36 10 378 https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/0322cb911ef51f8af3728b5d5cbc7b7f.jpg f4d6c372f1b578381fc435eea4b0fe93 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Postwar United States Description An account of the resource The era immediately following World War II brought about vast changes, not only in foreign policy, but in economics and a changing civic landscape. The liberalism of the New Deal era grew into movements towards increasing civil liberties and economic opportunities, particularly for minorities and women. Protests became more and more common to the average American as groups demanded equal rights and voting equality. These movements were juxtaposed with Jim Crow laws and the reemergence of the KKK, which showed the darker side of life in the American South. The Cold War pitted the United States and its allies in the newly formed NATO against the ever-increasing and expanding Soviet Union and its fellow Communist regimes, particularly China, Korea and Vietnam. While this era is considered Postwar, it is in fact a move towards a new type of war, where campaigns are fought not only on the battleground, but in the political arena and social consciousness as well, fueled strongly by the increasing influence of television news. The fall of the Nazi regime opened the door to the Iron Curtain and Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe, and the defeat of Japan opened previously invaded lands to the chance to choose new leaders, many of whom sided with the tenants of Communism over those of Capitalism. The United States would spend much of this time period combating the “Domino Effect” to try and stem the spread of Communism, particularly in its own hemisphere with Cuba. At the same time, the United States invested millions into Western Europe through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan to halt the spread of Communism further west. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1945-1970s Person An individual. Birth Date 1921 Birthplace Danville Death Date 1990 Occupation Stock Car Driver Biographical Text Wendell Scott was a taxi driver, an Army mechanic during World War II, and a moonshine runner before he began racing professionally. Promoters at the Danville raceway approached Scott in 1952 about racing there with hopes of increasing African-American attendance at their events. He finished third and started racing on the Virginia circuit, where he became a popular driver despite the racism he faced on the track. In 1959, Scott won the Sportsman Division championship at Richmond's Southside Speedway and NASCAR's Virginia State Sportsman Championship. He moved into NASCAR's major division in 1961. During 13 seasons, Scott raced in 495 NASCAR Grand National (later Cup Series) events with 147 top-ten finishes, all as an independent, unsponsored driver. He won one checkered flag, in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 1, 1963, but was denied the opportunity to publicly celebrate his only Grand National victory when officials scored him a lap down and in second place. He contested the decision and hours later NASCAR overturned the ruling, citing a scoring error. Although Scott never accepted the explanation, he handled the slight with dignity, as he did in numerous other instances of discrimination that he faced in his personal and professional life. A racing accident in Alabama forced Scott to retire from competition in 1973. His path-breaking career was not fully recognized until after his death, and he was posthumously named to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1999), the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (2000) and the NASCAR Hall of Fame (2015). The Wendell Scott Foundation honors his memory by providing educational opportunities for at-risk youth and addressing economic inequalities in African-American communities. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/strong-mw-2023">2023</a> Strong Men and Women in Virginia History honoree, Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2011</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Photograph courtesy of the Wendell Scott Foundation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wendell Scott Subject The topic of the resource Strong Men and Women in Virginia History Description An account of the resource Wendell Scott endured racism on and off the track to become the first African American to win at the highest level of stock car racing. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2023 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Honoree Sports and Media https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/13631d7074bf179e8d3280a770d6e914.jpg f1aca1497620f9e7c62b737950975d04 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Postwar United States Description An account of the resource The era immediately following World War II brought about vast changes, not only in foreign policy, but in economics and a changing civic landscape. The liberalism of the New Deal era grew into movements towards increasing civil liberties and economic opportunities, particularly for minorities and women. Protests became more and more common to the average American as groups demanded equal rights and voting equality. These movements were juxtaposed with Jim Crow laws and the reemergence of the KKK, which showed the darker side of life in the American South. The Cold War pitted the United States and its allies in the newly formed NATO against the ever-increasing and expanding Soviet Union and its fellow Communist regimes, particularly China, Korea and Vietnam. While this era is considered Postwar, it is in fact a move towards a new type of war, where campaigns are fought not only on the battleground, but in the political arena and social consciousness as well, fueled strongly by the increasing influence of television news. The fall of the Nazi regime opened the door to the Iron Curtain and Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe, and the defeat of Japan opened previously invaded lands to the chance to choose new leaders, many of whom sided with the tenants of Communism over those of Capitalism. The United States would spend much of this time period combating the “Domino Effect” to try and stem the spread of Communism, particularly in its own hemisphere with Cuba. At the same time, the United States invested millions into Western Europe through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan to halt the spread of Communism further west. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1945-1970s Person An individual. Birth Date 1920 Birthplace Clover Death Date 1951 Occupation Principal in a Medical Cause Célèbre Biographical Text Born Loretta Pleasants in Roanoke, Henrietta Lacks (August 1920-October 4, 1951) went to live with relatives in Clover, in Halifax County, after her mother died. As a child, she worked on a tobacco farm with other members of her family. She married David Lacks on April 10, 1941, and had five children. Lacks and her children joined her husband in Turner Station, Maryland, in 1943. In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer. While she was receiving treatment in a segregated ward at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital, researchers took a small piece from Lacks's tumor, without her knowledge, for research purposes. While experimenting on the sample, scientists observed that Lacks's cells reproduced and thrived in fact outside of her body, a result researchers had unsuccessfully attempted to secure for decades. Lacks died of cancer on October 4, 1951, and was buried in a family cemetery in Clover. The "immortal cells" from Lacks's body continued to grow, and researchers around the world began to conduct experiments with them. The cells, known as HeLa (taking the first two letters of the donor's first and last names), proved to be instrumental in a number of scientific breakthroughs. After the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis funded a factory at Tuskegee University to produce HeLa cells, Jonas Salk conducted experiments to demonstrate that his polio vaccine could be successfully used on humans. HeLa cells were the first human cells sent into space aboard flights and were used to study the effects of radiation. More recently, HeLa cells were some of first to be genetically mapped. Today, billions of HeLa cells are in use in laboratories around the world. Nominated by Virginia Rose Cherry, Richard Bland College. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2011</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of the Lacks Family and reprinted from the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (New York: The Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., 2010). Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Henrietta Lacks Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Henrietta Lacks's cells, known in the medical world as HeLa cells, were the first human cells to be grown successfully outside the body for more than a short time. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2011 African American Trailblazers Honoree Science and Medicine https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/f1951a0806a1866f7962d1a329785777.jpg da65d990fdeacfa15f400e8e504f3e52 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Great Depression and World War II Description An account of the resource Along with events such as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression helped to shape modern-day America. The circumstances of the Great Depression enlarged the role of the government in the everyday life of Americans, particularly through FDR's New Deal initiative. World War II helped not only to bring the nation out of the Depression, but also put the United States on the world stage as a leader. Unlike previous administrations who subscribed to a certain level of isolationism, both FDR and Truman placed the United States on a path to strong involvement and leadership in worldwide conflicts and reform movements. Additionally, World War II changed the role of women who went into the workforce as American men went to war. Events such as the bombing at Pearl Harbor, liberation of concentration camps, and the use of atomic bombs provide images and stories that have helped to shape future American foreign policy. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1929-1945 Person An individual. Birth Date 1899 Birthplace Lynchburg Death Date 1971 Occupation Physician and Tennis Coach Biographical Text Following a college career playing football at Pennsylvania's Lincoln University as a Negro All-American, Robert Walter "Whirlwind" Johnson (April 16, 1899-June 28, 1971) coached football for four seasons in Virginia and Texas before entering Meharry Medical College, in Nashville, Tennessee. After completing his studies, Johnson established a medical practice in Lynchburg, where he became the first African American to receive obstetrical privileges at Lynchburg General Hospital. His perseverance and advocacy opened the door for other minorities following in his footsteps. In Lynchburg, Johnson discovered and fell in love with tennis. Because he came to the sport too late to establish himself as a top singles athlete, he instead dedicated himself to doubles play and to discovering and coaching younger talent. Johnson formed the Junior Development Program of the American Tennis Association, a program through which he invited dozens of young African American tennis players to learn and train at his personal courts. Through this program Johnson discovered and mentored several successful professional tennis players, most notably Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, the first two African American Grand Slam champions. In 1972 the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inducted Johnson. He was also inducted into the Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame in 1988 and the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009. Johnson's personal accolades included being named an NAACP Life Membership chairman and a recipient of the Spiro T. Agnew Honorary Citizenship Award. The Dr. Robert Walter Johnson Home and Tennis Court were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Nominated by Leo Goldman IV, in Susan Bayne’s kindergarten class (2009–2010), J. G. Hening Elementary School, Richmond. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2011</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of Robert W. Johnson III. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Robert Walter Johnson Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Robert Walter Johnson was a driving force behind the integration of the sport of tennis. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2011 African American Trailblazers Honoree Science and Medicine Sports and Media https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/a0dc1f019aaadab2356c031355bd73fa.jpg 57082289c33ebdacf65343583985af14 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1933 Birthplace Richmond Occupation Civil Rights Attorney and Elected Official Biographical Text Born in Richmond, Henry L. Marsh, III (1933–2025), attended racially segregated schools as a child, including a one-room school near Smithfield. He graduated with honors from Maggie L. Walker High School in Richmond in 1952. Marsh received his AB in sociology from Virginia Union University and his law degree from Howard University. He also holds honorary degrees from Virginia Union University and from Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville. Even before graduating from high school, Marsh was active in civil rights. As a college student, he testified before the Virginia General Assembly as it deliberated the United States Supreme Court's decision ordering school desegregation. With leading civil rights attorney Oliver W. Hill's encouragement, Marsh attended law school. In 1961 Marsh joined the firm that would become the partnership of Hill, Tucker, and Marsh with Samuel W. Tucker and Oliver W. Hill. Specializing in civil rights work, Marsh led more than fifty cases involving desegregation as well as other important cases, including Quarles v. Philip Morris (1967), which established that minorities have access to equal employment opportunities, and Gravely v. Robb (1981), which led to single-member districts for the General Assembly. Today he is considered one of the leading trial and appellate attorneys in Virginia. In 1966 Marsh was elected to Richmond City Council, where he served as vice mayor from 1970 until his election in 1977 as the first African American mayor of Richmond. Marsh was a cofounder of the Metropolitan Economic Development Council (1978) and Richmond Renaissance (1981). In 1991 Marsh was elected from the newly formed Sixteenth Senatorial District to the Virginia General Assembly, where he continues to serve. UPDATE: Henry Marsh died on January 23, 2025. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2010</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of the Senate of Virginia. Death Date 2025 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Henry Marsh III Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Throughout his law career and the public offices he has held, Henry L. Marsh has committed his life to bringing equal rights and opportunities to African Americans. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010 African American Trailblazers Honoree Civil Rights and Reform Government and Law https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/06a63bfd32043b22a7d8b96314e142d2.jpg e9d2935c1c8776360b1b18455993cc5f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1928 Birthplace Roanoke and Petersburg Occupation Pyschologist, Educator, Elected Official, Artist Biographical Text A native of Roanoke, Florence Saunders Farley (1928-2022) earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) in 1950. After completing her degree, she entered the Women's Army Corps, where she became a second lieutenant and the first African American female training officer at Fort Lee, Virginia. In 1955, she married Richard Farley. After leaving the military, Saunders completed her master's degree in psychology at Virginia State, and is believed to be the first clinically licensed African American psychologist in Virginia, and perhaps the first African American to serve as staff psychologist at the Central State Hospital, an institution then serving an all-black clientele. Saunders later became chief psychologist at the institution. In 1962 Farley joined the faculty at Virginia State and served for several years as the chair of the Department of Psychology. She is now retired. Farley completed her PhD at Kent State University in 1977. Farley began her political career in 1973 when she became the first woman elected to the Petersburg City Council and a member of Virginia's first majority black city council. She won reelection in 1978 and 1982. In 1984, after the resignation of Mayor R. Wilson Cheely, Farley became the first female mayor of Petersburg and the first African American woman to become mayor of a Virginia city. Farley has continued to be active in the Petersburg community, serving from 2002 to 2006 on the Petersburg School Board, and for a period holding the post of vice chair. She has also received acclaim as a textile artist, exhibiting her needlework at libraries and museums across the state. UPDATE: Florence Farley died on August 28, 2022. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2010</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of Florence Farley. Death Date 2022 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Florence Farley Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Florence Saunders Farley has fought against racism and bias to open doors in science and politics for African American women in Virginia. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010 African American Trailblazers Honoree Arts and Literature Education Government and Law Military Science and Medicine https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/54e1fd7024677320d5d862f100c18902.jpg 2aa0df41dc22644e23be5b6e19ea6d8d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Postwar United States Description An account of the resource The era immediately following World War II brought about vast changes, not only in foreign policy, but in economics and a changing civic landscape. The liberalism of the New Deal era grew into movements towards increasing civil liberties and economic opportunities, particularly for minorities and women. Protests became more and more common to the average American as groups demanded equal rights and voting equality. These movements were juxtaposed with Jim Crow laws and the reemergence of the KKK, which showed the darker side of life in the American South. The Cold War pitted the United States and its allies in the newly formed NATO against the ever-increasing and expanding Soviet Union and its fellow Communist regimes, particularly China, Korea and Vietnam. While this era is considered Postwar, it is in fact a move towards a new type of war, where campaigns are fought not only on the battleground, but in the political arena and social consciousness as well, fueled strongly by the increasing influence of television news. The fall of the Nazi regime opened the door to the Iron Curtain and Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe, and the defeat of Japan opened previously invaded lands to the chance to choose new leaders, many of whom sided with the tenants of Communism over those of Capitalism. The United States would spend much of this time period combating the “Domino Effect” to try and stem the spread of Communism, particularly in its own hemisphere with Cuba. At the same time, the United States invested millions into Western Europe through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan to halt the spread of Communism further west. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1945-1970s Person An individual. Birth Date 1919 Birthplace Caroline and Arlington Counties Death Date 2004 Occupation Civil Rights and Community Activist Biographical Text Dorothy Bigelow Hamm (1919-2004) was born in Caroline County. Allowed only limited educational opportunities in her own community, she attended schools in the Washington, D.C., area. Later she lived in Fairfax and then Arlington, before eventually returning to Caroline County. Hamm and her son, Edward Leslie Hamm Jr., joined a civil action case in 1956 that sought to end segregation in Arlington schools. In 1958, a U.S. District Court judge ordered that four African American children be admitted to the all-white Stratford Junior High School the following year, making it the first white public school in Virginia to admit African Americans students. In the intervening years, Hamm participated in a successful challenge to the Pupil Placement Act, which was designed to delay school integration while giving the appearance of compliance. In 1963 Hamm and her husband, Edward Leslie Hamm Sr., participated in a challenge to Virginia's poll tax. That same year, she took part in a court action resulting in the desegregation of Arlington theaters, and was arrested for publicly protesting their white-only admittance policies. Hamm was politically active, serving as delegate to Arlington County and state conventions in 1964. She was later appointed assistant registrar and a chief election officer in the Woodlawn precinct in Arlington. She worked with the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) as they organized in Arlington, and participated in the 1968 "Poor People's March on Washington."  In 1982 Hamm received the first Arlington County Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. In 2002 the Virginia House of Delegates honored her lifelong contributions in a joint resolution. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2010</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of Carmela Hamm. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Dorothy Hamm Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Through legal and political actions, civil rights activist Dorothy Bigelow Hamm fought for African American equality. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010 African American Trailblazers Honoree Civil Rights and Reform Community Leadership and Philanthropy https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/61615621b52dee02991845aee513c46d.TIF 29bb9821be433a86df1fd38eff7858da Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergence of Modern America Description An account of the resource The idea of a “Modern United States” begins with the advent of the Progressive era. The Progressive movement focused on reforms they viewed as necessary after drastic increases in industrialization, immigration, urbanization and corruption in the business and political realms. One of the most successful reform movements of the time periods is the women’s suffrage movement. Other movements that gained traction on a new scale during this era were the labor movement, including the rise of unions, and the Harlem Renaissance and northward migration of the African American population. The time also saw a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in direct retaliation to increased immigration and shifting roles for African Americans. With all of the changes on the home front of America, this era also saw the emergence of the United States as a major world power. The Spanish-American War pitted the United States against a European power other than Great Britain for the first time, and battles spanned the Atlantic and Pacific. The war also led to the rise of Theodore Roosevelt, an increase in propaganda and marketing of a war, both through yellow journalism and war slogans and ephemera encouraging citizens to “Remember the Maine!” Soon after, the United States would come to find itself embroiled in World War I, despite strong isolationist tendencies. Along with a large death toll, World War I led to the development of the failed League of Nations, ultimately pushing the United States even further into an isolationist standing that would last for decades. The immediate postwar period of the “Roaring 20s” saw a domination in politics and economics by big business and its supporters, which would all come crashing down in less than a decade. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890-1930 Person An individual. Birth Date 1869 Birthplace Newport News Death Date 1942 Occupation Lawyer and Editor Biographical Text Joseph Thomas Newsome (1869-1942) was born in Sussex County. The son of former slaves, Newsome graduated from Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (later Virginia State University) in 1894 and earned a law degree from Howard University Law School. "Lawyer Newsome," as he was known in Newport News, was involved with several high-profile criminal cases in eastern Virginia, and was one of two African American attorneys who made a successful appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals (later the Supreme Court of Virginia) in 1931 in Davis v. Allen in which black residents of Hampton were routinely prevented from registering to vote. Politically active, in 1921 Newsome opposed the "lily-white" direction of the Republican Party, and he ran for attorney general on a "Lily Black" Virginia Republican ticket. Newsome helped found and lead the Warwick County Colored Voters League, an organization that lobbied for schools, community improvement, and voter registration. He advocated for and helped secure the first high school for African American residents of Newport News. Newsome remained active in public affairs and at the time of his death was serving as president of the Old Dominion Bar Association, a black counterpart to the Virginia State Bar Association. Newsome edited the Newport News Star from late in the 1920s to late in the 1930s until its purchase by the Norfolk Journal and Guide. Very active in community churches, he also opened his home as a community center, even hosting Booker T. Washington on occasion. Although the Newsome house fell into disrepair after his death, it was renovated late in the 1980s and converted into a community center and a museum for black history, the Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2010</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of the Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center, Newport News. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joseph Thomas Newsome Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource A leading figure in Newport News, Joseph Thomas Newsome struggled to bring education and voting rights to the African American community. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010 African American Trailblazers Honoree Civil Rights and Reform Government and Law Sports and Media https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/59f493489fe66388df2627165edeebb5.jpg e43e76fa9f865ed7ed84439daf364854 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1916 Birthplace Orange County Death Date 2006 Occupation Chef and Author Biographical Text Edna Lewis (1916-2006) was a chef and author who influenced culinary experts and brought admiration and dignity to southern foodways traditions. Lewis was born and raised in Freetown, an Orange County community that had been settled by emancipated African Americans in the Virginia Piedmont. As a child, she learned to appreciate food by watching her mother prepare meals and observing her family and neighbors grow their own vegetables, preserve their own fruits, and smoke their own meats. Because of this, Lewis advocated using fresh products without manufactured ingredients and preparing food in accordance with the season. After the death of both parents, Lewis moved to New York and focused on her career in cooking. Her friends John Nicholson, an antiques dealer, and Karl Bissinger, a photographer, asked her to be the chef at a new restaurant. Together they opened Cafe Nicholson, which was an instant success and entertained individuals such as Tennessee Williams, Gloria Vanderbilt, and William Faulkner. Later she worked in restaurants in Harlem, Brooklyn, and the Carolinas. With encouragement from her supporters, Lewis authored four books: The Edna Lewis Cookbook with Evangeline Peterson (1972); The Taste of Country Cooking (1976); In Pursuit of Flavor with Mary Goodbody (1988); and The Gift of Southern Cooking with Scott Peacock (2003). These books created nationwide interest in southern fare, and Lewis was honored with almost every award in the industry, from Who's Who in American Cooking, to the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Foodways Alliance. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2009" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2009</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of John T. Hill Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Edna Lewis Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Edna Lewis created nationwide interest in southern cuisine and demonstrated that food could be more than just nourishment, but also a celebration of life. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009 African American Trailblazers Honoree Arts and Literature https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/3129bd157066810ad0a0c9b0070a7563.jpg d6c046286c3848664166ff0debff9d4e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1930 Birthplace Caroline County Death Date 2009 Occupation Renowned Blues Musician Biographical Text John Cephas (1930-2009) was born in Washington D.C., to Sylvia Dudley Cephas and Ernest Cephas, a Baptist minister, and grew up in the Foggy Bottom area of Washington and in Caroline County, Virginia. He was influenced at an early age by his mother's singing, and his cousin David Talliaferro, a well-known Caroline County guitar player, helped him develop his playing in a style commonly referred to as East Coast or Piedmont Blues. This highly syncopated and danceable guitar technique is performed widely in Virginia and the Carolinas, and employs a thumb-bass, finger-picking approach. Before long, Cephas began performing at rural dance parties held in private homes. Cephas also performed as a gospel singer with groups like the Capitol Harmonizers, developing a rich vocal style. He continued to work as a carpenter and fisherman before finally making music his full-time career. Cephas and harmonica master Phil Wiggins have made numerous successful recordings, earning the W. C. Handy Award as Blues Entertainers of the Year in 1987. In recent years Cephas has composed his own songs and created unique arrangements of tunes by Skip James and others. John Cephas has performed all over the world, serving as an ambassador of this singular American art form. A founder of the Washington, D.C., Blues Society, he serves on the Executive Committee of the National Council for the Traditional Arts. Cephas received the coveted National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1989, an award recognizing master artists who preserve cultural legacies in music, dance, and crafts. UPDATE: John Cephas died on March 4, 2009. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2009" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2009</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of Tom Pich Photography. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource John Cephas Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource John Cephas has become a world ambassador representing the Virginia Piedmont Blues tradition. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009 African American Trailblazers Honoree Arts and Literature https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/ad0afaa4264e7864e89a5c0a3e2960a5.jpg 3705a7dd1b537b7bbf36b0840ba67337 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Postwar United States Description An account of the resource The era immediately following World War II brought about vast changes, not only in foreign policy, but in economics and a changing civic landscape. The liberalism of the New Deal era grew into movements towards increasing civil liberties and economic opportunities, particularly for minorities and women. Protests became more and more common to the average American as groups demanded equal rights and voting equality. These movements were juxtaposed with Jim Crow laws and the reemergence of the KKK, which showed the darker side of life in the American South. The Cold War pitted the United States and its allies in the newly formed NATO against the ever-increasing and expanding Soviet Union and its fellow Communist regimes, particularly China, Korea and Vietnam. While this era is considered Postwar, it is in fact a move towards a new type of war, where campaigns are fought not only on the battleground, but in the political arena and social consciousness as well, fueled strongly by the increasing influence of television news. The fall of the Nazi regime opened the door to the Iron Curtain and Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe, and the defeat of Japan opened previously invaded lands to the chance to choose new leaders, many of whom sided with the tenants of Communism over those of Capitalism. The United States would spend much of this time period combating the “Domino Effect” to try and stem the spread of Communism, particularly in its own hemisphere with Cuba. At the same time, the United States invested millions into Western Europe through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan to halt the spread of Communism further west. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1945-1970s Person An individual. Birth Date 1907 Birthplace Richmond Death Date 2007 Occupation Attorney and Civil Rights Leader Biographical Text Oliver White Hill (1907-2007) was born in Richmond and began school in Roanoke but moved to Washington, D.C., to complete his education because there was no high school for African Americans in Roanoke. He graduated from the Howard University School of Law and became one of the most active and successful of Virginia's civil rights attorneys, filing and winning law suits against segregation and discrimination from before World War II until the end of the twentieth century. In 1951, students in Prince Edward County persuaded him to challenge mandatory racial segregation in the state's public schools. Hill served as counsel in the United States Supreme Court in the Virginia suit that was combined with others in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision declaring mandatory racial segregation unconstitutional, even under the guise of separate-but-equal. Hill was the most distinguished and successful of the many African American attorneys who achieved major breakthroughs in the civil rights movement in Virginia. In large part because of attorneys like Hill, the civil rights movement in Virginia was known for its many important legal victories rather than for violence and recrimination. In recognition of his contributions to the legal profession and the nation, President Bill Clinton awarded Hill the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999. By the time that he died at age 100, Hill had become one of the most respected and revered Virginians of the twentieth century. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2009" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2009</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of the Oliver White Hill Family. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oliver White Hill Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Oliver White Hill served as counsel in the groundbreaking Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009 African American Trailblazers Honoree Civil Rights and Reform Government and Law