Mr. Browning,
Thanks for this caveat. We are aware of the Berkeley Plantation story
and hope that someone--either from the plantation or from this
list--will call in to ask/tell about the event. The show is looking to
explore the whole Thanksgiving narrative, and part of that story is
certainly the Pilgrim-centric ways the holiday is celebrated and how
this does/does not jive with the history of what actually took place.
What other holes can we poke in this traditional narrative? I would
again invite members of this listserv to participate as callers to raise
these issues for our listeners. Thank you.
Catherine Moore
Lyle E. Browning wrote:
> Given that Pres. Kennedy had to agree that Thanksgiving was at
> Berkeley Plantation in Charles City prior to Pilgrims, I do hope
> you've included that in the program. If this is yet another
> Pilgrim-centric show, then historical accuracy is for what?
>
> The more the Pilgrims are the focus, the more difficult it is to
> change perceptions.
>
> Lyle Browning, RPA
>
>
> On Oct 7, 2008, at 12:35 PM, Catherine Moore wrote:
>
>> Greetings VA-HIST Members,
>>
>> The latest installment of the new public radio show about American
>> history, "BackStory With the American History Guys"--hosted by Peter
>> Onuf, Ed Ayers, and Brian Balogh and based at Charlottesville's
>> Virginia Foundation for the Humanities--is a history of Thanksgiving.
>> Here is a blurb describing the show:
>>
>> American As Pumpkin Pie: A History of Thanksgiving
>> When you think of Thanksgiving, what comes to mind? Turkey on the
>> table? Football on TV? Dad in a dress? Before the 1900s, it was
>> common among the lower classes for cross-dressing masqueraders to
>> parade drunkenly through the city demanding Thanksgiving treats. Our
>> more solemn Thanksgiving begins not with the Pilgrims, but with the
>> Victorians, who sought a national holiday honoring home and family.
>> In 1863, one such Victorian, Sarah Hale, convinced President Lincoln
>> to declare Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November. So did
>> Thanksgiving strengthen the Union as Lincoln hoped? What relation do
>> Indians have to the holiday in reality and in myth? How readily have
>> immigrants adopted stuffing and cranberry sauce? And what are we
>> celebrating, anyway?
>>
>> I would like to invite you all to participate as callers on the
>> show--how is the history of this holiday related to Virginia's story?
>> Being a caller takes about ten minutes and involves asking a question
>> or sharing a story related to the topic at hand with the (very
>> informed and friendly) hosts and sticking around for the discussion
>> to follow. We are recording calls this Thursday morning (10/9) from
>> 8-11am EST. If you are interested, please email me ASAP
>> ([log in to unmask]) and I can give you more details. Find out more
>> about the show at www.backstoryradio.org. *Please feel free to share
>> this announcement with any friends, family, or colleagues you think
>> might be interested.* Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from
>> you soon!
>>
>> --
>> Catherine Moore
>> Assisting Producer of Research
>> BackStory With the American History Guys
>> Virginia Foundation for the Humanities Radio
>> 145 Ednam Drive
>> Charlottesville, VA 22903
>> 434-924-4403
>> www.backstoryradio.org
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> ______________________________________
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>
> ______________________________________
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the
> instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
--
Catherine Moore
Assisting Producer of Research
BackStory With the American History Guys
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities Radio
145 Ednam Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22903
434-924-4403
www.backstoryradio.org
[log in to unmask]
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To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
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