Fall/Winter 2018
A House Built of Virginia Stone
Fresh Paint: Murals Inspired by the Story of Virginia
Virginia Museum of History & Culture
New to the Collection VirginiaHistory.org
In This Issue
Built of Virginia Stone page 4
An American Celebration page 10
BrewHaHa page 11
Fresh Paint page 12
Teachers Institutes page 24
New Research page 25
New Trustees page 26
New to the Collection page 8
News & Notes page 27
Cover: Nico Cathcart with her mural at Vitality Float Spa, Richmond, Virginia. Virginia History & Culture No. 2 Questions/Comments newsletter@VirginiaHistory.org VirginiaHistory.org 804.340.1800 Galleries and Museum Shop Open daily, 10 am – 5 pm Research Library Mon. – Sat., 10 am – 5 pm NEWSLETTER TEAM Editor Graham Dozier Designer/Production Jennifer Nesossis Contributors Jamie Bosket, John McClure, Stewart McLaurin, Michael Plumb, Adam Scher, Andrew Talkov, and Troy Wilkinson
EXECUTIVE TEAM President & CEO Jamie O. Bosket VP for Advancement Bob Halbruner VP for Collections Adam E. Scher VP for Exhibitions & Publications Andrew H. Talkov VP for Guest Engagement Michael B. Plumb VP for Marketing & Communications Tracy D. Schneider Sr. VP for Operations & Finance Richard S. V. Heiman
VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chair John R. Nelson Vice Chair Charles L. Cabell* Honorary Vice Chairs H. Furlong Baldwin Harry F. Byrd III Nancy H. Gottwald Conrad M. Hall Brenton S. Halsey Anne R. Worrell Board of Trustees Makola M. Abdullah Victor K. Branch Austin Brockenbrough III Jeanette R. Cadwallender Herbert A. Claiborne III Richard Cullen William H. Fralin, Jr.
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society — a private, non-profit organization established in 1831.
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George C. Freeman III Susan S. Goode Russell B. Harper Landon Hilliard Gen. John P. Jumper Linwood Allen Lacy, Jr. Elizabeth A. McClanahan G. Gilmer Minor III Kevin B. Osborne Pamela Kiecker Royall** Thomas G. Slater, Jr. Robert Clarkson Sledd Gerald F. Smith Thomas G. Snead, Jr. Robert Dorsey Taylor Allison P. Weinstein J. Harvie Wilkinson III William C. Wooldridge * Chair-Elect ** Vice Chair-Elect
From the President “Tis not in mortals to command success, but we’ ll do more… we’ ll deserve it.” -Joseph Addison, Cato, Act I, Scene 2 (1712)
Joseph Addison’s play deeply inspired the leaders of our American Revolution. The quote above was often used by our Virginia Founding Fathers to articulate the need to be hardworking and determined in achieving their important goals — a sentiment that still rings true today. For nearly two centuries the Virginia Historical Society, the oldest cultural organization in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of the most respected history organizations in the nation, has worked diligently to preserve and share the remarkable story of Virginia. We have accomplished much, but our work is far from complete. Time has changed our community and our commonwealth, and so we must also adapt and evolve. We are ready to do more and be more for the people of Virginia and beyond — to engage new audiences in new ways; to reach across the entire commonwealth; to grow and care for our collection; and to improve our financial sustainability. Taking guidance from our members, community, staff, and trustees, we have formed a thoughtful new strategic plan that I hope you will take time to explore. Building on our past successes, this ambitious plan charts an exciting new path toward a more vibrant future for an organization that will work tirelessly to deserve it. I hope you will join us! Sincerely,
Jamie O. Bosket President & CEO
STRATEGIC PLAN 2018 – 2024 Visit VirginiaHistory.org/StrategicPlan to learn more about our plan for the future.
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A House Built of Virginia Stone by Stewart D. McLaurin President, White House Historical Association
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pproximately forty miles south of Washington, D.C., the Aquia sandstone quarry on Government Island sits quietly in the woods of Stafford County, Virginia. The rock outcroppings of the quarry, however, are not the most visible evidence of its contribution to American history. Its stone can be seen every day on the exterior walls of the White House and in the decorative elements on the homes of many prominent eighteenth-century Virginians.
Found near present-day Aquia Harbor, Aquia Stone, rather than the traditional reddish color of sandstone, has a unique light color. When, in 1798, the White House received its first coat of whitewash mixed with lime to protect its exterior, this Virginia stone took on its distinctive appearance — spurring the home’s future famous name. After settling in Virginia in 1647, the Brents, an influential family originating from Maryland, owned a quarry on Aquia Creek for several generations. Interestingly, Margaret Brent was the first female attorney in the colonies and became the first woman in America to own land herself. The land that Margaret owned would become what is now Fredericksburg and Alexandria. During the Brents’ era, the quarry was mainly used for gravestones, decorative trim on homes and churches, bridges, millstones, and steps. In 1791, the quarry was purchased by the federal government to supply stone for the construction of government buildings in the new Federal City. The quarry then became known as Government Island, and its stone was harvested, transported down Aquia Creek and poled on rafts upriver on the Potomac, dressed on the riverbanks in Washington, moved to modern-day Lafayette Square for final carving, and eventually used to face or finish the exterior walls of the President’s House. Far left: Charles Jones, a master stonemason with Historic Environment Scotland, and Dale Lupton, a National Park Service stonemason, carve a double Scottish rose of stone from Government Island. Left: Stewart D. McLaurin. Images courtesy White House Historical Association unless otherwise noted. VirginiaHistory.org | 5
Until the middle of the eighteenth century, Virginia homes were typically made of brick and wood rather than “dressed” stone. Plantation owners tended to build their private residences out of these materials, and if stone was employed, it was done sparingly. Examples of this early trend toward using Aquia stone for architectural flourishes can be seen across Virginia. Aquia Church in Stafford and Christ Church in Alexandria used the stone for quoins, keystones, and door frames. George Washington used it at Mount Vernon, and it is likely that his personal experiences with Aquia stone led to its incorporation into the White House and other government buildings. The solid stone exterior of the White House was a significant status symbol, benefiting the new nation’s capital and projecting the power of the presidency.
Above: Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Below right: Double Scottish Rose above the north door of the White House. Bottom: Postcard showing the White House in Washington, D.C. (VMHC).
Elaborate stone carvings, as desired by George Washington, were more common in Europe. The unusual nature of elaborate solid stone buildings around the Potomac combined with a lack of available skilled stoneworkers led to stonemasons being hired from elsewhere. Although the building work encompassed a variety of laborers — enslaved and free — a number of skilled stonemasons came from Scotland. Their skill and craftsmanship were sought after for being the best in the world. As a tenth-generation Scot whose family arrived through the Cape Fear Valley of North Carolina, this link resonates with me. John Suter, a Scot who ran the Fountain Inn in Georgetown, recommended his cousin, Collen Williamson, for chief stonemason. The building commissioners signed an agreement with Williamson in 1792, and he worked on the White House with other Scottish tradesmen, building the foundation and basement walls until he was dismissed in the spring of 1795. Williamson’s name is engraved in the lost cornerstone, alongside Irish architect James Hoban. Scottish building work occurred in two phases. Building began with Collen Williamson and continued when an operative “lodge” of stonemasons traveled from Edinburgh. George Walker, a Scottish merchant from Philadelphia, traveled to Scotland in the fall of 1793 after he had offered to help secure more stonemasons. Amid financial turmoil because of war in Europe and the resulting ban on hiring skilled workmen, Walker found several skilled stonemasons keen for forbidden overseas contracts. Among those interested were James and John Williamson (possibly related to Collen Williamson), who began
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recruiting masons from the Grand Lodge of Scotland — Lodge 8 in Edinburgh. Six additional members of the lodge decided to accept Walker’s offer: George Thomson, James White, Alexander Wilson, Alexander Scott, James McIntosh, and Robert Brown. The men sailed to the United States under false names, landed in Norfolk, Virginia, and by the summer of 1794 were in Washington beginning work on the White House. Following the completion of the White House, the Scottish stonemasons were either dismissed or offered work on the Capitol. John and James Williamson returned to Edinburgh, as did James White. Collen Williamson remained in Maryland for the rest of his life. Alexander Reid operated a stone business until his death in 1812. Robert Brown opened a marble yard near Georgetown, and he later helped rebuild the White House after its near destruction during the War of 1812, as did James McIntosh, who supervised stone carvings on the building from 1815 to 1817. The work of the Scottish stonemasons remains immortalized through the double Scottish rose motif that appears above the North Door, atop pilasters, and in other architectural details of the White House.
Below: Government Island Quarry in Stafford County, Virginia.
The legacy of Aquia is reflected not only in the construction of the White House but also in the architecture of early Virginia. Aquia stone was used for the decorative trim of the Nelson House, the home of Thomas Nelson Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence and wartime governor of Virginia, and for quoins, chimney caps, and the water table at Gunston Hall, the home of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Similarly, the John Carlyle House, Mount Airy, Williams Ordinary, Pohick Church, Kenmore, and Cape Henry Lighthouse all feature Aquia sandstone. An unassuming island along Aquia Creek, along with many other Stafford County quarries, provided the physical foundations and decorative embellishments for the public and private buildings envisioned by our nation’s founders. Government Island is now a county park and is open to the public.
LEARN MORE AT VMHC
BANNER LECTURE William Seale and Stewart D. McLaurin will speak about “Scottish Stone Masons and Virginia Stone” on December 5 at 12:00 pm. DISPLAY An example of the Double Scottish Rose will be on display at the museum November 5 – December 5.
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New to the Collection from Brook Hill
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n June the Virginia Historical Society was gifted an extraordinary collection of books, documents, and art associated with the Stewart and Bryan families of Richmond, Virginia. The collection — which contains more than 2,300 volumes and nearly 12,000 manuscript items, including personal correspondence, business records, and photographs — spans three centuries of Virginia history and will serve as an invaluable resource for researchers and museum guests. The collection traces the families’ lineage beginning with Bryce Stewart (1757–1827) of Rothesay, Scotland, whose two sons, John Stewart (1806–1885) and Daniel Stewart (1809–1889), immigrated to the United States and settled in Richmond to join their uncle as tobacco merchants. John and Daniel later formed a partnership and invested in numerous enterprises, including the tobacco trade, railroads, turnpikes, and real estate. The collection contains their business correspondence, including rare documents associated with the slave trade in Virginia and Tennessee. Also prominently featured are multigenerational records documenting daily life at Brook Hill, the family ancestral home in Henrico County, Virginia. The descendant Bryan family archive also documents several generations, including journalist 8 | Virginia History & Culture
and author Joseph Bryan III (1904– 1993). Educated at Princeton, he contributed to numerous national publications including Time, Fortune, The Saturday Evening Post, and The New Yorker. His papers include his correspondence with such illuminati as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, authors E. B. White and Tom Wolfe, humorist Al Capp, and actresses Helen Hayes and Katherine Hepburn. An additional gem of the manuscripts collection is a group of nearly 600 items containing materials related to Robert E. Lee’s service in Western Virginia in 1861 as coordinator of the Confederate Army of the Kanawha and the Army of the Northwest. Among these letters is Lee’s response to Rabbi M. J. Michelbacher of Richmond who requests the furlough of all Jewish soldiers for the High Holy Days.
The Brook Hill collection also includes a significant work of art, an oil-on-canvas portrait of Lucy Parke Byrd (1678 – 1716) and an unidentified enslaved person. Lucy was the first wife of William Byrd II (1674 – 1744), a prosperous Virginia planter and surveyor who helped establish the city of Richmond. The portrait, which is currently on view in The Story of Virginia exhibit at the VMHC, was likely painted in London in 1716, the year she died of smallpox at the age of twenty-nine. Gift of Joan Bryan Gates
HELP SAVE HISTORY
Establish a preservation or acquisition fund. For more information, contact Bob Halbruner, VP for Advancement, at 804.342.9681.
Left: Books from the Brook Hill collection; This page: Lucy Parke Byrd, 1716, by unidentified artist, school of Sir Godfrey Kneller (VMHC). VirginiaHistory.org | 9
An American Celebration Independence Day at the Museum A crowd of more than 1,300 people gathered on the front terrace of the museum on July 4th to watch some 100 people from more than 40 countries take the oath of allegiance to the United States and become new citizens. This moving ceremony, presided over by Chief Judge Roger Gregory of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, was likely the largest of its kind in the commonwealth this year and was the focus of the museum’s commemoration of the nation’s 242nd birthday. Through the kindness of the Weinstein family, each new citizen received a free family membership to the historical society. Other popular activities took place throughout the day inside the museum, including a patriotic concert by the beloved John Marshall High School Alumni Band, a children’s signing of the Declaration of Independence, a themed scavenger hunt of the museum’s Story of Virginia exhibition, and food concessions.
Above: A new citizen is congratulated by Congressman A. Donald McEachin; Right, top: New citizens take the oath of allegiance; Right, middle: A new citizen poses with Chief Judge Roger Gregory; Right bottom: A young guest adds her name to the Declaration of Independence.
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BrewHaHa 2nd Annual Craft Beer Festival On Saturday, August 4, the museum welcomed breweries from around the commonwealth for the second-annual BrewHaHa: Virginia Craft Beer Festival. More than 700 guests enjoyed a beautiful evening of bluegrass music, lawn games, food trucks, and the opportunity to sample creations from ten breweries and two cideries.
Mark your calendar for the 3rd annual BrewHaHa, which will take place on August 3, 2019.
Before the main event, four Richmond-area breweries (Isley Brewing Company, Ardent Craft Ales, Castleburg Brewery, and Canon & Draw Brewing Company) competed in the inaugural “Battle of the Brews.” After the attendees’ votes were tallied, Danny Fain of Ardent Craft Ales received top prize for his Lemon Basil Wit, which was adapted from a 19th-century recipe for lemon beer in the museum’s collection. Top, left: River City Band; Top, right; Paige Newman, Associate Archivist for Collections Processing at the VMHC, awards Danny Fain the Battle of the Brews trophy; Middle: BrewHaHa guests sample selections from South Street Brewery of Charlottesville. Bottom: Guests on the front lawn of the museum.
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This page: Chris Milk Hulburt with his mural at The Cask CafĂŠ & Market, Richmond, Virginia. 12 | Virginia History & Culture
MURALS INSPIRED BY THE STORY OF VIRGINIA
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or centuries, murals have been painted on the walls and ceilings of tombs, palaces, churches, and other public buildings. In recent years, outdoor murals have become prominent features of Virginia’s landscape. These works of art not only inspire awe by their scale and beauty but also serve as expressions of a community’s history, aesthetics, and values. Richmond, for example, is now home to more than 100 outdoor murals, and this popular form of artwork reflects the city’s modernity and diversity and has done much to bring communities together. Similar mural movements can be found across Virginia. VirginiaHistory.org | 13
Fresh Paint began with a survey of dozens of regional artists whose portfolios included painting large-scale murals. Nico Cathcart, a Richmond-based mural artist and co-curator of Fresh Paint, lent to the project an understanding of the landscape as well as extensive knowledge of the mural painting process. The museum invited ten Virginia artists to participate in the project. The group visited the museum, toured our exhibitions, and accessed our vast collection of books, letters, maps, and objects. They each selected an object or objects whose stories they would use as inspiration for an original artwork that reflected on Virginia’s past. Some quickly found their inspiration in the collection. Amelia Blair Langford was immediately drawn to the work of 18th- and 19th-century naturalists Mark Catesby and John J. Audubon. Her mural features native species of fox, rabbit, deer, and numerous insects set against a mountain-like silhouette of the state of Virginia. On display with Amelia’s striking 10-foot-tall by 15-foot-wide mural is a rare copy of Catesby’s 1754 Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands.
Many of the artists participating in Fresh Paint had portfolios that suggested an affinity toward realism. But Wing Chow’s typical works inhabit a strange world of floating blobs, swirling colors, and shape shifting creatures. She was drawn to an 1880s photograph of Natural Bridge by Rockbridge County photographer Michael Miley, whose photograph exaggerates the appearance of the bridge to remind us of the powerful forces of nature. Chow’s mural reflects the sublime quality of the photograph as she portrays the bridge as a star-filled portal into the metaphysical. Chris Milk Hulburt taught himself to paint in his twenties while he was painting houses and found his own house filled with leftover paint. His murals are whimsical and contain wonderfully quirky, partially autobiographical, narratives. His painting Higgle & Company was styled after the cartoon-like cover of the Hard Cider and Log Cabin Almanac for 1841 — a piece of political propaganda from the campaign to elect William Henry Harrison. His fictional Virginia pioneer-turned-artisan potter displays stoneware crocks modeled after those in the museum’s collection and sells his wares from a Conestoga Wagon seen in the background. Some artists drew their inspiration more literally from the objects in the collection. Mickael Broth (the Nightowl) is perhaps best known for his “dancing” Bernie Sanders mural in Richmond’s Scott’s Addition, seen by more than 1.5 million online viewers in less than a week in 2016, but he is also an avid student of World War I. Broth was inspired by objects associated with Virginia-born President Woodrow Wilson and the many Virginians who served during the war. His painting — featuring Woodrow Wilson and a grieving mother — explores how the decision of a single person can affect the lives of millions of Americans. Left: While a museum guest watches from below, Wing Chow works on her large-scale mural based from a photograph of Natural Bridge. Visitors to the museum were able to watch and interact with the mural artists before the exhibition opened. Right: Hamilton Glass with his mural Think at Richmond Cycling Corp, Richmond, Virginia.
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Loudoun County native Ed Trask was attracted to a 19th-century copper still used by the McConnell family of Washington County, Virginia. His work portrays elements of Virginia’s nearly 400-year history of distilled liquor and its transformation from an American tradition to a covert operation. Toobz Muir was immediately drawn to one of the collection’s smallest objects — a 1-3/4” brass seal used by the Roanoke Navigation Company. Established in 1812, the company was formed to build and maintain improvements to the Roanoke River system to allow commercial traffic to travel from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to Albemarle Sound. Toobz’s mural depicts the crew of a bateau in his surreal style that is perhaps more reminiscent of Charon, the ferryman of Hades from Greek mythology. Hamilton Glass, whose inspiration often reflects his architecture and design background, found himself drawn to the pivotal role of the U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War. Symbolized by the bound hands of an African American soldier, Glass’s painting encourages viewers to understand the discrimination faced by black soldiers from their enemies and comrades during the war. 16 | Virginia History & Culture
Noah Scalin, best known for his award-winning Skull-aDay project, replaces Confederate officers with civil rights activists in Charles Hoffbauer’s “Lee and His Generals” to contrast the black struggle to achieve rights of full citizenship with efforts by white southerners to regain political and social dominance after the Civil War.
Top: Ed Trask painting his mural Still Relevant in the Virginia Sargeant Reynolds Gallery; Above: Brass Seal of the Roanoke Navigation Company, 1830 (VMHC).
Nico Cathcart’s 15-foot-tall mural focuses on three Virginia women — a former slave turned confidante to Mary Lincoln, a member of the Virginia Equal Suffrage League, and a woman’s rights activist — each working toward fulfilling the promise of freedom and reinforcing the role of women as agents of social change. VCUArts graduate Austin “Auz” Miles was also drawn to Virginia women and was inspired by two of African descent — Mary Smith Peake and Barbara Johns. In 1861, on the grounds of what is today Hampton University, Peake began teaching former slaves previously denied formal education. Nearly a century later, Johns led a student walkout to protest unequal conditions in Farmville’s segregated public schools. Both demonstrate how women used and pursued education as a tool to free themselves from mental enslavement.
The murals and objects displayed in Fresh Paint highlight Virginia’s natural wonders, reflect the determination and ingenuity of its people, and ask questions about injustice and inequality. Many expose individuals and episodes overlooked in earlier narratives, and all of them encourage us to use our past as examples that can prepare us to shape the future. Fresh Paint: Murals Inspired by the Story of Virginia will be on display through April 21, 2019. Artist commissions and exhibit support was generously provided by Pam and Bill Royall.
FRESH PAINT murals were inspired by objects featured in this new book. What will inspire you? This new 200-page, hardcover book features more than 400 iconic objects representing Virginia’s important history.
Order by November 25 to receive for the holidays! Special Member Price: $35.96 Visit ShopVirginiaHistory.org/StoryofVirginia to place your order today. Published through the generous support of the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.
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Celebrate With Us! Book your next personal or corporate event at one of our historic venues. From small intimate gatherings to large glamorous events, we have just the right space for you — space with a story!
VMHC HELGA KOCH GOTTWALD GATEWAY
VIRGINIA HOUSE GREAT HALL
VMHC HALSEY LECTURE HALL
VIRGINIA HOUSE
VIRGINIA HOUSE GARDENS
VMHC OLSSON FAMILY GALLERY
LEARN MORE AND BOOK NOW! events@VirginiaHistory.org | 804.342.9676 | VirginiaHistory.org/FacilityRentals 18 | Virginia History & Culture
2018 Commemorative Christmas Ornament Purchase your 2018 Official Virginia History Ornament today before they sell out! This limited edition ornament features the Virginia State Capitol; the three ships that carried the first permanent colonists to Virginia in 1607; Virginian George Washington, our nation’s first president; the Commonwealth of Virginia’s seal, along with its state bird, the cardinal, and state flower, the flowering dogwood. The tree is capped by the Roanoke Star, which sits atop Mill Mountain outside Roanoke, Virginia. From our family to yours, we wish you the happiest of holidays and a joyous new year!
Hang your ornament before Christmas! Order by November 25th. Special Member Price: $17.96 Ornaments are available online at ShopVirginiaHistory.org/2018Ornament.
Made in America
LOOKING FOR GIFT IDEAS? GIVE A GIFT MEMBERSHIP! Purchase a Virginia Historical Society gift membership at VirginiaHistory.org/Gift. VirginiaHistory.org | 19
Read With Us Recently Published & Recommended Buy your copy today at ShopVirginiaHistory.org!
by Mickael Broth
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Pocahontas by Simon Van de Passe, 1616 (VMHC)
Pocahontas: Her Life, Legend, & Legacy
FEW FIGURES FROM THE AMERICAN PAST are better known than the young Powhatan woman who has come down to us as “Pocahontas.” Her fame began in her own lifetime and has endured for more than 400 years. Pocahontas: Her Life, Legend, and Legacy is a half-day symposium at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture intended to tell the story of Pocahontas from the English and Native American perspectives. Distinguished national and international speakers will lead discussions on what Pocahontas has come to represent as a cross cultural ambassador, the role of religion and faith in her story, and the myths and realities that surround her. This groundbreaking program not only honors the Indian Tribes in Virginia who were responsible through peaceful treaties and collaboration with the early settlers to establish the foundation of our country, but it also acknowledges the heritage and identity of indigenous peoples who have often been overlooked in history. $20 members / $30 general public Seats are limited. Register online at VirginiaHistory.org. Doors open at 1:30 pm; program begins at 2:00 pm and concludes at 6:00 pm followed by a reception.
A Symposium at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture November 14, 2018, 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm SYMPOSIUM PARTICIPANTS Chief Emeritus Kenneth Adams Upper Mattaponi Tribe Chief Stephen Adkins Chickahominy Tribe Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher Assistant Bishop for Native Ministries, Episcopal Diocese of Montana Chief Robert Gray Pamunkey Tribe John Pagano Historical Interpretation Supervisor, Henricus Historical Park Dr. William M. S. Rasmussen Senior Curator, Virginia Museum of History & Culture Chief Anne Richardson Rappahannock Tribe Dr. Helen C. Rountree Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, Old Dominion University Rev. Canon Chris Stone Former Rector, St. George’s Church, Gravesend, England
The symposium is cosponsored by the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and the 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution.
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Upcoming Events NOVEMBER 3
Fire, Flour & Fork, 9:00 am, $ Cook’s Campus featuring Carla Hall, noted chef and co-host of ABC’s show “The Chew.”
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Virginia Journeys, 8:15 am, $ Richmond: Supreme Court of Virginia, Virginia State Capitol, The Valentine and Wickham House, and John Marshall House
DECEMBER 5
Banner Lecture, 12:00 pm, $ Scottish Stone Masons and Virginia Stone by William Seale Cosponsored with the White House Historical Association
6 Commonwealth Classroom, 5:30 pm, $ “Border Wars: Virginia’s Frontier Rivalry with Pennsylvania” Part 1 (Part 2 on December 13) 6
Lecture, 6:00 pm, $ Preparing for Victory: George C. Marshall’s Experiences in World War I by Winston Groom
Cosponsored by the George C. Marshall Foundation’s Marshall Legacy Series and brought to you by Dominion Energy.
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Banner Lecture, 12:00 pm, $ Never in Finer Company: The Men of the Lost Battalion and the Transformation of America by Edward G. Lengel
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Banner Lecture, 5:30 pm, $ John Marshall: The Man Who Made the Supreme Court by Richard Brookhiser
Cosponsored with the John Marshall Foundation
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Symposium, 2:00 pm, $ Pocahontas: Her Life, Legend, and Legacy
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Created Equal Film Series, 6:30 pm Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities
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Behind-the-Scenes Tour, 10:30 am, $ Food for Thought: Tidbits from Virginia’s Culinary History
Cosponsored by the 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution
18 Fall Open House at Virginia House, 12:00 pm 29
Created Equal Film Series, 6:30 pm The Hail-Storm: John Dabney in Virginia
$ = Tickets/registration may be required. Member discounts available. 22 | Virginia History & Culture
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Meet the Artist, Gallery Walk, and Book Signing, 1:00 pm Oh, Shenandoah exhibit
12 Virginia Journeys, 7:30 am, $ Colonial Williamsburg and Bassett Hall
16 Holiday Open House at Virginia House, 12:00 pm 19 Created Equal Film Series, 6:30 pm Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
JANUARY 10
Banner Lecture, 6:00 pm, $ Murals of Richmond panel discussion with author Mickael Broth and featured mural artists
17 Created Equal Film Series, 6:30 pm Virginia Voices 23 Virginia Journeys, 7:00 am, $ Washington, D.C.: United States Holocaust Museum
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Virginia Journeys, 8:00 am, $ Tidewater: Mariners’ Museum & Park and Hampton History Museum
CHOCOLATE DEMONSTRATIONS Join us for 18th-century chocolate-making on select Saturdays at 1:00 pm: • December 1, 8, 15, and 22 • January 5
STORIES AT THE MUSEUM
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Banner Lecture, 12:00 pm, $ Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Waterman of Vanishing Tangier Island by Earl Swift
FEBRUARY 7
Created Equal Film Series, 6:30 pm The Black Power Mixtape 1967 – 1975
21 Banner Lecture, 12:00 pm, $ The Common Soldier of the Civil War by Peter S. Carmichael 23
Join us on the first and third Saturday of every month at 11:00 am to enjoy a historical story followed by a related craft.
Behind-the-Scenes Tour, 10:30 am, $ George Washington – Man Behind the Myth
28 Banner Lecture, 12:00 pm, $ Robinson House, Its Land and People by Elizabeth L. O’Leary
Veterans Day: Remembering WWI One hundred years ago, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, World War I, the conflict referred to by H. G. Wells as “the war that will end war,” ended. More than 100,000 Virginians served across all branches of the armed services and nearly 3,700 never returned to their homes. Those who did return found a country that was fundamentally transformed. On Sunday, November 11, 2018, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture will honor that service and sacrifice and commemorate the centennial of World War I’s end.
VETERANS DAY EVENTS
NOVEMBER 10 – 12 Free admission for all active duty military and veterans through the generosity of
NOVEMBER 11 Family friendly activities
For more information or to register, visit VirginiaHistory.org/Calendar. VirginiaHistory.org | 23
Weinstein Properties Story of Virginia Teacher Institutes Teachers from around the commonwealth gathered at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture to participate in the 2018 Weinstein Properties Story of Virginia Teacher Institutes. This annually offered summer institute provides K-12 educators with the skills needed to help their students investigate Virginia’s past through primary sources. This year marked the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the institute, as educators from the museum partnered with professors from the Department of History at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, for instruction that covered 16,000 years of Virginia history. In addition to behindthe-scenes access to treasures from the museum
collection, and other opportunities to investigate project-based learning strategies, teachers were able to visit the Robert Russa Moton Museum. Located in Farmville, the Moton Museum tells the story of the 1951 student-led walkout protesting poor conditions in the all-black high school and the subsequent legal battle that was incorporated into the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education. Dates for next year’s institute will be announced soon. The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is excited to continue providing teachers with the tools they need to share the story of Virginia, and the stories of our nation, with its next generation of citizens.
The presenters, the materials used, the magnificence of the museum and exhibits — all of it has made a huge impact in my life and therefore will make a difference to the students I teach in the future. — Sarah, First Grade Teacher Below: Teachers view documents in the library’s Paul Mellon Rare Book Room. Right: Teachers visit and pose for a photo at the Robert Russa Moton Museum.
YOUTH EDUCATION Access to free onsite field trips for 12,000 students is made possible this year through the generosity of Carole and Marcus Weinstein. Join them in supporting history education at VirginiaHistory.org/give.
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Spotlight On Research Anne Sarah Rubin, Ph.D. In August, the Library hosted one of the scholars selected for a 2018 Mellon Fellowship — our academic research program, which is in its 30th year. We have supported more than 750 scholars with nearly 1,000 awards since the fellowship program’s inception. Anne Sarah Rubin, a professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, knows our library well. She received her Ph.D. in history at the University of Virginia, and this year’s award marked her second Mellon Fellowship. Dr. Rubin has published extensively on the Civil War era, including her award-winning book, A Shattered Nation: The Rise and Fall of the Confederacy, 1861–1868 (2005).
Her current book project focuses on food and hunger in the South during the Civil War — and Dr. Rubin aims to complicate one of the enduring impressions in the public memory related to hunger during the war, that of Scarlett O’Hara swearing to “never be hungry again” in the film Gone With the Wind. In fact, elite whites typically fared far better during the conflict than those who were less fortunate. The working title for the project, Confederate Hunger: Food and Famine in the Civil War–Era South, speaks to her goal of writing a “culinary history of starvation.” Dr. Rubin is conducting detailed research into what people actually ate and how southerners (especially non-elites and African Americans) suffered because of food shortages. The project also allows her to “use food as a lens into questions of nationalism, resistance, migration, and public welfare.” We look forward to reading the results of her work.
Remembering Our Friend E. Lee Shepard The board of trustees, staff, and volunteers of the Virginia Historical Society were deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague Lee Shepard on September 20th. After forty-two years of exemplary service, Lee retired in 2017 as Vice President for Collections and Sallie and William B. Thalhimer III Senior Archivist. He was greatly dedicated to our mission and cared immensely for the saving and sharing of Virginia history. During his tenure, he conducted considerable research and thoughtfully fostered the scholarship of countless others. Lee curated many exhibits and supported numerous publications. He also directed the growth, storage, and care of one of the largest and most impressive history collections in the nation. His contributions were profoundly impactful; his legacy will be lasting; and his kindness, sincerity, and good spirit will be greatly missed.
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NEW TRUSTEES The Virginia Historical Society, which owns and operates the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC), welcomes two new members to its board of trustees: Dr. Makola M. Abdullah of Petersburg and Victor K. Branch of Chesterfield County. In 2016, Dr. Makola M. Abdullah began his tenure as the 14th President of Virginia State University. An academic administrator and internationally renowned educator, Dr. Abdullah is a native of Chicago. He is the youngest African American to receive a Ph.D. in engineering. He earned his doctorate and master’s degrees from Northwestern University and his undergraduate degree from Howard University. Under President Abdullah’s leadership, Virginia State University has experienced some significant achievements such as recognition by ESSENCE magazine as one of the nation’s top 20 “Best Colleges for African Americans,” establishment of partnerships with local school systems where VSU students tutor students in mathematics and reading to encourage student success at each school, and opened the Academic Center of Excellence as a onestop hub for first-year students to receive career and academic advising and tutorial services. In 2017, Dr. Abdullah was named the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Male President of the Year by HBCU Digest and in June of 2018, the University was named the Best HBCU of the Year. He serves as a board of trustee member for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and is the vice chair for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Board of Directors. Last year, he was inducted into the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge Alumni Hall of Fame.
Dinwiddie County native and College of William & Mary alumnus Victor K. Branch is a leader dedicated to higher education and philanthropic initiatives. Serving as Senior Vice President of Bank of America, he is the Market President for the Richmond Region. With a career spanning more than 34 years, he oversees the bank’s corporate affairs initiatives in Richmond to include all philanthropic and brand promotion strategies to ensure the bank is delivering on its corporate social responsibility commitments in the region. He currently serves on the following community boards: Housing Opportunities Make Equal (HOME); Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges; Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce; Venture Richmond; Chair of the Board of the Virginia Gateway Economic Development Alliance and Richmond Metropolitan YMCA. He also serves on the GoVA Region 4 Workforce Development Initiative. The governor recently appointed Mr. Branch to serve on the board of visitors for the College of William & Mary.
OUR MISSION
Connecting people to America’s past through the unparalleled story of Virginia. By collecting, preserving, and interpreting the Commonwealth’s history, we link past with present and inspire future generations.
OUR VISION
We aspire to represent all Virginians as we meaningfully share the ever-evolving story of Virginia with a broader audience. 26 | Virginia History & Culture
NEWS & NOTES HistoryConnects Wins Award HistoryConnects, the VMHC’s distance learning program, received the 2018 Pinnacle Award from the Center for Interactive Learning (CILC) for the 2017 – 2018 academic year. The Pinnacle Award is given to institutions that receive the highest ratings on programming evaluations submitted by educators. To schedule a distance learning program for your school, retirement community, or community center, visit VirginiaHistory.org/HistoryConnects.
Virginia’s First Lady Visits President Jamie Bosket and Senior Curator William Rasmussen were honored to provide an extensive tour of the museum to Virginia First Lady Pam Northam, her daughter, and parents.
Chocolate History Grant The VMHC was among the small group of museums to receive generous funds from Mars, Inc. as part of their Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Research Grant Program. This grant, presented to President Bosket and VP for Guest Engagement Michael Plumb by Jacqueline Mars, Jacomien Mars, and company representatives, will be used to develop a new interpretive program about chocolate history in Virginia.
MCV Lecture Through the instigation of Trustee Austin Brockenbrough and the generosity of the Virginia Sargeant Reynolds Foundation, the historical society hosted its second lecture in partnership with the MCV Foundation. Award-winning author John M. Barry spoke about the 1918 flu pandemic and was joined by a panel of VCU specialists to discuss flu research. VirginiaHistory.org | 27
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UPCOMING EXHIBITION
OH, SHENANDOAH
Landscapes of Diversity
Featuring 52 plein air paintings of the Valley by Andrei Kushnir On display
December 8, 2018 to September 1, 2019
in the
Susan and David Goode Gallery The North Fork at Red Banks, Shenandoah County, 2008, by Andrei Kushnir.