I am sure most subscribers to the Virginia History (VA-HIS) Online
Listserve would be sorry to hear that the Virginia Cavalcade -- the
"illustrated magazine of Virginia history and culture" -- was to end its
51 year history of publication.  Unfortunately,
that seems to be the case.  According to yesterday's Richmond
Times-Dispatch, the
magazine, published by the Library of Virginia,  is to be another
casualty of state
budget cuts.

I hope those who are in charge of making decisions that affect the
publication of the
Virginia Cavalcade re-think this decision.  The magazine has been an
excellent
source for those interested in Virginia's history.  One look at the
online index to the
magazine would convince even the most skeptical person of that (one
could easily argue that the magazine has only gotten better in the last
10 years).  For many
Virginians (and those outside the state), the Virginia Cavalcade was
their introduction to the history of the Commonwealth and to the
resources of the Archives at the Library of Virginia

This comes on top of other budget cuts at the Library of Virginia --
including major
staff cuts and the elimination of the Digital Library Program.   Will
the numerous
online databases of images, text, and indices to holdings at the Library
of Virginia be
the next resource cut?  What about the fate of the Virginia History
Listserve?  Is History under attack in Virginia?


Ray Bonis,
Richmond, VA

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~~~

Ray Bonis
Assistant Archivist
Special Collections and Archives
James Branch Cabell Library
901 Park Ave. VCU Box 842033
Richmond, VA 23284-2033

(804) 828-1108
[log in to unmask]
www.library.vcu.edu/jbc/speccoll/speccoll.html

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