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] >> >> ______________________________________ >> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the >> instructions at >> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html > > ______________________________________ > 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] ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html