Minerva Books Closing in August

Kristy Bell, owner of Minerva Books, the only book store in Petersburg has announced the closing of her bookstore. Stating, "business is all about numbers and demographics. A town with an essentially stagnant population of approximately 32,000 is borderline for a business such as mine to begin with. Factor in the 42% illiteracy rate, disability rates that some sources estimate as high as 40%, and the highest real estate tax rate in the state, and you have a recipe for some frustrating days."

James Dinsmore (1771, Ireland - 1830, VA) FL 1816/1817 Petersburg, VA

James Dinsmore and John Neilson, master carpenters were renting a cabinet-makers shop from Robert Bolling in Petersburg, Virginia during 1816 until Sept. 1817.

Does anyone have any details on what buildings they may have work on?

Or any details on them during this period. Where did they resided while working there?

Prestwould

Prestwould: Gracious Living on the American Frontier, 1790-1830

Thursday, October 9, 2009 (noon)

By Julian Hudson Banner Lecture Series

Virginia Historical Society

Prestwould Plantation, built at the end of the eighteenth century in a post-revolutionary Georgian style, is located on the bluffs above the Roanoke River near Clarksville, Virginia. Dr. Julian Hudson, the executive director of the Prestwould Foundation, has overseen the restoration of this historic property by leading preservation specialists. His lecture will illustrate the material culture represented by Prestwould, beginning with Sir Peyton and Lady Jean Skipwith and extending down four subsequent generations.

http://www.vahistorical.org/news/lectures_banner.htm

Located at Prestwood Dr, Hwy 15th North Clarksville, Virginia, 23927 (434)-374-8672 Open April 15 through October 31, seven days from 12:30 to 3:30 PM or by appointment, 434-374-8672. Cost: Adult $8, Senior over 65 $6, Child 6-12 $3

Constructed in 1700s, this massive combination Georgian-Federal style house amazingly stayed in the family of Sir Peyton Skipwith and Lady Jean (a cousin of Thomas Jefferson) until 1914 after being inherited by their second son. The interior of the home is best known for its original 18th and 19th century wallpapers, which have been copied in a special collection offered by Scalamandre. Tradition has it that the property, once home to Blue Stone Castle, was won by Sir Skipwith in a three day card game with William Byrd,II, of Westover on the James River.

A substantial African American interpretation exists on the property as well. An intact rare original slave quarters.

Given the strong period relationship with the early artisans and merchants of Petersburg had with supporting this plantation with goods this is an important site to visit. They maintain the largest collection of early period Petersburg crafted furniture. Skipworth sold his crops through Petersburg to England. Lady Jean purchase many of her books and household needs in Petersburg.

Early American Industries Association

The Early American Industries Association

will host a Gathering in the Shenandoah Valley

for all History and Tool EnthusiastsUlster Forge

The Frontier Culture Museum

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Everyone is Invited!

at the

Frontier Culture Museum,

Staunton, VA

www.frontiermuseum.org

Matoaca Cotton Factory -- Report

Petersburg's Matoaca Cotton Factory

http://www.chesterfieldhistory.com/Art/Matoaca%20Cotton%20Factory%20Presentation%20June%202004.pdf

African American Stereotypes and Self-Expression Studied in New Exhibit

African American Stereotypes and Self-Expression Studied in New Exhibit

Virginia Historical Society Explores Images of Blacks Throughout Commonwealth’s History
Richmond, VA—When you think about pictures, portraits, drawings, or paintings of African Americans, have you ever thought about what those depictions convey about the subjects, or about the race as a whole? Can you tell the difference between an image of an African American created by a white person or a black person? Does the artist seem sympathetic, neutral, or demeaning toward the African American(s) depicted?
In The African American Image in Virginia, an exhibition opening at the Virginia Historical Society (VHS) on February 1, various media are explored to show how images of blacks have changed throughout Virginia’s history. The nearly fifty images on display–from books, sheet music, newspapers, broadsides, photographs, and works of art—show visitors the way whites and blacks have depicted African Americans.
"This exhibition is about identity," said Dr. Lauranett Lee, VHS curator of African American history. "The images show a changing state and nation. As America has grown over four centuries, the idea of how African Americans present themselves and how they are presented by others has changed and evolved."
Most of the images displayed in the exhibition are by white artists and, with a single exception, men. During the 1700 and 1800s, drawings of individual African Americans tended to be realistic, but when blacks were not depicted as individuals but as generalized representatives, white artists often descended into caricature with demeaning stereotype features ascribed by popular white prejudices.
The African American Image in Virginia also explores the middle ground between portraiture and caricature. Sometimes called "Negro studies," these images by whites had a specific person as the subject, but the individual was unnamed. They were meant to represent a "type" of character. Often these works were sold as souvenirs to northerners, to whom blacks were an exotic feature of southern society, like magnolias or palmettos.
African Americans in Virginia were better able to express themselves artistically after slavery ended. Black churches gained autonomy; black artists received funding and had exhibitions; and black colleges created art departments. Because it was inexpensive photography became a particularly important means of self-representation and community documentation. A photograph of Leonie Holmes in the exhibition illustrates the sense of personal pride and social responsibility blacks felt to "uplift the race" and show upward mobility through education.
"This exhibition is intended to be thought-provoking," said Lee. "We want to help visitors understand what it is that they are seeing and what it means. We want visitors to understand the world in which the image was created, the era and attitudes of that time. Some of the images are degrading, but it is not cruel to show these ugly episodes of our past; if we hide them, we don’t learn. And then how can we grow?"
The African American Image in Virginia will be on display at the Society through December 30, 2009. An online version of the exhibition will showcase over twenty images featured in the physical one and will remain on the VHS website indefinitely. Curator Lauranett Lee will give a gallery walk on Wednesday, February 11 at noon.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), located within walking distance of the VHS, is also presenting an African American exhibition during Black History Month. The art exhibition, on display from February 5 to May 3 at VMFA, focuses on African American work from the time of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s to the Postmodern experimentation of the late 1990s.
Labor and Leisure: Works by African-American Artists from the Permanent Collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will explore the polarities of daily life for American blacks in a variety of media. Included will be art by James VanDerZee (1886–1983), Leslie Garland Bolling (1898–1955), Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000), Romare Bearden (1911–1988), Charles White (1918–1979), Lorna Simpson (born 1960) and Willie Cole (born 1955). For more information about Labor and Leisure, visit www.vmfa.museum.
"Visitors are fortunate that the VHS and VMFA exhibitions are on display at the same time and are so close," Lee said. "It is important to get different perspectives, and the more opportunities we have to explore these powerful African American images, the more we will understand about our past."

Free Educational Programs for Homeschoolers at the Virginia Historical Society

http://www.vahistorical.org/education/homeschool.htm

The Virginia Historical Society is offering special educator-led history presentations for homeschool students. Come early or stay after your program and enjoy the additional exhibitions.

Three one-hour interactive presentations are available Tuesdays and Thursdays in June and July 2009.Programs begin at 2 pm and are appropriate for children of all ages.

Call the Education Department to book your hands-on history program today!Telephone: 804.342.9652Email: vhstours@vahistorical.org