Dear VA-Histers:

 

I would like to invite you to two noontime lectures that will take place
in the next few days here at the Library of Virginia. Tomorrow,
Thursday, April 29, Edward Ayers will speak on his recent book In the
Presence of Mine Enemies: War in the Heart of America, 1859-1863,
published by W.W. Norton and winner of the 2004 Bancroft Prize.  Dr.
Ayers is Hugh Kelly Professor of History and dean at the University of
Virginia. In the Presence of Mine Enemies gives a different view of the
Civil War, built on an intimate scale. Ayers charts the descent into war
of two communities in the Shenandoah Valley spanning Pennsylvania and
Virginia. Connected by strong ties of every kind, including slavery, the
people of this borderland sought alternatives to secession and war. When
none remained, they took up the war with a startling intensity. Ayers
will also discuss the links between his latest book and the online
project from which it grew--The Valley of the Shadow (
http://valley.vcdh.virginia.edu/ <http://valley.vcdh.virginia.edu/> ).

 

On Friday, April 30, Catherine Clinton will speak on her new book
Harriet Tubman: The Road To Freedom.  Dr. Clinton, Visiting Professor of
History at Wesleyan College, is the author of more than a dozen
historical works for children and adults. She has taught African
American Studies at Brandeis University, Brown University and at Harvard
University. In Harriet Tubman, "the first full-scale biography" of
Tubman (1825-1913) Clinton, presents a portrait of a complicated woman
with deep religious convictions, incredible courage and a passion for
freedom. Clinton brings life to the legendary woman known as "Moses" for
her work as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, spiriting slaves to
freedom. 

 

A book signing in the Library's lobby will follow both talks and the
books are avaliable in the Library Shop.   

 

I have also appended a list of noontime talks to be held here at the
Library of Virginia in May.  We have a full and interesting line-up of
talks and lectures and you can access the full schedule of events for
the Library by clicking on "Calendar of Events" at:
http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whoweare/events/index.htm, or, for more
information, call 804-692-3592. 

 

Gregg Kimball

Director of Publications and Educational Services

_________________________________________________________

 

Upcoming Noontime Events

 

Thursday, May 13, 2004
Rebellious Slave: Nat Turner in American Memory

Time: Noon
Place: Conference Rooms

How did the bloodiest slave revolt in American history come to be known
simply as Nat Turner's Rebellion? Scot French, an assistant professor
and associate director of the Carter G. Woodson Institute for
African-American and African Studies at the University of Virginia, will
explain in a discussion of his book, Rebellious Slave. He will examine
the enduring significance of this event as a cultural landmark and moral
touchstone. French will chart how political and cultural attitudes and
movements filtered and transformed views of Turner and the meaning of
his insurrection throughout American history. A question-and-answer
period and book signing will follow the talk.

 

Tuesday, May 18, 2004
With All Deliberate Speed: Documenting Virginia's Response to Brown v.
Board in the Records at the Library of Virginia
Time: Noon
Place: Conference Rooms

What was Massive Resistance? How did Virginians react to the Supreme
Court decision outlawing segregation and paving the way for
desegregation of schools? Research archivist Derek Gray will discuss
what the Library of Virginia's records reveal about the commonwealth's
response to the unanimous U.S Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board
of Education on May 17, 1954. Virginia reactions to the Brown v. Board
of Education ruling ranged from enthusiastic approval to bitter
opposition. The Library's records offer great insight into official
response to the ruling. The General Assembly adopted a policy of
"Massive Resistance" intended to slow to a crawl attempts to integrate
Virginia's schools generally and to minimize the effects of integration
where it did occur. Ultimately, the failure of Massive Resistance
resulted from a series of judicial rulings between November 1958 and
April 1959 that supported Brown and from pressure from Virginians to
preserve that state's public school system. A question-and-answer period
will follow the talk.

 

  

Thursday, May 20, 2004
Rights for a Season: The Politics of Race, Class, and Gender in
Richmond, Virginia
Time: Noon
Place: Conference Rooms

Why did the black-majority city council in Richmond that came to power
in 1977 go down to defeat in 1982? Author Lewis A. Randolph will argue
that biracial alliances formed by black conservatives led to the shift
back to the white elite. He will demonstrate the centrality of race,
class and gender dynamics as determining factors in the evolution of
Richmond's political landscape. The author will chart the transformation
in the black community's response as it moved from resistance to
mobilization and from protest politics to electoral politics. At the
heart of the book and talk is the story of the historic election of a
black-majority city council in 1977 and its subsequent collapse in 1982.
Lewis Randolph is associate professor of political science at Ohio
University. He co-authored Rights for a Season: The Politics of Race,
Class and Gender in Richmond, Virginia with Gayle T. Tate, associate
professor in the Africana Studies Department at Rutgers University.  A
question-and-answer period and book signing will follow the talk.

 

 
Gregg D. Kimball
Director of Publications
  and Educational Services
Library of Virginia
804/692-3722
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