 |
|
Click any excerpt below to read the full article. |
2014 Virginia Women in History Program Honors Eight Outstanding Women
 The principal in a Supreme Court case that helped legalize interracial marriage, a civic activist who advocated for improving the lives of women and children, a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and cancer treatment advocate, a banker who became a member of the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors, an artistic director and choreographer, an antislavery advocate, a principal in a freedom suit, and an artist and patron of the arts are among eight Virginia women recognized by the Library of Virginia as part of its Virginia Women in History program. The eight are also featured on a handsome poster and in the Library's 2014 Virginia Women in History panel exhibition, on display on the second floor of the Library of Virginia, March 1–31. The exhibition will then travel to libraries, schools, and cultural institutions across the state. Copies of the 2014 poster and learning activities tied to the Virginia Standards of Learning were distributed to public and private schools and cultural institutions across Virginia.
The 2014 Virginia Women in History program culminates on March 27 with an evening program recognizing the honorees. The ceremony begins at 6:00 PM at the Library... |
Flora of Virginia Exhibition Opens March 17
Discover the power of the flower. Delve into Virginia's natural environment through Flora of Virginia, an exhibition featuring colorful illustrations from the Library of Virginia's collections and beyond. Flora of Virginia opens on Monday, March 17, 2014, at the Library of Virginia and is presented in collaboration with the Flora of Virginia Project Inc. The exhibition explores the science and art of the 2012 Flora of Virginia, the first flora of the commonwealth published in 250 years. Photographs, pen-and-ink drawings, sculpture, fossils, and illustrated volumes will complement the exploration of Virginia's flora.
On display will be original artwork by Lara Call Gastinger, Lou Greiner, and Jackie Bailey Labovitz as well as a 1754 edition of Mark Catesby's Natural History and plant specimens. Institutional lenders include Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Oak Spring Garden Library, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, the College of William and Mary, the Petersburg Garden Club, Mountain Lake Biological Station (University of Virginia), the Ramsey-Freer Herbarium of Lynchburg College, the University of Richmond Herbarium, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Nature Conservancy, and the Flora of Virginia Project Inc.
Published in 2012, the Flora of Virginia identifies and describes 3,164 plants native to or naturalized in Virginia. Plant descriptions feature the latest scientific classification and naming, synonyms—which are simply scientific names that were applied in the past to a species, illustrations, step-by-step keys for identification, and an extensive list of references. Where botanists use language to describe a plant, a botanical artist uses pen, ink, pencil, or watercolor to help the reader visualize the plant. The Flora continues a long tradition of merging science and art by combining technical... |
Semper Virginia Society to Hold Member Appreciation Day on March 22
Thank you to Semper Virginia Society members for your annual support—enjoy a special day in your honor! The Library of Virginia hosts Semper Virginia Society Member Appreciation Day on Saturday, March 22 to recognize its tremendous members at every level—from throughout Virginia and across the nation—for everything you do for the Library. Your generous contributions help preserve the extraordinary culture and history of the commonwealth.
We invite you to a celebration in your honor featuring entertaining... |
Celebrate National Library Week April 13–19
The Library of Virginia joins libraries in schools, campuses, and communities across Virginia and the United States in celebrating National Library Week, a time to highlight the value of libraries, librarians, and library workers.
Libraries today are more than repositories for books and other resources. Libraries are deeply committed to the places where their patrons live, work, and study. The Library of Virginia has promoted the development of public libraries in the commonwealth for more than 100 years. The Library's efforts can be traced to action by the Virginia General Assembly on March 8, 1904, when the State Library was ordered to "purchase and procure books and other necessary equipment for the establishment of libraries."
Today, Library of Virginia staff members work closely with the local public library community administering state aid to public libraries, sponsoring the winter and summer reading programs, offering advice and training to librarians and trustees, supporting early... |
African American Genealogy Workshop to Be Held on April 18
African American genealogy prior to the end of the Civil War can be daunting. The institution of slavery broke up families and resulted in fewer or at least different documents related to family history in pre–Civil War slave-holding states like Virginia. Because slaves were considered property, they did not have legal rights and so were rarely found in records on which much genealogical research is based. This workshop will demonstrate ways to use the records of slave owners to learn what they did with their property. Wills, chancery and other court records, plantation records, bills of sale, land deeds, cemetery records, and even runaway slave advertisements in newspapers often can supply much-needed details.
In this workshop designed for intermediate-level family researchers with some degree of skill or competence, participants will explore methods of determining whether an individual was enslaved or free, and what types of records will be useful in furthering your search based on this information. Case studies of Virginians will be used to show various records and ways to trace the history of your family up to 1870. The 1870 federal census is the first one to list all African Americans by name. Cara Griggs, reference archivist with the Library of Virginia, will lead an exploration of records in the Library's collections, including... |
Library of Virginia Offers Training Across the Commonwealth
In addition to giving talks and lectures about the Library collections, programs, and services, Library of Virginia experts are on the road offering training to teachers, records managers, and librarians.
Records management staff will host Educate, Participate, and Motivate: Making the Most of Your Records Management Program on April 16 as a part of the Library's celebration of Records Management Month. This half-day event will include two sessions: an interactive session to help records officers meet their responsibilities and an overview of ARMA's Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles—and how to use the associated "Maturity Model" to grade the various aspects of a records management program—presented by Kim Kindrew, certified records manager at Jefferson Labs.
The Council of State Archivists' State Electronic Records Initiative will hold its Advanced Electronic Records Institute at the Library March 31–April 4. Representatives from U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia will attend this electronic records institute. Participants are expected to have taken some steps toward establishing an electronic... |
Third Annual Antiquarian Book Fair at the Library in May
Don't miss the commonwealth's premier rare-book event featuring more than 40 of the region's finest dealers in mass-market titles, rare books, manuscripts, maps, autographs, and ephemera. Book lovers will find a fascinating selection of items in all price ranges. The Library of Virginia hosts the Antiquarian Book Fair in conjunction with the Virginia Antiquarian.... |
|
 |
Begins Monday, March 24, 2014
Virginia General Assembly in Special Session. Parking at the Library will be very limited.
The Virginia General Assembly adjourned on March 8 without having passed a biennial budget. Governor Terry McAuliffe has called a special session of the General Assembly beginning on March 24. |
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
"Books on Broad" Featuring Slash Coleman
Time: 5:30–7:30 PM
Place: Lecture Hall
Richmond native Slash Coleman presents his memoir, The Bohemian Love Diaries, an irresistibly weird and wonderful story that chronicles his upbringing in a warped but warm-hearted household of eccentric artists. Reception (wine and cheese) 5:30–6:00 pm, book talk 6:00–7:00 pm, and book signing 7:00–7:30 pm. |
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Semper Virginia Society Member Appreciation Day
Time: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Free and open only to Semper Virginia Society members, space is limited and reservations are required. Please call 804-692-3561.The Library of Virginia will host Semper Virginia Society Member Appreciation Day to recognize the Library's supporters. Your generous contributions help preserve the extraordinary culture and history of the commonwealth. Entertaining workshops on book preservation and botanical illustration will be offered, as well as tours to see special items from the Library's collections. Two sessions will be available: 9:00 am–Noon and 1:00–4:00 pm. |
Monday, March 24, 2014
 Book Launch With Max Watman
Time: 12:00–1:00 PM
Place: Lecture Hall
Join acclaimed writer Max Watman for a talk on Harvest: Field Notes from a Far-Flung Pursuit of Real Food, his latest memoir. After a harrowing experience with a pink-slime burger, Watman resolves to stock his pantry with real food. Invigorated by memories of his childhood in rural Virginia with foodie parents, he hunts, fishes, gardens, bakes, makes cheese, raises livestock, butchers, preserves, and pickles. All does not go as planned. A book signing follows the talk. |
Thursday, March 27, 2014
2014 Virginia Women in History Program and Reception
Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
Place: Lecture Hall
Join the Library of Virginia as it recognizes eight outstanding Virginia women who have made important contributions to Virginia, the nation, and the world. A reception follows the program. For more information, call 804-692-3561. |
Friday, March 28, 2014
Straight to the Source: Research Resources at the Library of Virginia
Time: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Place: Conference Rooms, $50 ($35 for Friends members) includes a box lunch. Registration is required. Contact straight.to.the.source@gmail.com or Anne Brown at 804-741-0136 or annetaylorb@aol.com.
Library of Virginia staff members will speak on specialized research topics at the Friends of the Virginia State Archives Straight to the Source annual conference. |
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
"BOOKS ON BROAD" Featuring Larrie D. Ferreiro
Naval architect, engineer, and professor Larrie D. Ferreiro discusses his book Measure of the Earth, which explores the story of 18th-century scientists who traversed the Andes Mountains to calculate the shape of the earth. Reception (wine and cheese) 5:30–6:30 PM, book talk 6:00–7:00 PM, and book signing 7:00–7:30 PM. |
Thursday April 10, 2014
Book Talk with Steve Bassett
Time: 5:30 PM–7:30 PM
Place: Conference Rooms, FREE
Co-author of the unofficial state song of Virginia, Steve Bassett shares tales of his 50 years in the music business. His book Sing LOUD: Memoir of a Life in Music relays his experiences as a recording artist, jingle singer, record producer, and songwriter. Reception (wine and cheese) 5:30–6:00 PM, book talk 6:00–7:00 PM, and book signing 7:00–7:30 PM. |
Saturday, April 12, 2014
11th Annual Voorhees Lecture on the History of Cartography
Special Map Exhibition begins at 10 AM; Lectures begin at 1 PM; Box lunch available at noon
The 2014 Alan M. & Natalie Voorhees Lecture of the History of Cartography features speakers Dr. Maury Klein and William C. Wooldridge discussing Virginia, Maps and Railroads. This event includes a special one–day exhibition of maps relating to the talks from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and behind-the-scenes tours of the Library. Box lunches can be purchases online through the Virginia Shop at www.thevirginiashop.org/voorheeslunch.aspx. For more information, please visit www.lva.virginia.gov/maps or call 804-692-3561. |
Friday, April 18, 2014
 Culinary Event: Lecture & Tasting with "Professor Apple" Tom Burford & Albemarle Ciderworks
Time: 5:30 PM–7:30 PM
Place: Lecture Hall, Free
Tom Burford, also known as "Professor Apple," brings five generations of apple cultivation knowledge to bear in his new book, Apples of North America and is a consultant to Albemarle Ciderworks in North Garden, Virginia. Representatives will be on hand to offer samples and background on one of the fastest-growing drinks in the beverage industry. Book talk 5:30–6:30 PM, tasting and book signing 6:30–7:30 PM. Presented in conjunction with the Library's exhibition Flora of Virginia |
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Flora Illustration Demonstration
Time: Noon–1:00 PM
Place: Conference Rooms, Free, but attendees are encouraged to register by calling 804-692-3719.
Lara Call Gastinger, one of the Flora in Virginia illustrators, demonstrates the use of pen and ink, watercolor, and other media in the accurate rendering of plant life. |
Monday, March 17-September 13, 2014
Flora of Virginia
Time: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Discover the power of the flower. Delve into Virginia's natural environment through Flora of Virginia, an exhibition featuring hundreds of colorful illustrations from the Library of Virginia's collections. Learn fun facts about Virginia's native plants. Examine the history of botanical description and illustration. Explore the personalities behind the folks who collected and described these plants. Try your hand at sketching a specimen at the drawing station. Check our Web calendar for information about exhibition-related events. |
|
