Friday, March 4, 2011

Amazon's Kindle Edition of Jefferson's Isaac: From Monticello to Petersburg

Amazon's Kindle Edition is now available worldwide for only $4.99

>>> just click on their link.

www.amazon.com
‎"To deny a people their history is to deny them the most essential element of their group's existence." Ronald Seagrave In an 1840's daguerreotype, former slave Isaac stares blankly at the camera. He is a large man and his big hands hang in the foreground of the image. There is no smile.

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Jefferson's Isaac: From Monticello to Petersburg tells the comprehensive story of Isaac (Granger) Jefferson.

It significantly expands upon where the Memoirs of a Monticello Slave as verbalized by Isaac to Charles Campbell, in the 1840's incomplete effort left off. The reader gains a new insight of the character of this gentleman some called Jefferson's Isaac all his life. Others just called him Isaac, a few called him, "my husband," "dad," or "friend."

Isaac was born a slave in 1775 at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Jefferson's Isaac permits the reader to trace his life from Monticello, to Philadelphia, and back to Monticello and Shadwell, to his marriage to Iris, their children, and their subsequent gift to Jefferson's daughter, Maria and her husband John Wayles Eppes, and their time at Eppington, in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Eppes was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Eighth United States Congress from Virginia and the next three succeeding Congresses.

Isaac Jefferson (Granger) died in Petersburg in the spring of 1846 a "Free Person of Color." Isaac's story helps us unsheathe how an enslaved African-American lived in the midst of some of the greatest figures in American history. It's also a story of basic survival.

Discover how Isaac came to Petersburg and who gave Isaac his manumission and freedom...

-You'll learn some new insights into the character of this man.
-As well as, why he brought a white Petersburg stonemason into court and how his case was finally resolved.
-How he sustained a family, a business, in a very different world from that which he was born into; once upon a time, on that cold hilltop, called Monticello.

Isaac leaves behind no marker or monument in the city where he worked, paid taxes, and perished.

Foreword written by William C. McDonald, PhD, of Charlottesville, Virginia

Michael D'Antonio, author of the Wall Street's acclaimed A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup, A Ball a Dog and Monkey and Forever Blue, says "Seagrave is truly a historian's historian."

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Jefferson's Isaac: From Monticello to Petersburg

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Jefferson's Isaac: From Monticello to Petersburg tells the comprehensive story of Isaac (Granger) Jefferson.

It significantly expands upon where the Memoirs of a Monticello Slave as verbalized by Isaac to Charles Campbell, in the 1840's incomplete effort left off. The reader gains a new insight of the character of this gentleman some called Jefferson's Isaac all his life. Others just called him Isaac, a few called him, "my husband," "dad," or "friend."

Isaac was born a slave in 1775 at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Jefferson's Isaac permits the reader to trace his life from Monticello, to Philadelphia, and back to Monticello and Shadwell, to his marriage to Iris, their children, and their subsequent gift to Jefferson's daughter, Maria and her husband John Wayles Eppes, and their time at Eppington, in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Eppes was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Eighth United States Congress from Virginia and the next three succeeding Congresses.

Isaac Jefferson (Granger) died in Petersburg in the spring of 1846 a "Free Person of Color." Isaac's story helps us unsheathe how an enslaved African-American lived in the midst of some of the greatest figures in American history. It's also a story of basic survival.

Discover how Isaac came to Petersburg and who gave Isaac his manumission and freedom...

-You'll learn some new insights into the character of this man.
-As well as, why he brought a white Petersburg stonemason into court and how his case was finally resolved.

-How he sustained a family, a business, in a very different world from that which he was born into; once upon a time, on that cold hilltop, called Monticello.

Isaac leaves behind no marker or monument in the city where he worked, paid taxes, and perished.

Foreword written by William C. McDonald, PhD, of Charlottesville, Virginia

Michael D'Antonio, author of the Wall Street's acclaimed A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup, A Ball a Dog and Monkey and Forever Blue, says "Seagrave is truly a historian's historian."

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Early Artisans and Mechanics of Petersburg, Virginia 1752-1860

Chesterfield County Historical Society has announced that on Friday, February 25 at 7:00 pm at the Lucy Corr Village, Community Hall, Chesterfield, VA, that Mr. Ronald Seagrave will give a presentation on his book entitled, Early Artisans and Mechanics of Petersburg, Virginia 1752-1860. Seagrave will share stories and backgrounds of carpenters, bricklayers, silversmiths and others as they shaped this uniquely American city.Winter Lectures: Free for CHSV members, $5 Non-members.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

A Close Look at Poe's Petersburg Honeymoon

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

7:00pm - 9:00pm
Union Station, Petersburg, VA

Jeff Abugel will present a talk about the honeymoon of Edgar Allan Poe and Virginia Clemm, which took place at Hiram Haines Coffee house on Bank St., Petersburg. We can say with some certainty that will be the first educational program about Poe's honeymoon ever presented. Guaranteed to be brimming with facts and documents that have been buried for more than a century, as well as photos of the honeymoon suite as it stands today, just a few blocks from the train station.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Historic Petersburg Foundation



Thursday, January 21, 2010

7:00 PM
Union Train Station
103 River Street
Petersburg, VA 23803

Thursday, January 21, 2010 – Ronald Seagrave will give a presentation on his book entitled Early Artisans and Mechanics of Petersburg, Virginia 1607-1860: The Building of a Multi-Cultural Maritime Community. Union Train Station at 7:00 p.m. No charge. Public invited, E-mail: historicpetersburgfoundation@verizon.net

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Early Artisans & Mechanics of Petersburg Virginia

Just published and now available from
Barne & Noble and Amazon.com


The Early Artisans & Mechanics of Petersburg Virginia, 1607-1860
The Building of a Multi-cultural Maritime Community
by Ronald Roy Seagrave


The Early Artisans Mechanics of Petersburg Virginia is a lavishly illustrated exploration of one of the South’s most historically significant cities. This scholarly yet accessible work examines the story of Petersburg through the records of those who built it—the individual artisans and mechanics that literally made Petersburg what it is today. Here are the enlightening stories and backgrounds of the carpenters, brick-layers, coopers, shoemakers, silversmiths, cabinetmakers, gunsmiths, publishers, bookbinders and so many more, gleaned from newspapers, periodicals, private letters and public records. From the town’s founding in seventeenth century through the American Revolution, Great Fire and Civil War, Petersburg emerges as a uniquely American city—where a stunning range of religions, ethnic backgrounds and economic levels came together to create a vibrant and important community.


The Early Artisans Mechanics is the ultimate historical reference for those interested in Petersburg’s roots, early-American society, or their own ancestry. And it’s a perfect companion for collectors, dealers and auctioneers.

PRAISE FOR RONALD R. SEAGRAVE
     Seagrave is truly a historian’s historian. Michael D’Antonio, author of A Ball, a Dog, and a Monkey and Forever Blue.

     Seagrave is a wonderful researcher, an imaginative scholar, and a person who cares about the neglected field of local history. William C. McDonald, Ph.D., Professor of German, NEH Distinguished Teaching Professor, University of Virginia
Coverage Image Courtesy, Sumpter Priddy III, Inc.
 
Antiques & Collectibles, History - Reference & Study, Military History, Reference, United States History



Monday, November 9, 2009

Battersea Foundation

The Progress Index reported...
PETERSBURG - The Battersea Foundation has won a prestigious grant for $150,000 that will be used for the upcoming second phase of restoration at the historic home. The $150,000 grant must be matched by the foundation and will help rebuild the 1768 estate's chimneys, among other things. "The Battersea Foundation was selected as one of two projects in Virginia for the Save America's Treasure's Grant," said Ronald White, a representative from Congressman J. Randy Forbes office. "The preservation of history is one of the most important things in this country." White praised the organization for continuing to grow - now with more than 130 members - and for its new Web site and the array of educational programs the foundation is offering. "We must protect and preserve our future, we are the guardians of history," White said.


The grant announcement was made on Oct. 20 during the Battersea Foundation's annual meeting on the lawn of the historic home. Barbara Moseley, president of the foundation's board of directors, said that Richard Wolbers, an associate professor and art conservator with the University of Delaware, had recently completed some paint reveals inside the house. The reveals will allow the restoration of the original color of paint inside the house and the careful removal of later paints that were added. Kathleen Kilpatrick, director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, said that Battersea represents a supreme resource that must be cared for. "Architecture is the only form of art where we expect the art object to serve a utilitarian purpose," Kilpatrick said. She added that the foundation must find a way to put the building to good use, but that proper planning must be a part of that. She commended the foundation for starting the process of a strategic plan. "Planning is not just a done and done proposition." The meeting concluded with the presentation of the first annual Vanguard award to the Elmwood Fund, which has made numerous contributions to the Battersea Foundation. Battersea is an important Colonial plantation house that was constructed near the banks of the Appomattox River in 1768 for John Banister, first mayor of Petersburg, a Revolutionary delegate, congressman and framer of the Articles of Confederation. The sectional massing of Battersea displays the neo-Palladian style as popularized in England in the 18th century and embraced in Colonial Virginia.

During the Revolutionary War, British troops occupied the house on more than one occasion.

F.M. Wiggins may be reached at 732-3456, ext. 3254 or fwiggins@progress-index.com.