A View From a High Schooler

High-schooler Phylicia Winston recently shadowed one of our curators as part of Collegiate School’s new Trailblaze Career Mentorship Program. Below are Phylicia’s reflections from her week exploring the museum field.

 

Phylicia with Collegiate School ephemera housed in the Valentine’s archives.

My name is Phylicia Winston. I am currently a rising senior a Collegiate School in Richmond. Recently, I had the opportunity to shadow Mrs. Meg Hughes, Curator of Archives at the Valentine to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes in a museum. I was able to take part in this unique opportunity through a new program at my school called Trailblaze.

Trailblaze gives you the chance to shadow a Collegiate Alumni in a field you would like to pursue or by interest. My time spent at The Valentine is not what I expected it to be. I had a very busy week ahead of me. SI got to take a part in was a behind the scene tour of the museum and the 1812 Wickham House, I sat in on a board meeting, handled ephemera, and worked on past and new exhibits.

One of the highlights of the week was definitely working with an older exhibition focusing on neon signs around Richmond. I think that was one of my favorites because I got to learn what is involved in deconstructing an exhibition. Overall, I loved this experience. I enjoyed getting to be in downtown Richmond and learning about a new field and passion: history. I enjoyed working and getting to know the wonderful and amazing staff at this museum.

I also loved being able to spend time outdoors in the Valentine Garden. I want to thank everyone who made my week amazing and exciting. I want to thank Collegiate for providing me with this opportunity to spend time at such an amazing place. Finally, I want to thank Mrs. Hughes and the Valentine Museum for letting me get hands on experience.

Phylicia Winston recently shadowed Curator of Archives Meg Hughes at the Valentine in Richmond. 

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“Monumental” Exhibition Explores the Role of Richmond’s Monuments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2018

Contact:
Eric Steigleder
Director of Public Relations & Marketing
esteigleder@thevalentine.org

Monumental Exhibition Explores the Role of Richmond’s Monuments

 

Washington Monument. January 3, 1980. Photo: Gary Burns, V.85.37.1475, Richmond Times-Dispatch Collection, The Valentine

RICHMOND – A new exhibition looking at the role and context of Richmond’s monuments opens at the Valentine on the Fourth of July.

Through images, objects and multimedia, Monumental: Richmond’s Monuments (1607-2018) examines the city’s many public monuments, beginning with the Newport Cross and concluding with the planned Emancipation Monument on Brown’s Island. This timely exhibition will spur important reflections about what we have chosen to commemorate and what we have chosen to forget.

“As the debate involving monuments continues across the nation and right here in Richmond, we are excited to use this exhibition to provide important historical context,” said David Voelkel, the Elise H. Wright Curator of General Collections. “Our goal is to allow the public to make up their own minds about the role these monuments play in our community in 2018.”

Richmond’s monuments have continued to spark debate and generate attention, interest and outcry.  With the imminent release of Mayor Stoney’sMonument Avenue Commission’s report, this exhibition opens to the public at a pivotal time for the Richmond community.

“Our mission as an institution has always been to engage, educate, and challenge a diverse audience by using Richmond’s past to inform the present and improve the future,” said Director Bill Martin. “This exhibition examines the context of these structures to discover exactly what they meant to us in the past and what they mean to us today, and the Valentine is committed to serving the community as a space to have uncomfortable but necessary conversations about our city’s complicated history.”

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Valentine Intern Spotlight: Sophia McCrimmon

Our PR & Marketing Intern Sophia discusses her love of Richmond history and shares her expectations as a new member of the Valentine team.

My name is Sophia McCrimmon and I am a rising sophomore at the University of Virginia working as a public relations and marketing intern at the Valentine this summer.

I found my way to the Valentine primarily thanks to a love for Richmond’s complex and robust history. As a lifelong Richmonder and history enthusiast, I grew up exploring many of the meaningful spaces in and around this city – from Hollywood Cemetery to Cold Harbor Battlefield. Thinking about the stories hidden amidst familiar streets made me interested in the politics of space and ideologies of memory.

As a history major and historical tour guide at UVa, I’ve had the opportunity to explore these topics inside and outside of the classroom. I have learned that history is human – both profound and profane, painful and personal. I have also learned that history is powerful – it can restore agency and dignity to forgotten stories, change perspectives through uncomfortable conversations and forge empathy across and within communities. That’s why I think history should be a living field, based on discovery and conversation.

When I first visited the Valentine, the museum’s mission struck a chord with me. I felt inspired by the Valentine’s focus on intersectionality and relevance in its exhibitions and I loved the museum’s role as a forum for community education and discussion. I am so excited to help realize that mission through my work in public relations this summer. In this position, I hope to help make our history more accessible by reaching out to new audiences, publicizing provocative exhibitions, and sparking conversations on social media. I’m also eager to explore the museum’s robust archives, investigating compelling new stories that add to the complex history of this city. My enthusiasm for the Valentine’s exciting upcoming exhibitions makes me thrilled to help reach out to the Richmond community and cultivate interest in this unique institution.

Sophia McCrimmon is an intern at the Valentine in Richmond. 

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Valentine Intern Spotlight: Sabrina Connor

Our PR & Marketing Intern Sabrina introduces herself and shares her experiences and expectations as one of the newest members of the Valentine team.

My name is Sabrina Connor (not to be confused for Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and I am from the rainbow island of Anguilla in the Caribbean. I am a rising senior at Virginia Union University studying Mass Communications with a focus in Public Relations. I was recently inducted into the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honors Society and I am a member of the university’s Honors Program. Additionally, I serve as the captain of the Lady Panther’s tennis team, the business manager of the Student Government Association and a French and English tutor. A few of my many passions include travelling, exploring different cultures, discovering new music and art and getting lost in captivating books.

My summer goal was to find an internship that not only allowed me to develop and enhance my communication skills, but tied into my interests as well.  Sure enough, I walked into my school’s spring career fair with this goal in mind, and the bright, red Valentine sign immediately caught my attention. After learning about the details of the internship program and the museum’s history and purpose, I quickly applied, and was later accepted for the Kip Kephart Foundation’s Bobby Chandler Internship in the PR and Marketing Department. I was extremely pleased about this opportunity because I knew working at the Valentine would provide the perfect space to get hands on experience in my area of study and educate me about the history and charm of Richmond, my new home.

I am now in the second week of my internship and I have done a range of media related tasks such as press releases, photography, social media management and strategic messaging. Throughout the remainder of this internship I will absorb as much as I can so I can apply everything I’ve learned towards my future career goals. I thoroughly enjoy the welcoming, friendly and educational work environment that the Valentine offers and look forward to expanding my knowledge through this summer internship!

Sabrina Connor is an intern at the Valentine in Richmond. 

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The Valentine Kicks Off Popular “Music in the Garden” Series

MEDIA ADVISORY
May 21, 2018

Contact:
Eric Steigleder
Director of Public Relations & Marketing
esteigleder@thevalentine.org

The Valentine Kicks Off Popular “Music in the Garden” Series

On Thursday, June 7 the Valentine will kick off the 2018 Music in the Garden series with performances by Wes Swing and The Legacy Band. Taking place in the Valentine Garden on June 7, 14 and 21, these free events will offer audiences unique, family-friendly performances in a beautiful atmosphere, as well as free access to the Valentine’s exhibitions. Each evening will feature two performances by musicians from different genres and with distinct styles, encouraging fans to interact and explore their musical boundaries. Beer and wine will be on sale, and Garnett’s at the Valentine will be open.

What: Music in the Garden 2018

Where: The Valentine Garden and Museum

When: 6 to 8 p.m.

Music in the Garden 2018 Line-Up:

June 7
Wes Swing & The Legacy Band

June 14
Angelica Garcia & Lobo Marino

June 21
Dave Watkins & The Prabir Mehta Trio

Parking in our 10th street lot is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Carpooling is recommended. No outside drinks or food are allowed. Additionally, pets (except service animals) and lawn chairs are not permitted.

 

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New Valentine Exhibition Chronicles Richmond’s Response to Seven Deadly Diseases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2018

Contact:
Eric Steigleder
Director of Public Relations & Marketing
esteigleder@thevalentine.org

                                                                

New Valentine Exhibition Chronicles Richmond’s Response to Seven Deadly Diseases

Stories of life-saving progress collide with racial and social disparities in Pandemic: Richmond

RICHMOND – A new exhibition exploring the storms of disease that have swept through the city of Richmond will debut at the Valentine on May 10.

Richmond Influenza Vaccines, 1976, photo by Wallace Huey Clark, V.85.37.2477

Pandemic: Richmond identifies stories of both loss and survival as Richmonders fought silent, invisible enemies, including the 1918–1919 influenza, smallpox, tuberculosis, cholera, typhoid fever, polio and HIV/AIDS. Drawing on the Valentine’s expansive archival collection, this exhibition reveals how these seven diseases ravaged communities while prompting life-saving advances in health care.

“This exhibition gives the Valentine the opportunity to show the true scope and impact of disease throughout Richmond’s history,” said Curator of Archives Meg Hughes. “In addition to the past, Pandemic: Richmond looks at disease today and will hopefully inspire visitors to take an active role in determining how Richmond will address future outbreaks.”

The exhibition also confronts issues of access and inequality. Throughout Richmond’s history, the impact of disease has fallen disproportionately on African Americans, the poor, the enslaved and the disadvantaged. Pandemic: Richmond aims to examine and share these important stories.

“This exhibition uses disease as a way to discuss progress, community, bigotry and modernity in Richmond,” said Valentine Director Bill Martin. “From the laudable scientific achievements to the uncomfortable truths about who did and did not receive care, Pandemic: Richmond tells a nuanced story that is equal parts frightening and hopeful.”

Pandemic: Richmond was developed with collaborating scholar Elizabeth Outka, an associate professor of English at the University of Richmond and author of the upcoming Raising the Dead, a book about modernist literature and the flu pandemic in Britain and the United States.

“Disease often receives less attention than military conflict but pandemic outbreaks from smallpox to AIDS/HIV have profoundly shaped the city’s history and the lives of its citizens,” said Outka.

The exhibition will be on view at the Valentine from May 10, 2018 to February 24, 2019.

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About the Valentine
The Valentine has been collecting, preserving and interpreting Richmond stories for more than a century. Through collections, exhibitions and programs, the Valentine provides residents and tourists the opportunity to discover the diverse stories that tell the broader history of this important region. The Valentine offers major changing exhibitions, which focus on American urban and social history, costumes, decorative arts and architecture. https://thevalentine.org/

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New Valentine Exhibition Recognizes Women’s Advancement through Fashion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2018

Contact:
Eric Steigleder
Director of Public Relations & Marketing
esteigleder@thevalentine.org

New Valentine Exhibition Recognizes Women’s Advancement through Fashion

Photo courtesy Jay Paul/Richmond Magazine

Day ensemble worn by Nathalie L. Klaus, 1972, Cotton voile, V.88.237.12a,b, Hanae Mori, Courtesy Jay Paul/Richmond magazine

RICHMOND – A new exhibition exploring fashion as central to the professional, creative and social advancement of women in Richmond will debut at the Valentine on April 26.

Entitled Pretty Powerful: Fashion and Virginia Women, this unique exhibition will explore how fashion offered Richmond women of diverse backgrounds and experiences an accepted professional path with prospects for personal agency.

“In this deep dive into the history of Richmond women working and living in fashion, the Valentine’s costume and textiles collection has revealed one treasure after another,” said Kristen Stewart, the Nathalie L. Klaus Curator of Costume and Textiles. “The styles in Pretty Powerful: Fashion and Virginia Women are as stunning as the stories are inspiring. “

Pretty Powerful emphasizes the role Richmond women have played in bringing greater awareness to the city and its industries. From the 19th century to the present day, this exhibition highlights how women designers, producers and consumers of fashion have sought their own means of empowerment, using their talents and expertise to help shape the cultural landscape of Richmond in the process.

“This exhibition is a perfect example of the Valentine’s dedication to sharing unique and timely Richmond Stories,” said Valentine Director Bill Martin. “As we continue to grapple with the nationwide discussion about the experiences of women in professional settings, Pretty Powerful provides a compelling narrative of empowerment, accomplishment and success.”

Pretty Powerful: Fashion and Virginia Women will be on-view at the Valentine from April 26, 2018 to January 27, 2019 in the Nathalie L. Klaus Gallery on the lower level.

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About the Valentine

The Valentine has been collecting, preserving and interpreting Richmond stories for more than a century. Through collections, exhibitions and programs, the Valentine provides residents and tourists the opportunity to discover the diverse stories that tell the broader history of this important region. The Valentine offers major changing exhibitions, which focus on American urban and social history, costumes, decorative arts and architecture. https://thevalentine.org/

About the Valentine Costume and Textiles Collection
The Costume and Textiles Collection at the Valentine comprises over 30,000 dress, accessory and textile objects made, sold, worn or used in Virginia from the late 18th century to the present day. The largest of its kind in the American South, this collection enjoys an international reputation among fashion and textile scholars.

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76 Years of Neighborhood Tours!

The Claiborne Robins, Jr. Director of Public Programs Liz Reilly-Brown discusses the history of the Valentine’s neighborhood tours.

FIC.031797; “Carrington Row Tour”; Oct 28 1967; The Richmond Times-Dispatch

In the fall of 1942, the Valentine and historic preservation champion Mary Wingfield Scott launched a series of walking tours exploring Richmond. The Valentine had recently opened the exhibition Old Richmond Neighborhoods, a project that grew out of Scott’s efforts to document the city’s vulnerable historic neighborhoods and architecture. These early walking tours brought Richmond citizens together to explore their city, visiting areas such as Gamble’s Hill, Church Hill, Oregon Hill, Jackson Ward and Hollywood Cemetery.

Tours were among the methods utilized by Scott to spread the gospel of historic preservation. Scott educated residents about important examples of architecture and historic places in their own backyards, sites she believed were in need of saving from ongoing threats of demolition, disrepair and development.

V.85.37.4033; “Group Tours Restoration Project in Church Hill”; 1972; The Richmond Times-Dispatch

Thus, the Valentine’s tour program was born (though not always offered consistently and stewarded for a time by Historic Richmond Foundation). Today, the museum continues Scott’s work by providing Richmonders with opportunities to explore their city by foot, bus and bike, with the goal of sharing diverse stories of Richmond residents and exploring the ever-changing landscape.

In my personal experience organizing the tour program, some of the most rewarding moments have occurred spontaneously as tour takers share their own stories. On a tour of Battery Park last spring, our group discussed the shifting demographics of the neighborhood in the last seventy years, and two attendees recalled their personal experiences during school desegregation. They soon discovered that they were former elementary school classmates, one white and one black.

2018 will mark 76 years since the first Valentine walking tours, and we have many exciting things in the store for the coming season.  Favorite tours will be back, such as Hollywood Cemetery, our downtown City Center Walks and beloved areas like Church Hill, Jackson Ward and Scotts Addition. New additions to our tour program will take attendees to different parts of the city and provide new perspectives, such as a stroll along the Floodwall exploring the history of Richmond and the James River, a walk through the Broad Street Arts District, a tour and work day at Evergreen Cemetery and an exploration of Carytown’s LGBTQ+ history.

We hope that by continuing to explore our city and unearth the important stories of its residents, we honor the legacy of Mary Wingfield Scott, and the numerous people who have contributed to the diversity, culture and history of Richmond.

On behalf of the Valentine, I invite you to join us for tours, April through December. More info can be found at thevalentine.org/tours.

Liz Reilly-Brown is the Claiborne Robins, Jr. Director of Public Programs at the Valentine

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Time Travelers: Free Admission to 19 Historic Sites in Richmond

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2018

Contact:
Eric Steigleder
Director of Public Relations & Marketing
esteigleder@thevalentine.org

Time Travelers: Free Admission to 19 Historic Sites in Richmond

Tourists and locals alike are invited to discover the area’s treasures spanning 400 years of fascinating history, including historic homes, museums and other one-of-a-kind attractions. Nineteen of the Richmond region’s historic sites will offer visitors a “Passport” to time-travel during a special admission-free weekend, March 24-25.

Each site will offer complimentary admission to visitors who show a Time Travelers Passport, available via download from the participating locations’ websites (see below). This special offer equates to savings of more than $65 per person. (Some restrictions may apply.)

Participating locations include:

Agecroft Hall & Gardens
Agecroft Hall, home to Richmond’s Tudor house, was first built in England in the 1500s, then transported across the ocean and rebuilt in Richmond in the 1920s. Today it is a museum furnished with art and artifacts from 17th century England. Take a 30-minute guided tour, stroll the manicured gardens overlooking the James River, explore the Sunroom Exhibit, get hands-on in the Tudor Kitchen and shop in the museum store. Located just west of Carytown at 4305 Sulgrave Road in Richmond, Agecroft Hall & Gardens will be open Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sun. 12:30-5 p.m. For more information, call 804-353-4241 or visit www.agecrofthall.org.

The American Civil War Museum – White House of the Confederacy
Best known as the Confederate executive mansion for Jefferson Davis and his family from 1861-1865, the house provides an ideal opportunity for exploring the full breadth and memory of the Civil War in Richmond. In its 200 year history, the house has served many roles: a private residence for Richmond’s influencers, a headquarters of U.S. occupying forces during Reconstruction, the Richmond Central School, The Confederate Museum, and now the fully restored White House of the Confederacy. All tours are guided and space is limited. As part of the house’s bicentennial, a special themed Lincoln & Davis tour begins at 1:30pm. Located at 1201 East Clay Street in Richmond, The American Civil War Museum’s White House of the Confederacy will be open Sat.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, call 804-649-1861 or visit www.acwm.org. Please note: Time Travelers Passport Holders will only receive free admission to the White House of the Confederacy house tour.

 The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design
The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design elevates awareness of the transformative power of architecture and design. We envision a society that appreciates, supports, and embraces exemplary architecture and design … past, present, and future. The Branch Museum is located in the historic Branch House, a Tudor-revival house that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was completed in 1919 by architect John Russell Pope for John and Beulah Branch. The Branch Museum is located at 2501 Monument Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23220. We are open Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 4pm, and Sunday 1pm – 5pm. We can be reached at 804-644-3041 ext 151, on our website at www.branchmuseum.org, or via email at frontdesk@branchmuseum.org

Chimborazo Medical Museum (Richmond National Battlefield Park)
Chimborazo became one of the Civil War’s largest military hospitals. When completed it contained more than 100 wards, a bakery and even a brewery. Although the hospital no longer exists, a museum on the same grounds contains original medical instruments and personal artifacts. Other displays include a scale model of the hospital and a short film on medical and surgical practices and the caregivers that comforted the sick and wounded.  The site is located at 3215 East Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia and is open for free seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (804) 226-1981 or visit www.nps.gov/rich.

Clarke-Palmore House
The Clarke-Palmore House Museum is located high atop historic Marion Hill in Henrico County. The museum interprets the lives of the Palmore family who lived on this small farm in 1930. Like other families living through the Great Depression, the Palmore family struggled to make a living during tough economic times. Self-sufficiency and frugality were the norm. The museum will be open Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 4 p.m. and is located at 904 McCoul Street in Henrico.  For more information call (804) 652-3406 or visit www.henrico.us/rec.

Courtney Road Service Station
The 1920s were the boom years for the construction of gas stations in the United States due to an increase of cars, improved roads and low gas prices. Many were built in the “House with Canopy” design like the Courtney Road Service Station, a style that was a 1916 Standard Oil Company prototype. In 1938, the Barlow family owned the station. The station was operated by Mr. Millard G. Wiltshire and sold Sinclair Gasoline and Oil Products. The station is located at 3401 Mountain Road in Glen Allen and will be open Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 4 p.m. For more information call (804) 652-1455 or visit www.henrico.us/rec.

Dabbs House Museum
The Dabbs House, built in rural eastern Henrico in 1820, gained attention as Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s field headquarters during the summer of 1862. Learn about the history of the house from its use as a residence for the Dabbs family to its tenure as Henrico’s police headquarters from 1941 to 1971 and then as a police station until 2005. Visitors can tour the 1862 field headquarters and browse the exhibit galleries. Dabbs House Museum will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and is located at 3812 Nine Mile Road in eastern Henrico. For more information call (804) 652-3406 or visit www.henrico.us/rec.

The Edgar Allan Poe Museum
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia has been interpreting the life and influence of Edgar Allan Poe for the education and enjoyment of a global audience since 1922. The Museum’s collection of diverse items relating to Poe’s life and writings is the most comprehensive in the world and its programs reach thousands of scholars, students, teachers, and literary enthusiasts every year. Visit poemuseum.org for more information about our exhibits and upcoming events.

The John Marshall House
The John Marshall House, built in 1790, was the home of the “Great Chief Justice” for forty-five years. Listed on the National and Virginia Historic Registers, the John Marshall House has undergone remarkably few changes since Marshall’s lifetime. The property remained in the Marshall family until 1911.  The John Marshall House will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday and is located at 818 East Marshall Street in Richmond. For more information, call (804) 648-7998 or visit www.preservationvirginia.com/marshall.

Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site
Businesswoman. Leader. Civil rights activist.  Maggie L. Walker was all of these things, and more.  A tour of her home highlights her achievements and reminds us of the obstacles she overcame to emerge as an inspirational figure in the early twentieth century.  The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site is located at 600 N. 2nd Street in Richmond, Virginia, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with tours of her home available daily, and is free of charge.  Reservations are suggested for groups of six or more. For more information and for tour times, call (804) 771-2017 ext. 0 or visit www.nps.gov/mawa.

Magnolia Grange, Chesterfield County Museum and 1892 Historic Jail
Built in 1822 by William Winfree, Magnolia Grange is a handsome Federal-style plantation house named for the circle of magnolia trees that once graced its front lawn. Noted for its distinctive architecture, the mansion contains elaborate ceiling medallions, as well as sophisticated carvings on mantels, doorways and window frames. The house has been carefully restored to its 1820s look and feel. The Chesterfield Museum is a reproduction of the colonial courthouse of 1750. Its collections tell the history of Chesterfield County from prehistoric times through the 20th century. Exhibits include early Indian culture, artifacts from the first iron and coal mines in America, which were in Chesterfield County, early household and farming tools and a country store of the late 19th century. The Old Jail, built in 1892, includes a changing exhibit downstairs “Mobilizing for War” on display through November 2018, a centennial exhibit focusing on the history of the establishment of Camp Lee to train and equip troops for WWI. Upstairs, visitors may view cells as they were when they housed their last prisoners in 1962. Magnolia Grange, the County Museum and Historic Jail will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and 12 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  Magnolia Grange is located at 10020 Iron Bridge Road; the County Museum and Jail are located nearby at 6813 Mimms Loop in Chesterfield. For more information, call Magnolia Grange at (804) 748-1498, the County Museum and Historic Jail at (804) 768-7311 or visit www.chesterfieldhistory.com.

Maymont
Maymont, a 100-acre American estate, was the home of New South business leader James Dooley and his wife Sallie from 1893 through 1925, and an extraordinary gift to the city of Richmond. Marvel at the 21 restored rooms that offer an unusually complete depiction of upstairs-downstairs life in the Gilded Age. The opulent upstairs interiors are adorned with Tiffany stained glass, frescoed ceilings and other sumptuous detailing, and filled with original furnishings and artwork. Downstairs service rooms tell the story of household tasks and technology and the challenges of working in domestic service during the Jim Crow era. The surrounding landscape features Italian and Japanese gardens, magnificent trees and a carriage display, as well as Virginia wildlife exhibits, a Farm and the Robins Nature & Visitor Center. Located at 1700 Hampton Street in the heart of Richmond, Maymont Mansion will be open Sat.-Sun. 12-5 p.m. (Grounds are open 10 a.m.-7 p.m.) For more information, call 804-358-7166 ext. 310 or visit www.maymont.org.

Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park
Meadow Farm, one of the last remaining 19th century farms in Henrico County, is an 1860 living historical farm focusing on rural Virginia life just before the upheaval of the Civil War. Costumed interpreters provide insights into the lives of Dr. John Mosby Sheppard, the owner of Meadow Farm, his family and those who were enslaved at the farm. Explore the farmhouse, barn, doctor’s office, blacksmith’s forge, kitchen, fields and pastures. Meadow Farm Museum will be open 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and is located at 3400 Mountain Road in old Glen Allen. For more information call (804) 652-1455 or visit www.henrico.us/rec.

The Valentine and the 1812 Wickham House
The Wickham House, built in 1812, is a spectacular example of 19th-century Federal architecture and displays some of the country’s finest examples of interior decorative painting. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, the Wickham House, built by John and Elizabeth Wickham, illustrates the lives of one of Richmond’s most prominent families. The Wickham House was purchased by Mann Valentine, Jr., and in 1898 became the first home of the Valentine Museum. It is managed and operated by the Valentine. All tours are guided. The Valentine and the 1812 Wickham House will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and is located at 1015 East Clay Street in Richmond. The Valentine’s current exhibitions, Valentine Garden, Edward V. Valentine Sculpture Studio and the Valentine Store will be open as well. For more information, call (804) 649-0711 or visit www.thevalentine.org.

The Valentine First Freedom Center
The Valentine First Freedom Center houses 2,200 square feet of exhibits that delve into America’s experience of religious liberty from its European antecedents through today. It is located on the site where Thomas Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom was enacted into law by the Virginia General Assembly in 1786. Outside, a 27-foot spire, a limestone wall etched with the enacting paragraph of the Statute, and a 34-foot banner of a seminal Jefferson quote imprint the importance of the “first freedom” on all who come upon that busy corner. The Valentine First Freedom Center is located on the corner of South 14th & Cary streets and will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Parking is available on the street or in public pay lots.  For more information, call (804) 649-0711 or visit www.thevalentine.org/firstfreedomcenter.

Virginia Randolph Museum
On November 8, 1970, the Virginia Randolph Home Economics Cottage was dedicated as a museum in memory of Virginia Estelle Randolph, a pioneer educator, a humanitarian, and a creative leader in the field of education. The structure, built in 1937 was declared a National Historic landmark in 1976. She secured a teaching position with the Henrico County School Board and opened the old Mountain Road School in 1892 and taught for 57 years. The museum will be open Saturday and Sunday, Noon to 4 p.m. and is located at 2200 Mountain Road, Glen Allen. For more information call (804) 652-1475 or visit www.henrico.us/rec.

Walkerton Tavern
Walkerton was built by John Walker for use as a tavern in 1825. The 2 ½ story brick structure is architecturally notable for a second-story, hinged, swinging wall that can be moved to accommodate large gatherings. As well as a tavern, it has served as a voting precinct, hotel, and a post office at some point in the 19th century. The tavern will be open Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 4 p.m. and is located at 2892 Mountain Road in Glen Allen. For more information call (804) 652-1485 or visit www.henrico.us/rec.

Wilton House Museum
Overlooking a placid stretch of the James River, Wilton House has been welcoming guests since constructed in the 1750s as the centerpiece of a sprawling tobacco plantation by the Randolph Family of Virginia. Here, friends, relations, and weary travelers such as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette were welcomed. An impressive example of 18th-century Georgian Style architecture, Wilton House boasts its original and richly detailed paneling and a collection of fine and decorative arts from the Colonial and early Federal eras. When development threatened Wilton House in the 1930s, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia purchased and restored the property. Wilton House Museum will be open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and is located at 215 South Wilton Road in Richmond. For more information, call (804) 282-5936 or visit www.wiltonhousemuseum.org.

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Intern Blog: The Richmond 34

Our PR & Marketing Intern Ta’Kia focuses on the Richmond 34 and the related object in the Valentine collection.

For Black History Month, I wanted to dedicate my second entry on the Valentine blog to the Richmond 34.

During the 1950s and 60s, African-Americans engaged in a battle for social justice, focused on the integration of cities, towns, public spaces and equal rights for all people. This fight took on a variety of forms. Encouraged by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., non-violent protests became a significant form of direct action. Attempts to reinforce the status quo through intimidation, physical violence and police arrests resulted in strained race relations during this era throughout Richmond, Virginia and the nation.

There were many non-violent protests that propelled the struggle for civil rights. Rosa Parks’ ractions led to the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott and the peaceful March on Washington where Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech sparked a national dialogue about racial injustice.

Inspired by the Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth Lunch Counter Sit-In, Virginia Union University students conducted their own non-violent protest by staging a variety of actions, including a sit-in at a Woolworth’s lunch counter in Richmond on February 20, 1960.

Woolworth’s Lunch Counter and Stools, ca. 1950, 501 E. Broad Street, V.94.02.01-.07

On February 22, 58 years ago today, VUU students conducted another sit-in at the Thalhimers department store in the heart of Richmond’s shopping district. 34 were arrested, although their convictions were eventually overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Campaign for Human Dignity in Richmond was created as a direct result of these actions. This led to citizens boycotting many of the city’s segregated shops. The resulting economic loss experienced was detrimental and brought about change as a number of retail establishments desegregated in hopes of winning back their former clientele. In fact, by the summer of 1963, more than 100 of Richmond’s 400 restaurants and cafés had integrated.

Photo with Mr. John Dorman, participant in the Thalhimers protest in 1960.

On June 28, 2016, a marker was unveiled on Broad Street to commemorate the Thalhimers sit-in by the “Richmond 34” as the student participants came to be known.

As a Virginia Union University student myself, I was lucky enough to meet Mr. John Doorman, a participant in the protest in 1960, and briefly speak with him about his experiences. A young teenager at the time, Mr. Doorman picketed outside Thalhimers while the students conducted the sit-in.

Come visit the Valentine and see the Woolworth’s lunch counter and stools, site of the February 20, 1960 sit-in, on display in “This is Richmond, Virginia”, our permanent exhibition!

Ta’Kia is a PR & Marketing Intern at the Valentine

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