37 10 378 https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/61c2f1532bdaaca8631ad07842fe5df5.jpg 5f283de724e24b11a34d669bc65b7abe 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 1927 Birthplace Roanoke Occupation Humanitarian, philanthropist, and Editor and Publisher of the Roanoke Tribune Biographical Text Claudia Sedonia Alexander (1927- ) was born in Fayetteville, West Virginia, to Sedonia Rotan Alexander and the Reverend Fleming E. Alexander, the founder and editor of the Roanoke Tribune, a weekly newspaper established in 1941. She attended both Christiansburg Industrial Institute and Bluefield State College in West Virginia. After apprenticing with her father at the Tribune, she left Virginia and continued her work in the often male-dominated field of printing at newspapers in Ohio and New York. When her father was incapacitated by an automobile accident in 1971, she took over the Tribune's operations. Later that year, she married Clifton Whitworth Jr., who assisted her with public relations and bookkeeping for the paper. Today the Roanoke Tribune remains as one of the longest-running black community newspapers in the nation. Claudia Whitworth's lifetime of leadership demonstrates her commitment and investment in both Roanoke and the state of Virginia. In 1991 she was appointed to the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors, and the Virginia Council on the Status of Women inducted her into the Virginia Women's Hall of Fame in 1992. The City of Roanoke honored Whitworth as Citizen of the Year in 2004. The most recent manifestation of Whitworth's philanthropy was her purchase of the Roanoke Funeral Home in 2007. She plans to donate the space, rent-free, as a base of operations for existing service agencies to operate within her neighborhood. <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 Roanoke Tribune. 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 Claudia Whitworth Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Claudia Alexander Whitworth has worked diligently over the decades to improve the quality of life in Roanoke. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009 African American Trailblazers Honoree Business and Entrepreneurship Community Leadership and Philanthropy Sports and Media https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/6c71311e9ac942a8d00e5fb448f851d2.jpg 7b03c76a6062521880a283e61a4d8e11 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 1895 Birthplace Lynchburg and Petersburg Death Date 1984 Occupation Artist and Architect Biographical Text Amaza Lee Meredith (1895-1984) was born in Lynchburg to Emma Kenney Meredith, an African American, and Samuel Meredith, a white carpenter. Graduating in 1915 at the top of her high school class, Meredith received a certificate for teachers from Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute (later Virginia State University) and taught in Botetourt County and in Lynchburg's Dunbar High School. Between 1928 and 1934, she received a degree in teaching as well as a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in art education from Columbia University. Hired in 1930 to teach art at Virginia State College for Negroes, Meredith became chair of the art department in 1935, a position she held until her retirement in 1958. She exhibited her artwork at galleries in Virginia, North Carolina, and New York. Meredith later focused her artistic vision on architecture and interior design. In 1938, she designed an International Style house at the eastern edge of the Virginia State campus. Azurest South was a five-room, single-story building featuring a strong geometric structure. In 1947, Meredith and her sister Maude Terry began Azurest North, a development of 120 lots for vacation homes for African Americans at Sag Harbor, Long Island. Meredith died in January 1984. Azurest South became the home of the Virginia State University National Alumni Association in 1986 and in 1993 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2008 the Department of Historic Resources approved a historical highway marker for Meredith. <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 Virginia State University. 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 Amaza Meredith Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Amaza Lee Meredith broke through racial and gender barriers in architecture and artistic design. 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 Education https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/34c10e443d202e6bf9e9d507308cee94.jpg d3144b576b8ffcf6f168dae2b3865c3f 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 1945 Birthplace Richmond Occupation Athlete and Entrepreneur Biographical Text Born in the Halifax County town of Clover, Willie Edward Lanier graduated in 1963 from Richmond's Maggie Walker High School as a star football player. He attended Morgan State University, in Baltimore, where he became a two-time Small College All-American. A second-round pick of the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in the 1967 draft, Lanier became the first African American to play middle linebacker, the position often described as the quarterback of the defense as the leader of the defense on the field, in 1970 he helped spur the Chiefs to an upset win in Super Bowl IV. Nicknamed "Contact" because of his aggressive tackling, Lanier was named to league all-star teams each year between 1968 and 1975 and missed only one game during his last ten seasons. He received the NFL's Man of the Year Award in 1972 for his community volunteer work. Lanier retired in 1977. One of football's greatest linebackers, he was elected to the National Football League Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and named by the NFL in 1994 as one of the top seventy-five players ever to play the game. The Richmond Times-Dispatch Touchdown Club of Richmond's award for the best small-college football player in Virginia is named for him. Since retiring from the game and returning to Richmond, Lanier has become a successful business executive. Active in many charitable causes, he lives in Midlothian and directs the Lanier Group LLC investment firm. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2012" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2012</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of Willie Lanier 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 Willie Lanier Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Willie Lanier broke through racial barriers in professional football by becoming the first African American to play middle linebacker, the position that directs the defense on the field. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 African American Trailblazers Honoree Business and Entrepreneurship Sports and Media https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/fb9893f15052f8c0b1aae92471bf33e6.jpg e87601ea9c9152a0590aa8d16e956928 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 1953 Birthplace Williamsburg Occupation Anthropologist Biographical Text Michael Louis Blakey (February 23, 1953– ) was the anthropologist in charge of the scientific research on the African Burial Ground discovered in 1991 in downtown New York City. The excavation of the site before the construction of a new federal office building provided valuable information about African Americans in New York during the colonial period. Containing the remains of more than 400 men, women, and children, it is the largest burial site of Africans and African Americans ever analyzed in North America. Blakey was featured in a 1996 PBS documentary Slavery's Buried Past about the burial ground and the community of free and enslaved people of African origin or descent who lived and died in New York. The analysis of the human remains that he directed revealed the extremely hard working and living conditions that most of the people who were buried there endured while they were alive. Blakey is a native of Washington, D.C. After graduating from Howard University, he received a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Frequently honored for his work, Blakey served as president of the Association of Black Anthropologists from 1987 to 1989 and worked as a physical anthropologist at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution for nine years. He has published numerous scientific articles and books and has lectured around the world. Blakey taught at Howard University before becoming in 2001 professor of anthropology at the College of William and Mary, where he directs the Institute for Historical Biology. Nominated by Gwendolyn Harvey, Petersburg. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2012" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2012</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of Mchael L. Blakely 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 Michael L. Blakely Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Physical anthropologist Michael L. Blakey helped analyze and interpret the important evidence uncovered at the African Burial Ground in Manhattan. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 African American Trailblazers Honoree Education https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/1d5dcc3bf43ed2916eebbc59250dbdb5.jpg 79bf58013129ac130b3e3f7664bacfea 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 1964 Birthplace Lynchburg Occupation Astronaut Biographical Text Leland D. Melvin (1964- ) was born in Lynchburg to Deems and Grace Melvin. After graduating from Hermitage High School there, he received a football scholarship to the University of Richmond where he studied chemistry. A standout on the field and in the classroom, he is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Academic All-American and was inducted into the University of Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame. After college Melvin was recruited by both the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys but suffered injuries that prevented him from playing. Eventually, he started graduate school at the University of Virginia, studying materials science, and earned a masters' degree in 1991. Melvin began working at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Langley Research Center in 1989. Nine years later he was admitted to the Astronaut Candidate training program. Melvin took his first space flight in February 2008, logging more than 306 hours and 5.3 million miles in space as he and the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis delivered a laboratory to the International Space Station. During the mission he operated the shuttle's robotic arm. Melvin retains a wide variety of interests beyond his career. An avid photographer, he displays his work on his personal Web site. He also continues to enjoy sports including cycling, tennis, and snowboarding. As former co-manager of NASA's Educator Astronaut Program, he travels nationwide, speaking to educators and students. Melvin believes that sports are an important part of education, and teaches students that teamwork extends into all aspects of work and life. <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 NASA Johnson Space Center. 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 Leland Melvin Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Leland D. Melvin inspires young people and encourages them to aspire to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2009 African American Trailblazers Honoree Education Science and Medicine Sports and Media https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/9b94a7eea8079c09b243dfa0a4db6245.jpg 4cdbbab264d468488ba16ce03f685a9c 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 1969 Birthplace Hampden-Sydney Occupation College President Biographical Text Born in Mount Pleasant, Texas, Christopher Bernard Howard (1969- ) was an active student at Plano Senior High School. At the United States Air Force Academy, Howard was a starting running back, received First Team Academic All-American Honors, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1991. Named a Rhodes Scholar, he went on to complete his PhD in politics at Oxford University in England in 1994. A lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves, Howard serves as a part of a defense attachment to Monrovia, Liberia. He was named Company Grade "Intelligence Officer of the Year" in 2001. While on active duty in 2003, Howard received the Bronze Star for Distinguished Service in Combat in Afghanistan. In 1998 Secretary of Defense William Cohen selected him to serve as an advisor on a trip to Cape Town, South Africa. Howard also earned the Joint Service Commendation Medal and NATO medals for service in Bosnia. Howard has worked for two Fortune 500 companies, including Bristol-Myers-Squibb, where he managed the Secure the Future Initiative, a $100 million effort to combat HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. In 2000, he founded the Impact Young Lives Foundation to provide scholarships and mentorship opportunities to disadvantaged South African youths. In 2003, Howard earned his master of business administration degree with distinction from Harvard Business School. In 2005, Howard became associate vice president for Strategic and Leadership Initiatives at the University of Oklahoma, and was promoted to vice president a year later. In July 2009, Howard took office as president of Hampden-Sydney College, making him the first African American president in the school's 234-year history. <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 Christopher Howard 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 Christopher Howard Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Christopher Bernard Howard sets an example for Hampden-Sydney students and for everyone through his impressive sum of service to the country and youth-enrichment efforts in Africa and the United States. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010 African American Trailblazers Honoree Business and Entrepreneurship Education Military https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/b0420cedf43168ead18835df268c46f5.jpg 50d00c9c8c92402749735f57f7220a68 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 Development of the Industrial United States Description An account of the resource From Reconstruction to the end of the 19th century, the United States went through a dramatic shift in its economic landscape. Industrialization changed not only the nature of business, but also brought technological advances and demand for an ever-increasing workforce. A rapid expansion of the power of big business was countered with the rise of labor movements, and often resulted in conflict, sometimes violent in nature. In contrast to the positive outcomes of technological developments, there were ecological effects not understood at the time, and unhealthy working conditions that often sparked big labor disputes and strikes. This shift was felt not only in the industrial big cities of the North and Midwest, but also in the realm of farming, where the United States was now put into the role of the world’s premier food producer. This era is defined largely by unprecedented immigration and urbanization, both of which fed the industrial system. Immigrants, for the first time, were less and less likely to come from Western Europe, now coming from Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Mexico, and Central America. Along with the need for expanding educational systems, which were often structured to push assimilation, the rise in immigration also led to religious tensions as Protestantism was no longer the dominating faith of immigrants. At the same time as immigrants were flooding the ports of the United States, the government launched wars against the Plains Indians, forcing the “second great removal” and defining a federal Indian policy that would last for decades. 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 1870-1900 Person An individual. Birth Date Circa 1857 Birthplace Harrisonburg Death Date 1934 Occupation Educator Biographical Text Lucy Francis Simms (died July 10, 1934) was born into slavery about 1857 and grew up near Harrisonburg on a plantation owned by the Gray family. In 1877 she graduated from Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (later Hampton University). She returned to Rockingham County and taught at a small country school in the African American community of Zenda. A year later Simms began teaching at the segregated school in Harrisonburg. For the 1883-1884 academic year, she served as acting principal for the Effinger School, where she taught primary grades until her death. Dedicated to her profession, Simms attended teacher training schools during the summer, occasionally as an instructor. She helped organize the county's association for teachers and served a term as auditor of the Negro Teacher's Association and School Improvement League of Virginia, which worked to increase support for universal education and better public schools for African Americans. Over the course of her fifty-six-year career, Simms taught an estimated 1,800 students and had a profound influence on her community. The City of Harrisonburg recognized her accomplishments when it opened the Lucy F. Simms School in 1939. The public school systems of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County honor their outstanding teachers with the annual Lucy F. Simms Educator of the Year awards. The Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center continues to operate in the 1939 school building in Harrisonburg. Nominated by Deniece Frye (2009-2010), Skyline Middle School, Harrisonburg. <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 Library of Virginia. 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 Lucy Francis Simms Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Born into slavery, Lucy Francis Simms was a highly respected elementary school teacher in Harrisonburg for more then fifty years. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2011 African American Trailblazers Honoree Education https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/7cd69ee3a47ad0b784737a925af4aae3.jpg 0b6b26ff706eb5da6c2ffadc102a0f94 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 Development of the Industrial United States Description An account of the resource From Reconstruction to the end of the 19th century, the United States went through a dramatic shift in its economic landscape. Industrialization changed not only the nature of business, but also brought technological advances and demand for an ever-increasing workforce. A rapid expansion of the power of big business was countered with the rise of labor movements, and often resulted in conflict, sometimes violent in nature. In contrast to the positive outcomes of technological developments, there were ecological effects not understood at the time, and unhealthy working conditions that often sparked big labor disputes and strikes. This shift was felt not only in the industrial big cities of the North and Midwest, but also in the realm of farming, where the United States was now put into the role of the world’s premier food producer. This era is defined largely by unprecedented immigration and urbanization, both of which fed the industrial system. Immigrants, for the first time, were less and less likely to come from Western Europe, now coming from Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Mexico, and Central America. Along with the need for expanding educational systems, which were often structured to push assimilation, the rise in immigration also led to religious tensions as Protestantism was no longer the dominating faith of immigrants. At the same time as immigrants were flooding the ports of the United States, the government launched wars against the Plains Indians, forcing the “second great removal” and defining a federal Indian policy that would last for decades. 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 1870-1900 Person An individual. Birth Date 1812 Birthplace Richmond Death Date 1901 Occupation Baptist Minister Biographical Text The year 2012 marks the bicentennial of John Jasper (July 4, 1812–March 30, 1901), who was born into slavery in Fluvanna County. After being sent to Richmond to work in a tobacco factory, in 1839 he experienced a religious conversion in Capitol Square. A fellow slave helped him learn to read and write, and Jasper began studying the Bible. He soon became a well-known preacher and traveled around Virginia for twenty years, most often preaching funeral sermons for other slaves. He regularly traveled to Petersburg to lead services at Third Baptist Church. After the Civil War and emancipation, Jasper established Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, in Richmond. His dynamic leadership had attracted about 2,500 members by 1887, and the church served as a center of religious life in the Jackson Ward neighborhood. He established a Sunday school, and the church also provided social services to help the indigent, young, old, and infirm. In 1878 Jasper first delivered the sermon for which he became most famous, "The Sun Do Move" in which he expounded on his belief in the fundamental truth of the Bible and the power of God. His dramatic speaking style and vivid imagery attracted national attention, and he gave his sermon in cities throughout the eastern United States for many years. Jasper continued to preach at his church until a few days before his death at age eighty-eight. Nominated by Benjamin Ross, church historian, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, Richmond. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2012" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2012</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of the Library of Virginia. 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 Jasper Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource An extraordinary orator who preached throughout the eastern United States, John Jasper in 1867 established Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, in Richmond. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 African American Trailblazers Honoree Religion https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/292f9c6762ee678af84032dd575a0ff9.tif f69eb6f6370b49ee6c73b66f745b2987 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 Expansion and Reform Description An account of the resource Between 1800 and 1860, the United States underwent a period of increased territorial expansion, immigration, economic growth, and industrialization. At the same time as the nation was increasing in population and size, regional differences were becoming more and more pronounced, and politically confrontational. The idea of “Manifest Destiny” led to movements first across the Appalachians, then across the Mississippi, and finally with the goal of reaching the Pacific Ocean, encouraged by the Gold Rush. This expansion, however, did have some negative results, most notably, the removal of many Indian nations in the Southeast and old Northwest. While the Louisiana Purchase increased the size of the nation more or less peacefully, large amounts of square footage were also acquired through the America’s victory in the Mexican-American War. Economic development, while increasing wealth and prosperity, also brought regional differences more sharply into focus. While the North began its path of Industrial Revolution, its increased urbanization and technological advancements separated it even further from an agrarian South. There was also a "transportation revolution" involving railroads, canals, and trans-regional roads, many times centered in the North. Slavery was also becoming a larger factor in the South, and would cause strife and political debate as new territory was added to the Union, particularly in the case of the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas–Nebraska Act which effectively repealed it. Despite expansion, free African Americans and women were still largely disenfranchised. Reforms movements occurred in bursts, setting the stage for post-Civil War major reforms. 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 1800-1860 Person An individual. Birth Date 1804 Birthplace Fredericksburg Death Date 1867 Occupation Author of an Emancipation Narrative Biographical Text Noah Davis (March 1804–April 7, 1867) was born into slavery in Madison County. He learned the boot- and shoemaker's trade in Fredericksburg, where he joined the Baptist Church in 1831 and was licensed to preach by white church officials. In 1845 Davis's owner agreed to free him for $500. After a fund-raising trip through northern states, Davis opened a cobbler's shop to earn the rest. In 1847 white Baptists in Baltimore offered him a job there as a missionary and to provide the balance of the $500. Leaving his family in Virginia, Davis secured his freedom and established what later became Saratoga Street African Baptist Church. Davis purchased freedom for his wife and their two youngest children in 1851 and several years later for another daughter and son who were in danger of being sold. When their other three enslaved children faced the auction block in 1858, Davis again toured the North to raise money and succeeded in freeing his daughter. Hoping to earn enough money to free his two sons and to provide funds for his struggling church, he published his memoirs, A Narrative of the Life of Rev. Noah Davis, a Colored Man (1859). In the eighty-six-page Narrative, Davis described his life in slavery, his religious conversion, his efforts to secure his family's freedom, and his work as a minister. Davis's health soon began to fail, possibly as a consequence of having worked tirelessly for almost fifteen years to raise more than $4,000 to rescue most of his family from slavery. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2012" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2012</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of the Library of Congress. 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 Noah Davis Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource Born into slavery, Noah Davis raised more than $4,000 to free himself and his family members during the 1840s and 1850s. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 African American Trailblazers Honoree Arts and Literature Religion https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/changemakers/files/original/b3fd8091b28410af96c881bc015ecc4a.jpg e8c06a440fc1e650e011c82b024c2a95 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 Civil War and Reconstruction Description An account of the resource The Civil War was undoubtedly one of the most important events in American history. The war challenged not only the issue of slavery, but the also the balance of federal versus state powers and the power of constitutional government. In the end, not only did the war preserve the Union as Lincoln had spoken of, but it also freed nearly four million African Americans from slavery. The war also highlighted stark differences in regions of the country. These differences ranged from political to religious to economic. There were many cases of brother fighting brother, neighbor fighting neighbor, and men who had previously been in the United States military service choosing to fight for the Confederacy, most notably, Robert E. Lee. The war also saw an increase in battlefield news coverage and photography, along with the first assassination of an American President. Following the war, the nation was faced with the problem of Reconstruction. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were aimed towards providing full equality for African Americans, but did face opposition on many levels. Despite headway, the North and the South both had strong objections to Radical Reconstruction and full social and racial democratization. Many Americans opposed the idea of redistributing wealth and were still in favor of strong local rights and government. In some cases, Reconstruction increased the racial divide, giving rise to movements such as the KKK. Learn more in the National History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1850-1877 Person An individual. Birth Date 1818 Birthplace Richmond Death Date 1900 Occupation Civic Leader Bibliography Image Courtesy of the Friends Association of Children. Biographical Text The daughter of a slave and an unidentified white man, Lucy Goode (September 13, 1818-October 7, 1900) learned to read during slavery, a skill she taught to Albert Royal Brooks, another Richmond slave whom Goode’s owner permitted her to marry on 2 February 1839. Lucy Brooks and her three youngest children were sold in 1858 to Daniel Van Groning, who allowed Albert Brooks to pay him in installments for their freedom. In Richmond’s business district, Lucy Brooks found three local men to buy her older sons. A fourth buyer purchased her eldest daughter, but he broke his pledge to keep her in Richmond and sold the girl to slavery in Tennessee. Albert Brooks was a successful black businessman, but it took him four years to earn the money to buy his wife and three children. The deed of manumission was dated 21 October 1862. The older boys became free when the Union army occupied Richmond in April 1865. After Emancipation, former slaves flocked to Richmond seeking work and looking for missing family members. Lucy Brooks saw children separated from their parents and abandoned by former masters. Having lost a daughter to the slave trade, she had a special concern for the plight of parentless children. A leader of the Ladies Sewing Circle for Charitable Work, she convinced the group that a home for orphans was a worthy project. She also obtained support from the local Cedar Creek Meeting of the Society of Friends and won the backing of several black churches. The orphanage building was completed in 1871 on a lot deeded by the city three years earlier. The General Assembly incorporated the Friends’ Asylum for Colored Orphans in March 1872. The orphanage operated until 1932, when the organization became a child-placement agency working with foster families. In the twenty-first century, the renamed Friends’ Association for Children operates family support centers in Richmond. The Lucy Brooks Foundation, created in 1984 to raise funds for the association, was named in honor of its founder. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2007" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2007</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. 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 Lucy Goode Brooks Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 African American Trailblazers Honoree Description An account of the resource Born enslaved, Lucy Goode Brooks founded the Friends' Asylum for Colored Orphans in Richmond. Community Leadership and Philanthropy