Issuu

INSIDE JYF Spring 2022

from the

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

elcome to a new year at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and a new issue of INSIDE JYF.

Inside, explore fascinating stories of our shared history, including the account of Diallo, an African Muslim who endured the middle passage and regained his freedom. His story comes to life through a new acquisition into our JYF artifact collection. Learn about the 400th anniversary of honeybees in North America and its origins at Jamestown. Explore the resurgence of beekeeping among members of our JYF museum family. Discover how JYF is gearing up for Virginia’s American Revolution 250 commemoration in 2026, as well as ways our organization has marked previous American Revolution milestones. Our spring calendar is full of great experiences for you to enjoy! Join the next Director’s Series program, or get ready for the annual favorite, Military Through the Ages. Don’t forget to book a program with our education team, which is creating new learning experiences for students and teachers across the Commonwealth. We’ve also added new programs that will leave you with a greater understanding of the challenges faced by all during the 1622 Powhatan Indian retaliation against Virginia’s English settlements, 400 years ago. We remain grateful to our Board members, donors, staff and volunteers who help shape our organization and guide our mission, past and future. With the new year underway, we invite you on this journey with us to rediscover America’s past. Warmest regards,

Christy S. Coleman Executive Director

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MORGAN CULBERTSON TRACY PERKINS Editors JOAN HEIKENS JANET KANE Production Management HOLLAND WINSLOW Designer STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Edward Ayres Heather Hower Lisa Bishop Meghan van Joosten Cindy Daniel Erin Koch Constance Graham Lisa Lucas Katherine Egner Gruber Cathy Fox Rawlins Jamie Helmick Lee Ann Shelhorse STAFF WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Cindy Daniel, Nancy Egloff, Jane Hohensee, Heather Hower, Janet Kane, Sarah Meschutt, Hank Moseley, Kaia Moseley, Steven Prokopchak, Robin Rose, Katie Schinabeck 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 2, No. 1 – printed March 2022 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

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table of CONTENTS About the Cover

Photographer Glen McClure captured this aspect of the 1733 portrait of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo, the son of a Muslim cleric in West Central Africa whose life-transforming story from enslavement to freedom is recounted in a newly acquired narrative by Englishman Thomas Bluett for display at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. The narrative, which will be featured in the “Reign & Rebellion” special exhibition opening November 5, will eventually join the Diallo portrait (JYF2014.4) by William Hoare, one of the earliest known portraits done from life of an African who had been enslaved in the British colonies that became the United States of America.

1734 ‘Memoirs of Job’ Narrative Tells the Extraordinary Story of Diallo Rare account details the circumstances of an African Muslim enslaved in Maryland

Old School Summer Fun Returns to JYF Museums History camps and youth volunteer offer timeless opportunities

Virginia Army National Guard A Force at Military Through the Ages Event underscores modern-day military power and strong ties to Jamestown history

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400 Years of Honeybees in North America Examine the history of European honeybees to Virginia in March 1622, the resurgence of beekeeping as a modern-day hobby and new efforts to raise awareness of this vital ecosystem. 8

1622 Tragedy at Jamestown Sparks Second Anglo-Powhatan War History retraced through March 22 panel discussion with nation’s foremost scholars and historians

Director’s Series Launches Stimulating Conversations Six-part program cover topics from Hamilton to media covering American discourse

Virginia’s American Revolution 250 Commemoration Efforts Get Underway New executive director lays groundwork for collaborative festivities across the state

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Newly Acquired 1734 Bluett ‘Memoirs of the Life of Job’ to Join Rare Portrait of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo “for by his… Countenance, we could perceive he was no common Slave.”

– Some Memoirs of the Life of Job…, Thomas Bluett, 1734

newly acquired slave narrative written by Englishman Thomas Bluett will enrich our understanding of the exceptional life of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo, an African cleric whose portrait hangs in the first gallery at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. It is a rare book of personal memoirs, offering an extraordinary account with a fortunate outcome for a kidnapped African sold into slavery in 1731. There are few survivors of such printed slave narratives from the 18th century that speak to the life and times of an enslaved individual. It may be the earliest English book in print to record the life of an enslaved person who escaped a terrible term of servitude and separation from their African roots of West Central Africa to return to their homeland. Bluett expounds that Diallo’s personal qualities were evident to him upon their first encounter at a court hearing in Maryland, speaking through an interpreter. Diallo identified himself to the judge and wrote his name in Arabic. Bluett, an early abolitionist, was committed to secure the means for Diallo to travel to England. Upon arrival in London in 1733, Diallo was given lodging with friends and supported by the Royal African Company of London and met powerful intellectuals whom he introduced to the prime texts of the Muslim faith, the religion of Islam. Diallo’s personal magnetism and intellect impressed Sir Hans Sloan, a renowned physician and scholar whose papers and collections are preserved at the British Library and British Museum. During this time, Diallo wrote in Arabic a complete manuscript copy of the Quran from memory and presented this to Sir Hans Sloan, as well as two prominent colleagues who subscribed to his Thomas Bluett, “Some Memoirs of the life of Job, the manumission payment. Diallo’s manuscript letters survive in London at the Son of Solomon, the High Priest of Boonda in Africa,” British Museum. London, Richard Ford, 1734. continued on page 6

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Portrait of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo, attributed to William Hoare, circa 1733. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, JYF2014.4.

Ayuba Suleiman Diallo

Ayuba Suleiman Diallo, also known in England as Job, was an educated man from a family of Muslim clerics in West Central Africa. In 1731, he was taken into slavery while travelling outside his Fulbe territories and was shipped from the coast of Africa to a plantation in Maryland in North America. By his own enterprise and literary knowledge, and the fortunate encounters in Maryland with English judge Thomas Bluett, Diallo proved to be his own best agency for securing his release from bondage. Once Diallo arrived in London in 1733, he attracted the support of friends in powerful places who sought to obtain his release and organized a public subscription to pay the bond of servitude owed to his former enslaver in Maryland. Recognized as a deeply pious and educated man in England, Diallo mixed with intellectuals in London and was presented to elite social groups at the English court. William Hoare’s portrait of Diallo in 1733 is the earliest known British oil portrait of a freed slave who had escaped a lifetime of servitude in North America in a British colony. The painting is the first portrait to honor an African subject as an individual and an equal, providing a fascinating insight to the 18th-century English response to other peoples and religions.

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Diallo, continued Unlike many enslaved individuals forcibly brought to the British colonies in North America at the time, Diallo was well known and did not have to answer to another name or lack recognition as a Muslim cleric given Bluett’s account written and printed in London in 1734. Diallo became a celebrity in England as much for his intellectual prowess as for his charm and other personal qualities. Bluett recorded several episodes of Diallo’s encounters with English people in the course of his visit to England, including the commission of Diallo’s portrait from a society painter like William Hoare in 1733. His friends wished to have a reminder of his sensitive face when his bond was paid and he returned to Africa. Bluett’s memoirs feature a chapter on Diallo’s family and kin and the region of Senegambia where he was born to a Muslim cleric, Solomon, noting the assiduous attention Diallo paid to his devotions and to reciting prayers of the Muslim religion. In the early 18th century, few Africans of free or enslaved status came to the British Isles, and fewer still returned to their native country in Africa, as was the case for Diallo. His cultural background of Islam and West Central Africa and the traditions of the Fulbe nation were of great interest to English scholars.

Diallo was generous in sharing his knowledge of Arab texts, especially the Quran which he had memorized in its entirety. Indeed it may be no coincidence that George Sale, an English Arabist scholar, published his seminal work of the Quran translated from Arabic into English in 1734, the first translation to appear in print. While on the voyage from Maryland to England, Diallo learned the English language, which afforded him the ability to communicate with scholars such as Sir Hans Sloan and George Sale, and aristocrats like the Duke of Montague. Diallo returned to Senegal in West Central Africa in 1734, living the rest of his life there until his death in 1773. In the early years of the 19th century, advocates for the abolition of slavery would cite Diallo as a key figure in asserting the moral rights and humanity of the African people. The narrative account of Diallo’s life written and published by Bluett, an English supporter and friend, provides a deeper perspective on this extraordinary life. The portrait, though providing an evocative presence in itself, is more meaningful with Bluett’s narrative and the knowledge of the sitter. Together, these two artifacts bring this exceptional man into greater focus. – Sarah B. Meschutt, Ph.D., Senior Curator

The Thomas Bluett narrative acquisition was supported by private gifts to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc. The William Hoare portrait of Diallo in 1733 was supported by an initial gift made by Fred D. Thompson, Jr., a member of the JYF Board of Trustees, a grant from the Richard S. Reynolds Foundation of Richmond, Virginia, and undesignated private gifts to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc.

Plan Your Holiday Event Now!

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Celebrating 8

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400 Years of Honeybees in North America Beekeeping has been all the “buzz” in recent years with its resurgence as a hobby. Yet, many are unaware of how this important source of sweetness came to “bee.” Apis mellifera, the European honeybees most familiar to people today, are not native to North America. In fact, 2022 is the 400th anniversary of the first recorded arrival of European honeybees in what is today the United States. In a 1621 letter from the Virginia Company of London to the Governor and Council in Virginia, bees feature prominently in a documented list of agricultural products imported to the colony. “Wee haue by this Shipp and the Discouerie sent you diurs [divers] sortes of seedes, and fruit trees, as also Pidgeons, Connies, Peacockes Maistiues [Mastiffs], and Beehives, as you shall by the invoice pceiue [perceive]; the preservation & encrease whereof we respond vnto you…”

The ship that carried the bees arrived in March 1622, but other than the passing mention, very little is known about the transportation or care of the bees on their voyage to Jamestown. From their first importation to Virginia though, honeybees flourished and spread throughout North America, and Apis mellifera is the primary species maintained by beekeepers today. Just as they did 400 years ago, people still value bees for their honey and wax production and their role in the pollination of a variety of crops. Next time you sweeten your tea with a bit of honey or enjoy a juicy apple, be thankful for those hardy honeybees that survived the voyage to Virginia 4oo years ago! – Kaia Moseley, Ships Interpretive Supervisor

JYF has collaborated with The Bee Cause Project to inspire children to learn more about and protect these precious pollinators. Beginning in March, visitors to Jamestown Settlement can experience a Digital Bee Hive – a digital observation hive that provides a close-up look inside a real hive – and understand more about this vital ecosystem. This Digital Beehive is an innovative and unique way to connect with the honeybee. Initially developed to educate elementary school children in the classroom, this program has grown to include businesses and community organizations to offer the opportunity to bring awareness of honeybees and pollinators to everyone. Special thanks to The Bee Cause Project and the Savannah Bee Company for this opportunity to promote honeybee awareness. The Moseley Family tends to beehives at home. Photos by: Hank Moseley, Marine Maintenance Technician and Kaia Moseley, Ships Interpretive Supervisor.

Beekeeping a ‘Sweet’ Family Affair Beyond the decks of Jamestown Settlement’s re-created ships, Hank and Kaia Moseley and family are avid beekeepers. Their first taste for the hobby came after visiting friends to help harvest honey from their hives. They took an online beekeeping class, read numerous books and articles, and joined local beekeeping social media groups. Since getting their first hives in Spring 2021, their desire to produce their own honey developed into a deep interest and appreciation for the bees themselves, their social structure and important role in the ecosystem – not to mention the close connection to Jamestown’s history.

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Stunning "Queen Bee" bracelet from Sweet Romance Each bee is fully dimensional and set with premium crystal and vintage glass. The link bracelet is created with pleated round filigrees, formed using vintage tool-and-die machinery from the 1940s. Beautifully constructed, one at a time, in its Los Angeles studio.

Sweet Honeybee Treasures This special selection of honeybee-themed gifts is available at our main museum shop at Jamestown Settlement.

Handwoven cross-body bag with bee ornament by Lisi Lerch The Lisi Lerch Bali Bag collection is handwoven by local artisans of the Tenganan region of Bali. Each weaver creates these works of art by using ata grass, a vine indigenous to the foothills of volcanoes on their beautiful Indonesian island. The bags are then smoked in a coconut and honey fire to achieve their luscious golden hue. Her “Charlotte” cross body features an elegant gold-tone metal bee ornament and a wide grosgrain ribbon bow.

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Melania Clara “Honey” Necklace Melania Clara is a family-owned custom jewelry company, inspired by all things vintage and beautiful. They design and handcraft their jewelry in Vero Beach, Florida.

Honey and Clover Collection from Michel Design Works The Honey and Clover Collection from Michel Design Works evokes the buzzing of bees and the sweet nectar they gather. Luxurious shea butter soaps and poured soy wax candles feature a floral clover honey fragrance accented with orange and cinnamon notes.

Here, an elegant necklace features pink shell beads and an antique reproduction French bee medal pendant. The antiqued gold-plated metal necklace measures 15” long with a 2” extender; magnetic ball closure.

to celebrate Mom Museum Bees by Trace Mayer Created with antique frames, each Museum Bee celebrates the beauty and variety of frames produced in the 19th century. Individually handmade in Louisville, Kentucky, using antique materials, each piece is a one-of-akind work of art. The Museum Bee featured here is heavily detailed and layered on wood in a hexagonal shape.

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OLD SCHOOL SUMMER FUN Calling all campers, history lovers and doers of crafts. It’s time to dig in the dirt. Play games. Steer with the stars. Spy with your little “eye.” Enjoy site-seeing and snacks. It’s all ahead this summer. Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown’s summer history camps are open for registration starting April 1. And, there are lots of fascinating topics for children ages 4-6 and those who’ve completed Grades 1-3 and Grades 4-5. History camps explore what people ate at Jamestown and how to grow food on a Tidewater Virginia farm. Campers hone skills to discover pastimes of the colonial era, 17thcentury piloting and navigation, and espionage during the Revolution. Camps range from $50 for two-day sessions and $75 for three-day sessions, and campers can save $20 by booking programs at both museums. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc. donors of $100 or more receive a 10-percent discount. Space is limited, with online-only registration and available first come, first served. See the lineup of programs and register online at jyfmuseums.org/historycamps or call (757) 253-4730. History camps are sponsored in part by the Junior Woman’s Club of Williamsburg.

RECRUITING NOW FOR YOUTH VOLUNTEERS JYF has opportunities for young people to volunteer at the museums this summer to help with history camp activities and crafts, engage visitors in period games, as well as serve as junior museum docents and junior historical interpreters. Games Academy (Ages 10-13): Learn how to play games of the 17th and 18th centuries in a four-day training camp. Trained volunteers can volunteer at the museums and take part in special programs throughout the year. Summer History Camps (Ages 12+): Assist Pre-K to 5th-grade students with activities, crafts and snacks as a camp counselor. Applicants must attend orientation on June 5. Junior Docents (Ages 13-16): Train to share your love of history with visitors exploring museum gallery exhibits during five-day sessions. Junior Interpreters (Ages 13-16): Dress in historical clothing and guide visitors in learning about American history through a competitive interview and training process. Applications for this 4-H Peer Teacher Program are available at the Gloucester County 4-H office at (804) 693-2602. The application deadline for a variety of youth volunteer positions is April 29. Learn more at (757) 253-4032.

Critical Thinking:

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JYF Launches Online Learning Resources With an Eye on the Past Who created this image? How did their perspective influence their drawing? In an expanding digital curriculum, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation educators strive to provide materials that get students to think like historians. An interactive version of Paul Revere’s (in)famous 1770 engraving of the Boston Massacre was launched last year. Paired with a new essay on the Boston Massacre, teachers and students can use the interactive image to explore how and, more importantly, why the image did not match the historical evidence of what happened at the Boston Massacre. Ten hot-spots allow students to explore and analyze aspects of the image, from the dominance of the Old State House to the potential symbolism of a dog in the forefront. Another new and stimulating online resource is a digital library of primary sources geared for teachers. So far, two sets of primary source images have debuted: a set of engravings of mid-Atlantic coastal Indians by Theodor de Bry and a set of engravings of West Central Africans by Fortunado Alamandini. Each primary source in the digital library includes historical context, image analysis and sample inquiry questions. Ultimately, JYF educators want teachers to have the information they need to go further than using images as illustrations of life in the past, but as an opportunity for students to learn critical thinking skills and engage in inquiry. Whether through digital interactives or the primary source library, teachers and students are being empowered to use primary source images to dig deeper into the past. – Katie Schinabeck, Digital Curriculum Specialist

Explore the Boston Massacre interactive: jyfmuseums.org/learn/learning-center/boston-massacre-interactive/

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FROM THE ARTIFACT COLLECTION

VIRGINIA ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS NOMINATES

JYF Artifact for Competitive Grant Program

"Negro Building, Jamestown Exposition 1907” is a color photograph on glass by photographer Arthur L. Macbeth. The 115-year-old artifact is in the collection of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

n 1907, using innovative color photography processes, the African American photographer, artist and inventor Arthur L. Macbeth produced this color photograph on glass of the Negro Building at the 1907 Jamestown Exposition, held at Sewell’s Point, in Norfolk, Virginia. Created through African American leadership amidst financial and logistical challenges and national controversy, the building and its exhibits

honored achievements of African Americans in architecture, business, science, medicine and the arts and included displays of paintings and sculpture, patented inventions and a working bank branch. Fast forward to 2022 and the 115-year-old photograph now resides in the artifact collection of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, nominated for this year’s Virginia Association of Museums’ competitive conservation grant program.

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Detail of “Negro Building, Jamestown Exposition, 1907” showing the signature of Arthur L. Macbeth.

In its 10th year, “Virginia’s Top Ten Endangered Artifacts” program sheds light on the importance of Virginia museums and their collections, drawing attention to the expense and expertise required to care for and preserve unique and historic artifacts. Arthur L. Macbeth was a successful photographer and inventor, born in Charleston, South Carolina, where he opened his first photography studio in 1886. By 1910, Macbeth moved his large family and studio to Baltimore where he was a member of the Middle Atlantic States Photographer’s Association as well as the Photographers Association of America. Among his many lifetime accomplishments was the patent for a Picture Projection Theater that through a series of partitions and translucent screens allowed for the display of moving pictures and stereopticon slides in daylight. Among his many awards was a 1907 Jamestown Exposition photography medal. The subject of the photograph, the Negro Building at the 1907 Jamestown Exposition was created through the efforts of African Americans despite challenges and contentious debates. Richmond attorney and entrepreneur Giles B. Jackson secured a state charter of the Negro Development and Exposition Company as well as private and federal funding totaling approximately $150,000 for the building’s creation. Designed by the prominent architect and civil rights activist William

Sidney Pittman, the building was constructed by the Richmond, Virginia construction firm Bolling and Everett on a six-acre site on the western edge of the Exposition fairgrounds. The exhibits inside focused on achievements of African Americans in business, science, medicine and the arts and featured displays of paintings and sculpture, patented inventions and a working branch of the True Reformers Bank of Richmond. While controversial at the time, contemporaneous accounts indicate that by the end of the exposition, the building and its exhibits were largely considered a success in highlighting the achievements of African Americans. Despite Jackson’s attempts to broker with the federal government the relocation of the building and exhibits to Richmond to create a National Museum of African American history, his efforts were unsuccessful. After competitive online voting by the public in late January, VAM announced that the winning artifact from Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Museum would receive $2,000 for conservation and other nominees a minimum of $250. JYF will use the VAM grant award toward funding an assessment and conservation treatment to improve and stabilize the condition of the photograph, preserving it for future generations. – Jane Hohensee, Registrar

Rooted in James tow n His tor y

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Virginia Army National Guard Showcases Modern-Day Defense at Military Through the Ages

The Virginia Army National Guard displays its military power during the “Military Through the Ages” event at Jamestown Settlement, demonstrating the firing of its 105mm howitzer. Cotton Puryear/Virginia National Guard.

n the third full weekend of every March, Jamestown Settlement hosts hundreds of military re-enactors for “Military Through the Ages,” widely recognized as one of the top military timeline events on the East Coast, if not the country. While the start of the chronological timeline of military history often

wobbles among the Greeks, Romans or Vikings, the exclamation point at the end is the Virginia Army National Guard, representing the modern military. The 111th Field Artillery is armed with interactive educational displays that allow the public to explore gear, tools and tactics, not to mention a show-stopping 105mm howitzer.

The first permanent English settlement at Jamestown in 1607 was originally a military outpost, and the weekend event frames it in the broader context of military history. In the first years of the colony, John Smith ordered that the settlers train in the use of the matchlock musket in order to defend the colony if necessary. Today, the Virginia National Guard

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is proud to be the descendants of that military tradition of citizen soldiers organized for the defense of the colony. “We’re very proud to have the Virginia National Guard with us to help make that modern-day connection,” said Homer Lanier, JYF interpretive program manager and MTA event coordinator. “We’re always thrilled to have them with us for the event, and they never fail to deliver on that bit of handson modern history. These men and women don’t necessarily interact with museum visitors as part of their regular work, but I’ll tell you what, they’re great ambassadors, not only for our museum, but for the Virginia National Guard.” Major General Timothy Williams, the adjutant general of Virginia, considers having a Virginia National Guard unit attend MTA each year a top priority for engagement and public awareness. “Military Through the Ages has proven to be a massive event, and it has given us a platform to tell the story of your National Guard,” said Williams, noting that the Guard has roughly 50 percent of the combat power of the U.S. Army and Air Force. “It’s a big surprise to a lot of people that the Guard is a key element of our nation’s military and a key component of our national defense. So the troops are justifiably proud of what they do and to tell that story at a fun event like MTA is phenomenal.”

Williams recalled the significance of the Guard’s historic ties to Jamestown, even during World War II. “I remember reading how our 29th Division soldiers in England would talk clearly about their relationship to 1607, and there they were in England preparing to liberate Europe,” he said. “And that’s pretty darn cool that there’s a direct relationship. Here we are 80 years later, and the mission remains the same – to win our nation’s wars and ensure that freedom

Educating future generations is a key goal of the Virginia Army National Guard during Jamestown Settlement’s “Military Through the Ages.” Cotton Puryear/Virginia National Guard.

Over the years, the Virginia National Guard and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation have collaborated on a myriad of special events and historic occasions. The Guard has marked its May birthday celebrations with a cake on the ships’ pier at Jamestown Day events, where Williams has fired the annual artillery salute. The Jamestown Settlement Honor Guard, clad in period armor and carrying halberds, attended the grand opening ceremony of the Guard’s new headquarters in Richmond.

and liberty persist. We wouldn’t be able to do that without our roots at Jamestown.” Williams added, “What the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation does in telling the beginnings of the story, we pick up the torch and carry it forward. From my perspective, it’s a treasured relationship, because without Jamestown, we wouldn’t be what we are today.” – Cindy Daniel, Interpretive Program Manager

Jamestown Settlement’s Military Through the Ages event on March 19-20 features centuries of military history, artillery demonstrations and “Salute to the Armed Forces” musical performances. See the full lineup at jyfmuseums.org/militarythroughtheages.

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The Tragedy of

1622

March 1622 witnessed a Powhatan Indian attack on Virginia English settlements brought on by English encroachment on the homelands and way of life of the Powhatan Indians of Tsenacommacah. Warriors killed about a third of the English population, and English counterattacks took the lives of hundreds of Indigenous people. Events set forth a defining moment in Powhatan-English relations.

hen the first 1609-14 Powhatan-English conflict ended, Virginia Company officials encouraged colonists to expand and create dispersed settlements along the James River, concurrently displacing Indigenous people from their traditional lands. Simultaneously, colonists intensified efforts to integrate Virginia Indians into English society through education and Christian conversion.

In 1618, when Virginia Indian paramount chief Powhatan died, new leaders Opitchapam and Opechancanough decided to fight back rather than accede to English demands. Opechancanough lulled the English into a period of peace and cooperation, strategically working behind the scenes to strengthen relations with tribes in the Powhatan chiefdom and creating new alliances. In 1621-22, after an aborted attempt to poison and attack English settlers, Opechancanough and Opitchapam changed their names, indicating that they were about to take agency and embark on a military campaign to force the English to leave Tsenacommacah, and if not, to annihilate them. On March 22, 1622, Opechancanough’s warriors implemented a coordinated military offensive on settlers in their homes and fields along the James River, killing about 350 settlers, while an unknown number of Powhatan warriors fell. After the attack, colonists retreated into eight protected, crowded settlements where many died from disease and malnutrition. Virginia Company leaders in England lacked funds to send food or military arms, but King James I sent older forms of armament to defend against Powhatan arrows.

English military leaders in Virginia began “fieringe and wastinge” tactics, sacking Powhatan towns in late summer, raiding and burning cornfields, and breaking up fish weirs. Large numbers of Powhatan people died from attack, starvation and disease. Spring truces allowed both sides to plant their crops but the English then pilfered the ripe Powhatan corn. Powhatan strategy consisted of brief attacks and withdrawals, luring the English away from their cornfields, temples and storehouses. In 1632, English Governor Sir John Harvey brokered a truce with Opechancanough. English expansion began again and 12 years later, in 1644, the aging Opechancanough led another offensive. Upon his capture and death in 1646, the war ended. The English made a treaty with Pamunkey werowance Necotowance, creating a tributary status for Virginia Indians under the English government, and established enclaves of Virginia Indian lands north of the York River. The March 1622 attack exemplified a turning point in Powhatan-English relations. The English gave up plans for assimilating Virginia Indians into English society and began unrestrained war against Indigenous people they considered irredeemable. The conflict resulted in a policy of separate enclaves for English settlers and Virginia Indians. The English never left Virginia, but neither did its first people, the Powhatan of Tsenacommacah. — Nancy Egloff, Jamestown Settlement Historian

English propaganda efforts referencing the March 22 “massacre” included this engraving by Matthaeus Merian and published by Johann Theodor de Bry. Read more at jyfmuseums.org/1622blog. Image: Detail of “Massacre of the Settlers,” circa 1630. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, JS83.01.04.

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On March 22, Jamestown Settlement presents “Strategy & Strength: Commemorating the 1622 Powhatan Offensive,” a panel discussion with noted historians and scholars moderated by Chickahominy Indian Chief Stephen R. Adkins. The free program begins at 5 p.m. and advance online registration is required for this both in-person and virtual program. Learn more at jyfmuseums.org/1622panel.

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From Popular Movies to All Things Hamilton, New Director's Series Launches in 2022

Christy S. Coleman, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation executive director, enjoyed a nostalgic movie moment with Jason Herbert, a scholar who leads the popular multimedia experience “Historians at the Movies,” during the inaugural Director’s Series program on January 19.

et ready for lively and enlightening conversations with some of the nation’s most prominent scholars and public figures during a new Director’s Series, which launched at Jamestown Settlement this year. On January 19, the series debuted to an audience of nearly 100 participants, both in person and virtually, who mused about their favorite movie moments during an exchange with Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Executive Director Christy S. Coleman and Scholar Jason Herbert on how popular culture influences the public’s understanding of history and American culture. Herbert, a scholar who explores the social, political, demographic and ecological transformation of Southeastern

American Indians, Europeans and Africans in Florida in the 18th and 19th centuries, is known for his popular multimedia experience, “Historians at the Movies,” which connects historians and movie buffs with many of our favorite films. Queries from the audience covered the breadth of motion pictures, from historical dramas such as “Gone with the Wind” to contemporary genres like “Jaws.” Coleman’s vision for the six-part Director’s Series aims to bring JYF’s mission into full view to raise awareness and understanding of the shared legacies of American history through engaging audiences in conversations on a myriad of subjects and speakers.

Want to join the conversation? Programs are held at 7 p.m. on select Wednesdays in the Robins Foundation Theater. Online registration is required in advance to attend these live presentations and available at jyfmuseums.org/directorsseries. Guests can reserve their spots for these thought-provoking conversations at $10 per program.

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Upcoming Programs Dr. Joanne B. Freeman March 23 Dr. Joanne B. Freeman is a U.S. historian of the Revolutionary era and Early Republic and tenured professor of History and American Studies at Yale University. Regarded as a leading expert on the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton, Freeman has researched his work independently and collaboratively for more than 40 years. She served as a co-host of the nationally syndicated podcast “Backstory” and as a consultant for the award-winning Broadway musical “Hamilton.” Get ready to explore all things Hamilton, fact and fiction.

Dr. Keisha Blain July 27 Dr. Keisha Blain, an associate professor of History at the University of Pittsburgh, is the 2022 New America National Fellow and regarded as one of the most innovative and influential young historians of her generation. Blain, who has written extensively about African-American history and is a regular contributor to NPR, BBC and other national and international media outlets, will discuss Black freedom struggles and their impact on American history and culture. Shannon Lanier November 16 Shannon Lanier is a veteran TV host, author and social media influencer who’s been keeping audiences tuned in for decades. He also happens to be the 6th great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. Join us for the year’s final program as they talk about the role and responsibility of journalism and media in American discourse, as well as our shared but complicated legacies with the approach of the 250th commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Lonnie G. Bunch III May 25 Lonnie G. Bunch III, an American educator and historian, is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the first African American and first historian to serve in this prominent role. Bunch, who has spent most of his career as a history museum curator and administrator, will discuss how museums have evolved during the past decades and the role they play in public life now and in the future.

Winona LaDuke September 21 Winona LaDuke is a member of the Ojibwe Nation and an internationally renowned activist working on issues of sustainable development, renewable energy and food systems. A 2007 inductee in the National Women’s Hall of Fame, LaDuke has written widely on Native American and environmental issues. As an acclaimed author of five books, including “Recovering the Sacred, All Our Relations” and a novel, “Last Standing Woman,” she will discuss her efforts to deploy Indigenous techniques to stem climate change.

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Groundwork Underway for Virginia’s American Revolution 250 Commemoration

ith the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War and the independence of the United States on the horizon in 2026, commemorative efforts are taking shape with the formation of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, executive committee and a new executive director. Cheryl L. Wilson, a nationally recognized leader of Virginia historical commemorations, was recently named executive director for the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, charged with the statewide observance. She is working with the commission to lay the groundwork and to coordinate commemorative activities across Virginia, collaborating with historic sites, national parks, museums, tourism organizations and state agencies to mark this milestone occasion in Virginia and the nation’s history.

Wilson has served as the executive director for the Virginia World War I and World War II Commemoration Commission, which developed statewide programs to mark the 100th anniversary of World War I and the 75th anniversary of World War II in 2016-2020. As executive director of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission in 2006-2015 for the statewide commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in Virginia, Wilson’s work was recognized as a national model for a commemoration that was balanced and inclusive of all perspectives. The multi-year event involved nearly every locality in Virginia and embraced cross-partner collaborations among other states. She fostered close partnerships with organizations statewide, and oversaw all commission activities and programs, including an award-winning mobile museum exhibition, popular signature conferences and dozens of large-scale commemorative events, and a document digitization effort that located and preserved 32,000 historical documents, as well as a matching grant program for local partners.

“Virginia is uniquely positioned to lead this important For more information on the national American Revolution national commemoration, which will involve hundreds of 250 Commission, visit america250.org. partners across the Commonwealth and beyond,” Wilson said enthusiastically. “The VA250 Commission is committed to a multi-faceted Virginia’s American Revolution 250 commemoration that will bring Commission Executive Committee people together across the state to better understand our past, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Executive Director Christy S. Coleman, chair present and future. Plans are Virginia Museum of History and Culture President and CEO Jamie Bosket, vice chair beginning to take shape for Gunston Hall Executive Director Scott Stroh statewide programs, local Colonial Williamsburg Foundation President and CEO Cliff Fleet museums and partners are America’s Battlefield Trust President David Duncan eagerly joining in the effort, and we look forward to working Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Chair Emeritus H. Benson Dendy III together to create a robust series Dominion Energy President Ed Baine of programs and events.” Virginia Secretary of Education Frances Bradford

on this date in

JYF HISTORY

APRIL 15, 1977

‘Virginia’s Time Capsule’ Captures Artifacts from Bicentennial, Iconic Symbols of America’s Past On April 15, 1977, national and state dignitaries and delegates gathered at the Yorktown Victory Center, now known as the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, to ceremoniously bestow symbolic items from Virginia’s Bicentennial for a time capsule.

Authorized by then Governor Mills E. Godwin to be opened in 2075, the custom-made cylinder was largely filled with artifacts and mementos from the 1976 Virginia Bicentennial, along with a few iconic symbols of Americana.

his then wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor. Warner inserted his Bicentennial pin in the time capsule, while Taylor placed a red bandana that she wore in the 1956 acclaimed film Giant. The time capsule, currently being held in archival storage since being unearthed during the construction of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, is slated to be opened on July 4, 2075.

According to JYF archival records, the partial list of items buried in the time capsule contained a letter written by Governor Godwin to the Governor and Citizens of Virginia in 2075, an official Bicentennial report, mementos or tokens from the state’s official designated Bicentennial communities and colleges, official programs from each of the three Virginia Bicentennial centers (including the Yorktown Victory Center), accounts of the Bicentennial from state newspapers, and a 25-ounce bottle of Virginia red wine from Meredyth Vineyards in Middleburg. The Virginia Bicentennial Commission also presented the devisal of the Virginia colony’s Coat of Arms presented to Governor Godwin by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to Charlottesville in 1976.

The late Nick and Mary Mathews, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation benefactors, gave an icon of the birth of Jesus and some gold and silver coins. Among the public figures in attendance were the late Senator John Warner (R-Va.) and

Former Secret ary of the Na vy and Senato John Warner (R r -Va.), and his then wife, actress Elizab eth Taylor, ad d mementos to Virginia’s Time Capsule, buried on April 15, 1977, at the Yo rktown Victor y Center.

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DONOR & VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Robert Zoglman

s a retired U.S. Army colonel with an interest in American history, Robert “Bob” Zoglman began volunteering in the Continental Army encampment at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown in 2009. Since that time, Bob has accumulated more than 1,900 volunteer hours, becoming an integral part of the JYF’s museum family. Despite the rank and file of the Continental Army, Bob shared that one of his favorite things about volunteering in the encampment was the way “employees and volunteers were all treated Bobby Sue and Bob Zoglman are members of the same.” The 1607 Society. Bob’s work as a costumed historical interpreter and career military experience allowed him to reach visitors from all walks of life and in so many ways – from demonstrating flintlock musket firings with a special needs child to engaging in activities with families whose grandparents didn’t want to leave the museum’s indoor exhibits.

Interested in giving of your time or fiscal support of the museums? Join Bob and Bobby Sue in The 1607 Society, including monthly giving options, by contacting the Development Office at (757) 253-4139 or visit jyfmuseums.org/donate, or learn about volunteer opportunities at Volunteer Services, (757) 253-4034 or ovs.volunteer@jyf.virginia.gov. – Morgan Culbertson, Director of the Annual Fund

“I can discuss other [time] periods and also talk to children on their level because it is an educational program,” said Bob, stressing the reciprocal rewards of working with museum guests and sharing the stories of the American Revolution. Beyond his dedication as a historical interpreter, Bob and his wife Bobby Sue Silvey became donors to the JYF, Inc. Annual Fund in 2011, with gifts providing support for core museum operations and living-history interpretation. Bob and Bobby Sue are members of The 1607 Society – the premier annual giving society and the cornerstone of our Annual Fund. With gifts of at least $1,607, members share a dedication for preserving and teaching the lessons of our nation’s history.

A retired U.S. Army colonel, Bob Zoglman volunteers as a historical interpreter in the Continental Army encampment at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Here, he mans the quartermaster’s tent, managing supplies for the troops.

Your gifts to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc.

Annual Fund

provide

vital support to sustain the museums and programs. • $60 (or a gift of $5 per month) could sponsor a child's summer camp experience • $125 could underwrite a virtual educational program. •$ 200 could purchase enough black powder for 20 artillery demonstrations at the Continental Army encampment. •$ 500 could purchase heirloom variety seeds and seedlings for our historic gardens and agricultural programs for an entire year • $600 could feed the heritage breed chickens at James Fort and Revolution-era farm. •$ 2,000 could buy enough baby duck feathers for a hand-woven feather mantle in Paspahegh Town.

Make History Happen Today! Visit jyfmuseums.org/donate

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MEMORIAL TRIBUTES McGowan Remembered for Life’s Work in Sharing History of her Powhatan People

Connock Honored in Memory for Nearly Four Decades of Foundation Leadership

Shirley “Little Dove” Custalow McGowan shared her Virginia Indian culture with countless museum visitors and schoolchildren.

The late Stuart W. Connock, chairman emeritus at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, at the 2013 cornerstone dedication of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

Born, raised and educated on the Mattaponi Reservation in King William County, McGowan generously shared her Virginia Indian culture and traditions with visitors to Jamestown Settlement, Virginia public schools and countless public venues during a span of more than 50 years.

Connock, a World War II veteran of the Pacific Theater, returned to Virginia to earn an economics degree from the University of Virginia and began his career in state government to work in the Department of Taxation and as the journal clerk in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was appointed the first director of the Division of Sales and Use Tax, rising to tax commissioner, and was later appointed and reappointed as Secretary of Administration and Finance, retiring in 1990. Connock served in many leadership roles at the JamestownYorktown Foundation, including chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Educational Trust Board of Directors, drawn to the organization by his love of England and the Commonwealth of Virginia. He played a key role in the planning and implementation of America’s 400th Anniversary observances, serving as chairman of the Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee, and as a member of the 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution Steering Committee and Programs and Logistics Committee. His passion extended from Jamestown Settlement’s three ships, designated as the “Official Fleet of the Commonwealth” by the Virginia General Assembly, to the Yorktown Victory Center’s transformation into the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown in 2017.

hirley “Little Dove” Custalow McGowan, a long-time historical interpreter, educator and the first Virginia Indian to serve on the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees, passed away on September 13, 2021, at the age of 78.

Immersed in the rich history of her people from an early age, she was given the name “Little Dove” at age 4 by her grandfather, Chief George Forest “Tecumseh” Custalow. Through hard work and perseverance, she became a respected historian who spent her life sharing the history of the Powhatan people. She was known for her artisan skills, creating traditional baskets, pottery, tools and regalia. She was featured in many documentaries and films, and served as a consultant on the 1995 Disney film “Pocahontas.” Her life’s work helped inspire and generate interest among new generations to learn the true story and history of Powhatan Indian descendants, who are still a vibrant presence in Virginia today. Through her many roles as historian, educator, advisor, artist, writer and advocate, her mission to share the rich history of her people lives on. Among her four sons, Sam McGowan continues her legacy at the Foundation as an outreach education instructor reaching students across Virginia.

he Honorable Stuart W. Connock, chairman emeritus and member of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees for nearly 40 years, was honored in a memorial service in April 2021. He passed away on December 6, 2020, at the age of 95.

JYFMUSEUMS.ORG

BOARD NEWS Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees Gain New Ex-Officio Leadership, Reappoint Members

he Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees recently welcomed new ex-officio members with the new gubernatorial administration and reappointed several members to oversee the work of the state agency and its two museums, Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Ex-officio members of the Board of Trustees include new representatives of the Virginia Governor’s Office, including Governor Glenn Youngkin, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, Attorney General Jason Miyares, Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera and Virginia House of Delegates Speaker C. Todd Gilbert. In November 2021, three Board of Trustees members were reappointed to one-year terms: A. Marshall Acuff, Jr. of Midlothian, M. Kirkland Cox of Colonial Heights and Sue H. Gerdelman of Williamsburg.

M. Kirkland Cox A. Marshall Acuff, Jr.

Stephen Adkins A.E. Dick Howard

They join Secretariat of the Commonwealth Board re-appointments in May 2021 to three-year terms: Chickahominy Sue H. Gerdelman Indian Chief Stephen Adkins of Charles City County; A.E. Dick Howard, Warner-Booker Distinguished Professor of International Law, of Charlottesville; and Cassandra L. Newby-Alexander, Ph.D., Norfolk State University professor of history and dean of the College of Liberal Arts, of Chesapeake. In addition, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors re-elected a slate of leaders in October 2021, including Terry E. Hall of Yorktown as president, T.J. Cardwell of Williamsburg as vice president, Alexis N. Swann of Newport News as treasurer, Mari Ann Banks of Gloucester as secretary, and Sue H. Gerdelman of Williamsburg as immediate past president. Cassandra L. Newby-Alexander

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"A weroan or great Lorde of Virginia,” engraving by Theodor de Bry after a watercolor of John White, 1577-1590. From A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia, 1590. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, JS84.11.02

calendar of EVENTS

Strategy & Strength: FOCUSED: A Century of Commemorating the Powhatan Offensive Virginia Indian Resilience 1622 MARCH 22 AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, join a panel THROUGH MARCH 25, AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, witness a century of change through the lens of personal and professional photography collections, traditional crafts and oral histories in collaboration with Virginia Indian tribal communities.

Military Through the Ages

MARCH 19 & 20 AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, make ready for centuries of military history all in one weekend and experience our annual unique chronological display of military history with re-enactors and modern-day soldiers showing how uniforms, weapons and tactics evolved through the ages.

discussion with noted historians and scholars moderated by Chickahominy Indian Chief Stephen R. Adkins. Panelists include Historian Martha McCartney; Dr. Helen Rountree, cultural anthropologist and Old Dominion University professor merita; and Dr. Sam Cook, Virginia Tech associate history professor and director of American Indian Studies. The free program begins at 5 p.m. and advance online registration is required for this both in-person and virtual program.

Director’s Series: Dr. Joanne B. Freeman

MARCH 23 AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, join Executive Director Christy S. Coleman and Dr. Joanne B. Freeman, tenured professor of History and American Studies at Yale University and leading expert on the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton, to explore all things Hamilton, fact and fiction. A separate ticket is required with advance online registration to attend this thoughtprovoking evening program.

JYFMUSEUMS.ORG

Talking History Lecture Series

Dr. Kacy Dowd Tillman

MARCH 24 AT AMERICAN REVOLUTION MUSEUM AT YORKTOWN, join Dr. Kacy Dowd Tillman, published scholar and professor of English and Writing at the University of Tampa to examine “Women Loyalists of the American Revolution” during this free public lecture at 7 p.m.

Carolyn Gilman

APRIL 14 AT AMERICAN REVOLUTION MUSEUM AT YORKTOWN, join Carolyn Gilman, published author and museum consultant as she presents “The American Revolution in Indian Country” during this free public lecture at 7 p.m.

Lectures are live on-site at our museums, with limited capacity and advance online registration required.

Jamestown Day

MAY 14 AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, enjoy military salutes and maritime programs that mark the 415th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. Explore the convergence of Virginia Indian, English and West Central African cultures in 17th-century Virginia with expansive gallery exhibits and outdoor living-history experiences.

Indigenous Arts Day

MAY 14 AT JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT, honor the enduring legacy of native communities since the arrival of colonists at Jamestown in May 1607 during a special day of celebration featuring traditional and contemporary art forms, demonstrations and performances from Indigenous artists.

MORE 2022 EVENTS & PROGRAMS Talking History Lecture: Marvin-Alonzo Greer • May 12 | Director’s Series: Lonnie G. Bunch III • May 25 Juneteenth • June 18 | Liberty Celebration • July 4 Museums open year-round 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tours and ticket information available at jyfmuseums.org/visit or call (757) 253-4838. Check out the complete calendar at jyfmuseums.org/events.

A view inside the re-created Anglican church at Jamestown Settlement.

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