You (1) give me far too much credit for 'deciding' what should be in the
exhibit, and (2) give me only two choices. I am not worthy of the first,
and am greatly constrained by the second.
I think it is wonderful that VHS is presenting an exhibit relative to
Jamestown, and apparently making an effort to put JTown within the context
of greater forces. My concern/complaints are twofold:
#1 - They have (apparently) selected Jamestown as the focus, with which I
have no problems at all. BUT they have chosen two settlements which date
AFTER Jamestown, one French and the other Spanish, specifying the dates of
these two implying (to me at any rate) that Jamestown was the first and
these two empires followed with their first permanent settlements, albeit
closely.
#2 - They have addressed my 'implying' in point #1 above by clearly stating
that the subsequent French settlement was the first PERMANENT French
Settlement in the New World, and that the subsequent Spanish settlement is
the first PERMANENT Spanish 'villa' in the new world. My understanding is
that the first the first permanent French settlement in the New World was in
what is now Canada in 1604, and the first permanent Spanish Settlement in
the late 1500's. I am quick to admit that these sources too, may be biased,
trying to take credit for French and Spanish 'firsts'.
I expect a forum or two could be dedicated to papers and debates on the
meaning of 'permanent' -- e.g. I don't think anybody lived in Jamestown for
some period of time in the 18th and 19th centuries, and that the people of
Jamestown found their way into nearby settlements, therefore how can it be
'permanent' if nobody is there? But that is not the issue for me.
From what I understand, the two irrefutable statements for which Jamestown
stands are:
1 - The first permanent English Settlement in the New World ( from which
though the path was a bit torturous at time, the United States grew as an
English county, English the official language, et al)
2 - The first elected legislative body in the New World (from which our
Virginia form of Government, and perhaps even that of the rest of the United
States, and more tenuously the spirit of democracy in Europe tooks is lead)
But there were PERMANENT French and Spanish settlements in the New World
before Jamestown. The simplest fix is to remove the offending statements.
Let those two other settlements in the exhibit stand for what they are --
permanent French and Spanish settlements in the New World, for which there
are historical records and artifacts on display in Richmond. i.e. they were
not the first for either empire, but they represent two significant
settlements which contribute to our better understanding of Jamestown and
the times.
We can be justly proud of the legacy of Jamestown. Next year we celebrate
400 years of English America, and what that means to America. But lets make
it clear that we acknowledge that the English were not permanently here
first.
Randy Cabell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Shriner" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2006 8:00 AM
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Truth in Advertising
> LIFE IS FULL OF TRADE-OFFS! Randy, which would you prefer:
>
> (1) An exhibit comprised of Jamestown artifacts that does not reference
> the other 'contemporaneous' European settlements in its title or narrative
> (and thus may leave the impression to many that Jamestown was the only
> one).
> or
> (2) An exhibit that provides some limited perspective on 'contemporaneous'
> European settlements while focusing attention on nearby Jamestown, for
> which artifacts are readily available.
>
> While I haven't seen the VHS flyer to which you refer, nor the exhibit
> itself, it appears to me from your email that VHS has chosen (2) and you
> wish they had chosen (1). Or is your point something else? Could you
> clarify what your recommendation/preference is?
>
> :-) Bob
> *******************************
> Robert D. Shriner, Ph.D. ([log in to unmask])
> Management & Economics Consultant
> Warrenton, Virginia U.S.A
> 540/349-8193 Cell: 703/795-4355
> *******************************
> Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not
> get bent out of shape
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Sat, 30 Dec 2006 12:00 AM
> Subject: VA-HIST Digest - 28 Dec 2006 to 29 Dec 2006 (#2006-239)
>
> There is one message totalling 79 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. Truth in Advertising
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 06:50:41 -0500
> From: Randy Cabell <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Truth in Advertising
>
> It is obvious to everyone that I have found a second career trumpeting =
> the praises of Jamestown and 400 years of English America. Along the =
> way, I have learned one heck of a lot about what it is and what it is =
> not, and have become particularly interested in European voyages to =
> America before 1607. Currently I am slogging my way thorugh Samuel =
> Eliot Morrison's first book -- about the Northern Voyages. But I am =
> quick to admit that I am not an historian. However.......
>
> Yesterday I received a very colorful mailing from the Virginia =
> Historical Society. It is good to see that the venerable VHS has set up =
> what appears to be a very large exhibit on Jamestown and "Three North =
> American Beginnings."=20
>
> But therein lies my problem. Alas, living in the far reaches of the Old =
> Dominion, I am three hours from Richmond -- actually closer to the state =
> capitals of Pennsylvania and Maryland than Virginia -- so cannot easily =
> get to the exhibit. And I may be unfair, not to mention tacky in even =
> raising any questions about it. I know just what I read in the =
> article.....
>
> ..."takes a multilcultural approach to the virtually simultaneous =
> introduction of English, French, and Spanish culture into the vast area =
> north of Mexico...... the first permanent English settlement in 1607, =
> the first permanent French settlement in 1608, and the chartering of the =
> first villa in New Mexico in 1609."
>
> The first problem is the definition of 'simultaneous' -- does this mean =
> years, decades, portions-of-centuries? The second is the rather wishy =
> washy 'introduction of cultures...'. i.e. paraphrasing a former US =
> President, DEFINE 'simultaneous' and 'introduction', and 'permanent'.
>
> But those are just teasers -- merely rhetorical questions for you. Hold =
> them aside, and lets look at what some others have to say about 'firsts =
> settlements':
>
> Relative to the Spanish, I find a note about New Mexico: =
> "......celebrates the arrival of Don Juan de O=F1=F1ate, who in 1598 =
> established the first permanent Spanish settlement in the United States =
> at San Juan de los Caballeros..." (VHS seems to have played the =
> 'Define...' game by calling out the first permanent Spanish 'villa', =
> whatever that means.)
>
> And of course in Florida, we find the French founding St. John's =
> apparently in the early 1560s, but then being completely wiped out by =
> the Spanish who established St. Augustine in 1565. (Echos of 'We're =
> Number 1.... uh Numero uno.....)'
>
> But back to our French friends, "Port Royal (Nova Scotia) was the second =
> permanent European settlement in North America north of Florida, having =
> been founded in 1605 by Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Monts and Samuel de =
> Champlain."
>
> Far be it for me to challenge our own Virginia Historical Society or the =
> Smithsonian National Museum of American History who apparently had a =
> hand in the exhibit. I am guessing that none of the artifacts on =
> display could be traced to those earlier-than-Jamestown settlements, =
> consequently wording of the exhibit was tweaked. But just like the =
> hoopla on VA-HIST a couple of months ago in response to even THINKING =
> about changing Civil War Diaries, I suggest that we should not mount an =
> exhibit that tells -- or even implies -- it as we would LIKE IT TO BE, =
> rather than like it was.
>
> Randy Cabell
> Still the Trumpeter of Jamestowne
>
>
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of VA-HIST Digest - 28 Dec 2006 to 29 Dec 2006 (#2006-239)
> **************************************************************
>
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