Angela L. Flagg, APR, Chief Communications Officer
804.692.3653, angela.flagg@lva.virginia.gov
Historian Gregory Wilson Explores the 50th Anniversary of the Kepone Environmental Disaster That Led to the Temporary Closing of the James River
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – The Library of Virginia will present a free talk on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at noon by historian Gregory Wilson, author of “Poison Powder: The Kepone Disaster in Virginia and Its Legacy,” exploring the lasting effects of the disaster on Virginia’s environment. Registration is required at https://lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/15624134.
In December 1975, Virginia Governor Mills Godwin closed the James River to fishing in response to the Kepone environmental disaster caused by pesticide contamination. The toxic impact came to light after workers at Life Science Products, a small pesticide factory in Hopewell, Virginia, became ill after exposure to Kepone, the brand name for the pesticide chlordecone. News of ill workers eventually led to the discovery of widespread environmental contamination of the nearby James River and the landscape of the small, working-class city.
A book signing will follow the talk.
Wilson is Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Akron, where he researches and teaches Ohio history, as well as public history, labor and the environment in the 20th century.
This event is co-sponsored by the James River Association and the Virginia Environmental Endowment.
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ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA
The Library of Virginia is the leading source of information on Virginia’s history, government and people. The Library’s collections, containing more than 134 million items, document and illustrate the lives of both famous Virginians and ordinary citizens. Our online resources draw nearly 2 million website visits per year, and our on-site records, exhibitions and events bring in thousands of visitors annually. The Library is located in downtown Richmond near Capitol Square at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Learn more at https://www.lva.virginia.gov.
ABOUT THE JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION
The James River Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 to serve as a guardian and voice for the James River. Preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the association continues to work toward its vision of a fully healthy James River that supports thriving communities.
ABOUT THE VIRGINIA ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
The Virginia Environmental Endowment was founded with a portion of the court-ordered fine levied on Allied Chemical Corporation for polluting the James River with Kepone. The independent grant-making endowment seeks to improve Virginia’s environmental quality.