite dialogue and strengthen quality of life. With so many changes implemented over the past few years, among the things she’s most proud of are the ground-breaking exhibitions such as “Reign & Rebellion” and “Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design.” Each drew new audiences and enabled the museum to more fully explore what “legacy” means according to JYF’s mission. She is also thrilled with new initiatives for education, national fundraising and communications, such as INSIDE JYF.
She is proud of JYF’s collaborations with Virginia’s Indigenous communities in the interpretation and programming of their own culture. Since the Indigenous Peoples Program began in 2021, Jamestown Settlement has renamed its re-created setting to Paspahegh Town to more accurately reflect the community on which it is based and, this year, transitioned to non-Native attire for historical interpreters who facilitate Indigenous history and culture. “We are making progress in that area, and I’m very proud of that work because sharing voice and sharing authority with Indigenous communities is critical. These are living cultures and communities, and our work should reflect that.”
5VA250 Commemoration
The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and on to the Siege of Yorktown remains pivotal as the nation marks its founding. JYF is ready for the observances, from the new “Patrons & Patriots” exhibition honoring the late Nick and Mary Mathews and their unwavering patriotism to an array of partnerships with the VA250 Commission, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Virginia Museum of History & Culture and other tourism partners to tell these extraordinary stories of America, past and present.
“Clearly the next six years are going to take us from 2026 to 2031, and it’s going to be all about the VA250. We are an important place to explore the revolutionary experience and to engage audiences around these ideas, intersecting with an incredible volume of programming, particularly at our American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. We are going to start things off with the Mathews exhibition, which really shows how one person or one family can make a difference on a national scale; this immigrant couple who wanted the world to know just how important Yorktown was to the American story.”
‘Powhatan Trade World’ Immerses Students in Virginia Indian History
The Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) cover a great deal of Indigenous history, especially for second graders. However, as any chaperone or educator can tell you, a standard two-hour guided program at Jamestown Settlement based on these academic standards is too long for most second graders’ attention spans. Teachers have sought a program for 6 to 8-year-olds that is shorter and focuses on Virginia Indian history.
To address these needs, JYF educators designed a one-hour experience, “Powhatan Trade World.” This new program asks learners to consider community and resources in Tsenacommacah, the Indigenous name for this land.
“Powhatan Trade World” begins with a hands-on trade simulation in which students must decide if they want to trade their goods for different goods, like deer hides, corn or access to raw materials, or keep what they have. Some students are remarkably generous, ensuring everyone has access to something, while others are more frugal, protecting their original resources. Neither response is right or wrong. Instead, the activity is intended to encourage students to think critically about resource distribution, who should have access, and some of the difficult decisions people faced in the past.
As the students journey through the museum’s re-created Paspahegh Town, they explore the natural resources
touched on in the trade simulation and learn how the Paspahegh and members of the Powhatan chieftaincy put those resources to work. They also interact with a historical interpreter to learn about trade with the English and discuss how new objects and a new language would impact the trade relationship.
The exchange prompts students to instinctively “lead their own learning” by encouraging them to actively participate in their own experiences that explore Indigenous culture.
The goal of the program extends past students understanding the trading habits of Virginia Indians; it allows the students to think about natural resources in their daily lives and how society can thrive when resources are shared adequately.
As part of JYF’s mission, museum programs are designed to encourage guests to consider long-lasting legacies of the past. For students, programs aim to influence them to become good stewards of our planet. Elements of critical thinking during this new program help them to consider other perspectives and reflect on why access to resources is important, both in the past and in the present.
Abby Currier, Elementary Education Specialist
Felicia Abrams, School Programs Manager
New Approaches in Paspahegh Town Interpretation
Jamestown Settlement guests to the museum’s re-created Paspahegh Town discover the Powhatan way of life by exploring a wooded area of reed-covered yehakins and interacting with historical interpreters to learn about Virginia Indian culture, from tools and technology to farming and foodways.
Historical interpreters act as guides to the past, and starting this year, they will transition from wearing traditional Indigenous clothing such as leather hides, furs or moccasins to museum apparel.
The change is being made in conjunction with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation’s Indigenous Peoples Program, which is dedicated to effective stewardship of Indigenous history and culture at both of its museums and as part of the agency’s educational mission.
“After consultation with members of Virginia’s tribal nations and our Tribal Advisory Group, we have decided to change the attire of historical interpreters to museum apparel instead of traditional Indigenous clothing,” explained Mariruth Leftwich, Ph.D., senior director of Museum Operations and Education. “This is out of respect for the wishes of the various representatives and to honor our commitment to their tribal sovereignty and identity.”
Historical interpreters in Paspahegh Town – wearing logo-clad jackets and slacks – will continue to share vibrant Virginia Indian culture through hands-on activities and demonstrations, and members of the Virginia Indian community will enhance opportunities to learn about traditional Indigenous clothing and regalia and their heritage through special programs and events.
In the Museum Shops
African Authentics
African Authentics established a cooperative of beaded wire artisans in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, to capture the beauty of indigenous African animals as intricate figurines.
The group comprises about 30 men and women. The unemployment rate in the formal sector of Zimbabwe hovers around 70%, so this development provided economic relief to the members, some of whom are climate change refugees from villages where they can no longer farm their small plots of land due to the unpredictability of the rainfall season.
There are three distinct phases to creating beaded wire art: frame creation, bead mixing and plastering.
During the framing phase, artisans cut galvanized wire using wire cutters, then shape the frame or skeleton of the object at hand using pliers. Great skill is required for this phase as it determines the success of the whole project.
Most of the beads are purchased with one color in each bag and the artisans manually mix the beads. They then thread the beads onto a thin wire which they then manually attach to the frame to cover the skeleton during the plastering phase.
Rosemary Chimbganda, the founder of African Authentics, was born and raised in Zimbabwe and graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a bachelor of economics degree.
After moving to Boston, she worked as a software engineer for many years during which she founded African Authentics as a second vocation, which she has now made her life focus.
Beaded Wire Art
Artisanal Jewelry
Project Have Hope
In October 2005, Karen Sparacio traveled to Uganda to volunteer her skills as a photographer to several relief organizations. While there, she was invited to visit the Acholi Quarter. She met many Acholi residents who had been displaced by the ongoing civil war.
Karen met with three women to hear “their stories” with a translator named Nora. The first woman was beaten near death and then carted by bicycle to escape the north. The second woman told of her experiences being held captive by the rebels.
As she told the story, she sent her grandson to fetch a Coca-Cola for Karen, which cost half-a-day’s work in the brutal conditions of the stone quarry. By the time Karen entered the home of the third woman, she was trying to figure out how she could help.
Each of these three women shared such personal, often horrific details of their lives with Karen, a stranger with a camera. Each maintained a beauty and grace that she could not forget. Despite their tragedies and continued struggle as displaced refugees living in a slum, they had a freeness of spirit, a way of embracing and loving life, showing their endurance and will to move forward. Karen wanted to help them create a better future.
She spent two-and-a-half weeks photographing in the community, meeting people and creating friendships. She saw the beautiful, colorful beads crafted from recycled paper and saw that as a means to help them raise themselves out of destitution. She brought back a small bag of these beads back to Boston in November 2005 and sold them right away. She later returned to Uganda in January 2006 and formally organized the group: 55 women who wanted to be identified as “the group that has hope” – “bed ki gen” in Acholi. Thus, Project Have Hope was born.
The organization now counts 100 women as members, and their impact extends to nearly 1,500 people with family members. When help is needed, it offers “community outreach” to additional members of the Acholi Quarter.
One artisan, Labuka Santa, gave Karen the highest compliment: “Thanks for taking us from nowhere to somewhere.”
Hope, and a little help, make all the difference.
Find these beaded beauties in the museum shops at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
‘White Gold’ in Early Jamestown
There was gold in early Jamestown, but not in the sense that most people would think.
When the first colonists left London on a chilly December day in 1606, they sailed with instructions for settlement prepared by the Virginia Company of London. Along with the discovery of gold and other valuable resources, a major priority for the company of investors was to find the long-fabled Northwest Passage through the continent to the riches of Asia.
Such a route could provide a safer and less expensive journey for the English East India Company ships to their factory (warehouse) in Bantam, Java. To that end, the instructions suggested settling on a navigable river that “runneth furthest into the Land,” and which “bendeth most towards the northwest.”
The wide Powhatan River, renamed the James River in honor of the English monarch, seemed a likely prospect to the colonists. While the James failed to provide the hoped for passage, the initial settlement of James Fort took root on its banks.
In 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted a monopoly to the English East India Company in order to profit through trade and piracy in the East Indies (present-day Indonesia).
A major focus was the lucrative spice trade to European markets, which, at the time, was dominated by the Dutch East India Company.
Until the late 17th century, the English trading company had little interest in Chinese porcelain. The luxury item was difficult to acquire in large quantities, and safe transportation of the breakable ware was more problematic than for more available commodities such as pepper, nutmeg, cloves and silk.
Even so, porcelain produced during the Ming dynasty was reaching Europe through markets in Antwerp and Lisbon and circulating among the nobility as diplomatic gifts and as exotic status objects.
Expensive and rare, Chinese porcelain became known as “white gold,” and at the time of Jamestown’s founding, the limited trade in the commodity was dominated by the Dutch East India Company.
Yet, surprisingly, sherds of Chinese porcelain from at least 125 distinct vessels have been uncovered by the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation during archaeological excavations of the 1607 James Fort at Historic Jamestowne.
Who among the early colonists may have owned such vessels and how were they obtained? Follow along to discover how these porcelain pieces traveled the globe in November 2025 in the joint exhibition, “Following the Dragon: Chinese Ming Porcelain in Early Jamestown.”
The joint exhibition, presented in partnership between Jamestown Settlement and the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, will pair 22 vessels recovered archaeologically from the 1607 James Fort with intact examples from national and international lenders and from the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation’s own collection.
Discover more at jyfmuseums.org/following-the-dragon.
Bly Straube, Ph.D., FSA, Senior Curator
The special exhibition is supported in part by Jim and Pam Penny
Renewal and Prosperity: Chinese Symbolism
One vessel to be featured was recently acquired by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation because of its rare parallel to fragments of a bowl found in the 1607 James Fort at Historic Jamestowne. Made in Zhangzhou, China in the first quarter of the 17th century, the bowl is hand-painted on the exterior in underglaze blue with a peony and scrolling vine with lobed leaf motif.
The interior is painted with four flowers around a central motif thought to represent water weeds. The painted nature design probably appealed to the bowl’s English owner who most likely did not appreciate the cultural significance of the iconography. In Chinese culture, aquatic plants traditionally represent adaptability and the importance of water for the sustenance of life. As a spring plant, the peony conveys renewal and prosperity. For the English, these Ming porcelain wares represented currency of social emulation, unaware that the vessels carried Confucian, Daoist and Buddhist philosophies into their midst.
Following the Dragon: Chinese Ming Porcelain in Early Jamestown
November 15, 2025 to July 12, 2026
at Jamestown Settlement
In partnership with the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, explore compelling discoveries that connect the early years of the Jamestown colony and Asia. Featuring Chinese porcelain uncovered during excavations of the 1607
James Fort and intact objects from global lenders, the exhibition at Jamestown Settlement will explore who may have owned these evocative pieces, how they may have been acquired, and offers fresh insights into the social life of the early 17th-century Virginia elite. The exhibition will delve into the Chinese symbolism found in the decorative motifs of the porcelain and offer a deeper understanding of cultural connections across continents.
Chinese Porcelain Bowl, late Ming period, made in Zhangzhou, China, c. 1600-1625. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Bowl, Jingdezhen, China, c. 1572-1620. Found in Bantam, Java and like one found archaeologically by Jamestown Rediscovery. Private collection, photo by Robert Hunter.
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees
Three new members were appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2024.
Laura Bailey is a retired administrative professional with more than 30 years of service to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and its museums. During her career, she gained an extensive knowledge of JYF operations and responsibilities of the agency’s governing boards, and shaped and directed numerous VIP, recognition and dedication programs and events, notably America’s 400th Anniversary commemoration of Jamestown, America’s first permanent English colony in 1607. She loves writing short articles and editing copy for local community organizations, conducting genealogical research and traveling with friends and family. She and her husband, Jim, enjoy saltwater fishing and spending time with their black lab, Sedger.
David Botkins is the senior strategic advisor for Corporate Affairs & Communications for Dominion Energy. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where he did post-graduate work in public administration, and in business and leadership at the University of Richmond. He currently serves as a Gov. Youngkin board appointee to the Citizens Advisory Council on the Executive Mansion and is a former trustee of the St. John’s Church Foundation. As a member of the Sons of the Revolution, he has traced his genealogy back to a colonial militiaman (John Lee Brammer) who fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina on March 15, 1781.
Thomas DiStanislao is an attorney with Butler Snow in Richmond. He has experience defending clients across the country in all stages of litigation in both state and federal courts. Before joining Butler Snow, he clerked for Judge G. Steven Agee on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Judge Henry E. Hudson on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He is a member of the Federal and Virginia Bar Associations, as well as the Federalist Society, the John Marshall Center and Inn of Court. He earned his bachelor’s degree cum laude from Wake Forest University and his Juris Doctor summa cum laude from the University of Richmond School of Law. He and his wife, Elizabeth, and their children live in North Chesterfield.
Championing History
New JYF Trustee
David Botkins reflects on why he serves TESTIMONIAL
As we thaw out from winter and turn towards spring, now is an exciting time to visit one of Virginia’s many historical sites in 2025.
As a newly appointed trustee to the JamestownYorktown Foundation, there is no better place than JYF to take in the sweep of history from 1607 to 1781 as we approach our nation’s 250th birthday.
Now is the time to spread the word of our offerings. Whether a trustee, on an affiliate board, a former board member, donor or longtime ambassador of JYF, you can have an impact.
As an employee, retiree or external stakeholder, you are uniquely positioned to share the JYF and VA250 story.
There is nothing more inspiring than to read, reflect and experience the historical sites of our Commonwealth. Although the Revolutionary War period is my favorite, a lot occurred prior as demonstrated at Jamestown Settlement.
It is important each of us find our cultural connection to our nation’s founding. I found my connection through genealogy when a researcher traced my roots to Pittsylvania County, Va., and my ninth-generation grandfather on my mother’s side of the family. He fought in the volunteer militia at the Battle of Guildford Courthouse in March of 1781 in an area of North Carolina now known as Greensboro.
Although we lost this battle to the British and General Charles Cornwallis, it proved pivotal in the Southern Campaign. It depleted British forces that made their way to Yorktown seven months later and ultimately lost the war. The beauty of a major birthday is the chance to celebrate our common cause, appeal to our better angels and acknowledge healthy but respectful disagreement is okay. Our constitutional republic was designed to foster it. As individual citizens, we must be ambassadors of a greater good worthy of our founding documents – after all, it is about “we the people.”
Let us harness the promise of America together on the road to 2026. Visit JYF museums and find your connection.
donor SPOTLIGHT
Vicki Vasques
Vicki Vasques has many titles in life.
She is the owner and chairwoman of both Tribal Tech, LLC and Cowan & Associates Inc. and is an active member of several boards, including the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees.
One of her proudest titles is that of “daughter.” Vicki’s father, Ronald Maese Peralta, who served as Tribal Chairman for the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians in California for almost 20 years, instilled in her the value and importance of education and taught her how one’s individual achievements can influence an entire community.
This inspiration led Vicki to become a first-generation college graduate and begin her career as a teacher.
“Significant changes don’t happen overnight. Getting started is never easy; but stay true to your beliefs and work hard to make dreams a reality.”
—Vicki Vasques
“Watching my father serve as Tribal Chairman and lead efforts such as the first education program on the reservation, being self-sufficient and fiscally conservative, inspired me to see what I was capable of and what kind of leader I could be,” she said.
Now, more than 40 years after accepting her first teaching position, Vicki is running her own business—Tribal Tech, a Native American woman-owned company providing government services and on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company list for seven consecutive years.
Given her educational background, she regards the founding of Tribal Tech as a natural progression. “I knew how education would impact our tribal communities and how a company like Tribal Tech could amplify this positive effect,” she explained.
Coming to Virginia from Southern California, Vicki was interested in what students in Virginia are learning about Indigenous tribes. Meeting other JYF board members who shared this passion was key to helping her find her niche.
“My passion has always been to better my community,” she said. “My father also taught me the importance of giving back and investing in our communities, which led me to establish The RMP Foundation in his memory and work serving our Native people.”
Vicki brings her own brand of inclusive leadership to JYF, encouraging others to find what they have a passion for and invest in it.
“Whatever gift you give, that’s an investment, and that helps us grow.” Her commitment to JYF—and to her Indigenous community—is an inspiration.
“I hope that the impact of my work will endure for many generations and inspire others to find their key moment and pursue their passion.”
—Morgan Culbertson, Director of Major Gifts
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors
Three new members were elected to the private board in 2024.
Barbara Hamm Lee is an award-winning journalist, television/radio host and owner of Sharing Info, LLC., a media/communications consulting company in Norfolk. She is best known as the executive producer and host of Another View, a weekly talk show that discusses issues from an African American perspective. She has held management positions with Communications Technologies; Prince Georges County, Maryland Police Department; and Hamm and Fox Communications. She was a consultant to the National Federation of Community Broadcasters’ African American Public Radio Stations Initiative, consulting with 26 African American public radio stations on compliance, governance, development, programming and community engagement and has held a variety of leadership positions with WHRO Public Media. A native of Baltimore, she is married to Maxie Lee, has two daughters and a granddaughter. She is a Bennett College graduate summa cum laude and attends First Baptist Church, Berkley.
Burt Pinnock is a principal and board chairman of Baskervill, a 125-year-old design firm in Richmond. During his 30+ year career, his commitment and passion has created impactful work for neighborhoods, cultural institutions and forward-thinking organizations, including William & Mary, Emory University, University of Richmond, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Better Housing Coalition and many more. A founder of the non-profit Storefront for Community Design, he serves on the City of Richmond Planning Commission, is a board member of the Legal Aid Justice Center, Historic Richmond Foundation and Venture Richmond. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, member of the National Organization of American Architects and the Virginia AIA 2022 William C. Noland Medalist. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech and calls Richmond home.
Bill White has been engaged in education for more than 50 years, beginning his career as a teaching musician and costumed interpreter at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He served as director of Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area programming, including the Company of Colonial Performers, Historic Area Presentations and Tours, Historic Trades, and Historic Area Programs and Operations. He led Colonial Williamsburg’s K-12 education outreach initiative as the first Theresa A. and Lawrence C. Salameno Director of Educational Program Development. He was the Royce R. and Kathryn M. Baker Vice President for Productions, Publications, and Learning Ventures leading media production initiatives. He taught early American history and American Studies as an assistant professor adjunct faculty at Christopher Newport University and was Visiting Distinguished Scholar for CNU’s Center for American Studies.
Virginia & The Forging of a Nation
‘Give Me Liberty’ Anniversary Opens VA250 Signature Exhibition in Richmond, Culminates in Yorktown with the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
Commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, “Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation” debuts in March as Virginia’s signature exhibition and the first major show across the country to mark America’s milestone.
Virginia was the oldest, largest, wealthiest and most populous of Britain’s American colonies. Virginians—through their ideas, influence and efforts—helped forge a new American nation that remains the oldest continuous democracy in the world.
On display from 2025 to 2027, the exhibition is presented by the Virgina American Revolution 250 Commission and curated in partnership with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture to showcase Virginia’s leading role in the American Revolution.
The curtain rises on March 22 at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond, coinciding with the 250-year observance of Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty” speech at Historic St. John’s Church. The exhibit will debut at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown on July 1, 2026, in time for the pivotal anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Through personal stories, artifacts and immersive exhibits and multimedia, the exhibition explores the continental and global forces as well as the actions of both the iconic and ordinary people that brought about a model of democratic government that changed the world.
Re-enacting the March 1775 Virginia Assembly
JYF Digital Media Services filmed scenes for multimedia elements of the VA250 signature exhibition in November 2024 at Historic St. John’s Church in Richmond to re-enact the gathering for Patrick Henry’s infamous proclamation, “Give me liberty or give me death!” DMS staff Nathan Hamilton and Heather Hower are shown with St. John’s Church Foundation actors who comprised the March 1775 delegation: John Tucker (Patrick Henry), Chuck O’Keeffe (Edmund Pendleton), Dean Knight (Richard Henry Lee), David Maier (Robert Carter Nicholas); Joshua Chinn (Thomas Nelson); Frank Vaughan (Benjamin Harrison), and J.C. Bussard (George Washington). Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation photo.
JYF curators, registrars, exhibit and historical clothing designers, and digital media specialists have collaborated with the VMHC over the past couple of years to develop the exhibition to tell the complexity of America’s story and present opportunities for visitors to make their own revolutionary connections.
“The exhibition reveals authentic voices from lesser-known contributors to the American Revolution, such as enslaved and free Black people, Indigenous peoples, women and young people,” said JYF Executive Director Christy S. Coleman. “Visitors have an opportunity to connect deeply with the story and learn about the American Revolution in a new way.”
“Give me liberty, or give me death!”
Patrick Henry delivered his speech on the rights of the colonies before the Virginia Assembly at Historic St. John’s Church in Richmond, March 23, 1775, depicted in the painting, “Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of Burgesses” (1851) by Peter F. Rothermel. While the oil painting, in the collection of the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation at Red Hill, will not be on display in the “Give Me Liberty” exhibition, guests can view a rare whalebone paper cutter associated with Henry on loan from Patrick Henry’s Red Hill. Known for his theatrics, it is believed that as Henry brought his appeal to a close, he raised this paper cutter into the air as he said, “Give me liberty,” and dramatically plunged it toward his breast like a dagger on the word “death.”
Accompanying “Give Me Liberty” is a traveling exhibit slated to visit more than 50 local museums, libraries and community centers across the Commonwealth, and a June 2025 publication of historical essays expanding on stories in the exhibition.
Learn about the signature exhibition and other ways to engage in the commemoration at jyfmuseums.org/250
“Give Me Liberty” is supported by York County and the Carter Cabell Chinnis Foundation.
VA250 Mobile Museum
VA250 is equipped to bring Virginia’s revolutionary history to all corners of the Commonwealth. Housed in a quad-expandable tractor trailer courtesy of Volvo, the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience tells gripping stories of the pivotal roles that Virginians of all backgrounds played in the American Revolution. Under the “Out of Many, One” moniker, this museum on wheels features cutting-edge digital media to immerse visitors in the inspiring era of the American Revolution, including interactives and video from the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
On January 18, the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience debuted at the “A Salute to Southwest Virginia” event in Roanoke. The event commemorated the 250th anniversary the Fincastle Resolutions, which declared Fincastle County’s support for the First Continental Congress’s boycott of British goods in response to the Intolerable Acts.
The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience will visit schools, local events, fairs, museums, libraries, community centers and more.
Where will the museum on wheels roll to next? Find the schedule at VA250.org/mobile-museum
The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience rolled out in January with stops planned throughout the Commonwealth to tell the story of Virginia’s role in the American Revolution. Images courtesy of VA250.
‘The American Soldier’ Honors Military on the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army
Saluting the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army on June 14, the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown will present “The American Soldier” – a theatrical performance that honors military veterans and their families.
Based on real stories and accounts from soldiers’ letters written from the American Revolution through Iraq and Afghanistan, Broadway producer and actor Douglas Taurel reveals the struggles American soldiers face at war and their internal struggles to come back home.
The one-man show sheds light on the importance of service and sacrifice, and how and why it is so difficult for men and women in the armed services to re-enter everyday life when they come home.
“The American Soldier” has been performed in over 43 cities in 34 states and at the Library of Congress, off-Broadway and the Kennedy Center in 2016 and 2019. At the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it was nominated for an Amnesty International Award.
As a playwright, Taurel was commissioned by the Library of Congress to write, create and perform his second solo show, “An American Soldier’s Journey Home.”
Daytime events also will feature the Virginia Army National Guard 29th Infantry Division Band. The performance will begin at 7 p.m., and tickets are available online at jyfmuseums.org.
This special evening is supported by generous donations to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc. Annual Fund.
Broadway producer and actor Douglas Taurel stars in “The American Soldier,” a one-man play about the importance of military service and sacrifice.
Unrestricted Possibilities: Support the Stories that Shape Us
The Annual Fund is the lifeblood of the JamestownYorktown Foundation’s mission. It fuels everything we do—from preserving priceless artifacts and creating engaging exhibits to delivering transformative educational programs to classrooms near and far. The Annual Fund allows us to do it all. As an unrestricted fund, it gives us the flexibility to meet the greatest needs of our mission, including:
• Educational Programs: Helping students and visitors connect with the stories of those who lived in early America.
• Living-History Experiences: Bringing to life the customs and traditions of the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Cultural Preservation: Protecting and sharing the artifacts and stories that reflect the blending of cultures and the foundation of our shared heritage.
Since the Annual Fund supports every corner of our mission, your generosity opens doors to unrestricted possibilities. Together, we can create a deeper understanding of the past and spark a brighter future for generations to come.
Make a gift to the Annual Fund today and join us in sharing the stories of connection that built a nation. You can donate by returning the enclosed envelope or visit jyfmuseums.org/donate.
on this date in JYF HISTORY
Surrounding the couple are (shown from left) Lewis A. McMurran, Jr., then chairman of the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission; John Warner, then administrator of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission and later a U.S. Senator from Virginia; John O.W. Moreton, then British minister to the United States; Jacques Kosciusko-Morizet, then French ambassador to the United States; Mary and Nick Mathews; and former Virginia Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr. and Mrs. Katherine Godwin. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation media archives.
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation benefactors Nick and Mary Mathews join in a celebratory ribbon-cutting dedication on April 1, 1976 of the Yorktown Victory Center, today known as the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. The couple remain among the largest benefactors to JYF, donating the land for the
museum on the eve of America’s 1976 Bicentennial.
Opening in 1944, Nick’s Seafood Pavilion became a hotspot for its fine seafood, elaborate interior and the unmatched hospitality and patriotism of Nick and Mary Mathews, and quickly grew into a household name drawing luminaries, politicians and
celebrities, from Elizabeth Taylor to John Wayne. Upon her death, Mary bequeathed nearly their entire estate to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation so that others would know “…the blessings of freedom and democracy that commenced in my native Greece and later here in [Yorktown]…”
Patrons & Patriots: The Legacy of Nick and Mary Mathews
Opening March 8 through July 27, a special exhibition at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown features the Mathews estate collection with artifacts and images reflecting their personal lives, professional successes, civic generosity and philanthropy around the world. Learn more at jyfmuseums.org/patrons-and-patriots.
‘THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION’ Screenings in March Preview Long-Awaited PBS Docuseries
“THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION,” a six-part documentary series, is scheduled to premiere on November 16, 2025, in advance of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Screenings will begin in Virginia, with events planned in Richmond on March 23 and in Colonial Williamsburg on March 25, in conjunction with “A Common Cause To All” gathering hosted by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the VA250 Commission.
The series, which has been in production for eight years, was directed and produced by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt and written by long-time collaborator Geoffrey C. Ward.
Led by cinematographer Buddy Squires, the series features original footage that highlights the beauty and diversity of the North American landscape, and at nearly 100 locations within and beyond the original 13 colonies, including scenes captured at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and Jamestown Settlement. Other Virginia historical locations for filming included Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon. The film, premiering on PBS stations and PBS.org on November 16-21, examines how America’s founding turned the world upside down and how 13 British
colonies on the Atlantic Coast rose in rebellion, won their independence and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements around the globe.
PBS and Florentine Films, Burns’s production company, is working on outreach and engagement with national and local organizations, including the National Constitution Center, Colonial Williamsburg, America 250, The Smithsonian Institution, The National Parks Service, The National Archives, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, The Museum of the American Revolution, Monticello, Mount Vernon, the Aspen Institute, state and local 250 organizations, and many others.
To make this history resonate with today’s youth, PBS Learning Media is working with WETA and other partners and organizations, including JYF, to lead classroom outreach, develop digital resources and professional learning opportunities for educators and students in grades 3-12. Classroom resources and events will delve into the themes of the film to enrich student learning and elevate teacher effectiveness and student achievement.
Stay tuned at pbs.org/americanrevolution.
Patrons & Patriots: The Legacy of Nick and Mary Mathews | March 8-July 27, 2025
Liberty Celebration | July 4, 2025 & 2026
Fresh Views of the American Revolution & Programs | October 18, 2025-May 3, 2026
Yorktown Victory Celebration | October 18, 2025 & October 17, 2026
Landmark Legacies: Jamestown and America’s Story | May 23-December 31, 2026
Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation | July 1, 2026-January 31, 2027
calendar of EVENTS
Director’s Series: Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason
MARCH 19 AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, sit down for a compelling conversation with Executive Director Christy S. Coleman and Wunneanatsu Lamb-Cason (Schaghticoke/ HoChunk) – 2024 National History Teacher of the Year awarded by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and assistant director of Brown University’s Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative who works to ensure accurate Indigenous voices are sustained in the educational landscape.
Patrons & Patriots: The Legacy of Nick and Mary Mathews
OPENING MARCH 8 AT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION MUSEUM AT YORKTOWN , explore a new special exhibition celebrating the lives and philanthropy of the late Nick and Mary Mathews, beloved Yorktown restaurateurs of the famed Nick’s Seafood Pavillion who donated the land for our museum.
Military Through the Ages
MARCH 15-16 AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, make ready for centuries of military history – all in one weekend – as hundreds of re-enactors depicting armed forces from 500 B.C.E. all the way to modern-day soldiers descend on museum grounds to present one of the most unique chronological displays of military through the ages.
Spilling the Tea with Allison Horrocks
MARCH 29 AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, join Allison Horrocks, co-host of the “Dolls of Our Lives” podcast and co-author of “Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl,” for a discussion of the nostalgia and power of the American Girl ® empire.
Indigenous Arts Day
MAY 3 AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, celebrate enduring legacies of Indigenous cultures with traditional and contemporary art forms by Indigenous artists, including special outdoor performances of music and dance.
Cheers! The Spirited History of Alcohol
APRIL 24 AT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION MUSEUM AT YORKTOWN , join Nick Powers, curator of the Collections at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, for a look at the spirited history of Virginia infused by alcohol since the early 18th century.
Jamestown Day
MAY 10 AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, marks the anniversary of the 1607 founding of Jamestown with family friendly programs, military salutes, maritime and interpretive demonstrations.
MORE 2025 EVENTS & PROGRAMS
World Bee Day • May 24 | The American Soldier • June 14 | Prelude to Juneteenth • June 15 Civic Season • June 19 – July 4 | Liberty Celebration • July 4
Museums open year-round 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tours and ticket information available at jyfmusums.org/visit . Check out the complete calendar at jyfmuseums.org/events.
