Ready!Ready!

Field Report #3Field Report #3

The Virginia Historical SocietyThe Virginia Historical Society

Hours and LocationHours and Location

428 N Boulevard428 N Boulevard

Mon-Sat 10-5 Mon-Sat 10-5 Sunday 1-5 PMSunday 1-5 PM

Student Admission - Student Admission - Only 3.00Only 3.00

VAHS - MissionVAHS - Mission

“The mission of the Virginia Historical Society is to

collect, preserve, and interpret the

commonwealth's past for the education and

enjoyment of present and future generations”

Features of The VAHSFeatures of The VAHS

Library & ResearchLibrary & Research

ExhibitionsExhibitions

Education & OutreachEducation & Outreach

VAHS Research: A Diversity VAHS Research: A Diversity of Sourcesof Sources

Museum Collection: Artifacts, Paintings, Museum Collection: Artifacts, Paintings, Photographs, Metalwork, Ceramics, Photographs, Metalwork, Ceramics, Uniforms, Military Items, Photographs, Uniforms, Military Items, Photographs,

Printed Materials: Books, Manuscripts, Printed Materials: Books, Manuscripts, Newspapers, Letters, Maps, Sheet MusicNewspapers, Letters, Maps, Sheet Music

Online Collection - Many photographs Online Collection - Many photographs from the museum collection can be from the museum collection can be located here.located here.

Research ServicesResearch Services

Digital and photographic reproductions for Digital and photographic reproductions for personal and education usepersonal and education use

Photocopies of Library MaterialPhotocopies of Library Material Schedule Private Viewings of Museum items not Schedule Private Viewings of Museum items not

currently on displaycurrently on display Friendly, accessible library staffFriendly, accessible library staff

Provide orientation on library resources and how to Provide orientation on library resources and how to handle themhandle them

Can offer excellent research suggestions.Can offer excellent research suggestions.

My VAHS ExperienceMy VAHS Experience

The VAHS Library Staff reccomended I look at:The VAHS Library Staff reccomended I look at: Rare Pieces: Rare Pieces:

1. An original volume from 1. An original volume from L’Encyclopedie Diderot L’Encyclopedie Diderot 2. A collection of large plates from George Caitlin2. A collection of large plates from George Caitlin

American Builder’s Companion, American Builder’s Companion, 1st ed.1st ed. The largest influence on architectural style of civic, The largest influence on architectural style of civic,

residential, private buildings since its publication.residential, private buildings since its publication.

My VAHS ExperienceMy VAHS Experience

Richmond In By-Gone Days by Samuel Richmond In By-Gone Days by Samuel Mordecai (1860)Mordecai (1860) Gave detailed and personal insight into many Gave detailed and personal insight into many

now-famous buildings, culture, and historic now-famous buildings, culture, and historic figures of Richmond before they were figures of Richmond before they were immortalized.immortalized.

Two Richmond Directories - one from Two Richmond Directories - one from 1819, one from 19771819, one from 1977 Names of famous individuals like John Mayo Names of famous individuals like John Mayo

or Dr Foushee listed as ordinary citizens.or Dr Foushee listed as ordinary citizens.

LL'encyclopedia 'encyclopedia DDiderotiderot

•“Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest”

•Diderot

Denis Diderot & Denis Diderot & The The

EnlightenmentEnlightenmentIdeas & IdealismIdeas & Idealism

Reflecting the optimism and love Reflecting the optimism and love of education in the 18th Centuryof education in the 18th Century

Enlisted the most active Enlisted the most active members of the French members of the French Enlightenment to write its Enlightenment to write its articles, like Rousseau, Voltaire, articles, like Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu and Montesquieu

Sought “to change the way Sought “to change the way people think”people think”

Wanted to end the religious and Wanted to end the religious and economic monopoly on economic monopoly on education to make learning education to make learning possible for every humanpossible for every human

The VAHS Diderot - The VAHS Diderot - CollectionCollection

First work of this magnitude to be First work of this magnitude to be brought to America. brought to America.

Dizzying amount of detail - as seen Dizzying amount of detail - as seen in this print on Anatomyin this print on Anatomy

Satiated the hunger for ideas Satiated the hunger for ideas caused by the Atlantic separation caused by the Atlantic separation between the founding fathers and between the founding fathers and the Enlightenment movementthe Enlightenment movement

A manual that covered all the A manual that covered all the sciences architecture, engineering, sciences architecture, engineering, philosophy, and the artsphilosophy, and the arts

Articles written by many great Articles written by many great minds of the Enlightenment like minds of the Enlightenment like Rousseau, Voltaire & Turgot.Rousseau, Voltaire & Turgot.

Importance To Virginia Importance To Virginia HistoryHistory

Published in annual installments between Published in annual installments between

1751-1772, a critical twenty year period in 1751-1772, a critical twenty year period in

American history.American history.

Many founding fathers received their formal Many founding fathers received their formal

education during this time (Adams 1755; education during this time (Adams 1755;

Jefferson ‘62; Madison ‘71 Monroe ‘76)Jefferson ‘62; Madison ‘71 Monroe ‘76)

Shaped the founding fathers’ attitudes as Shaped the founding fathers’ attitudes as

they developed a government based on they developed a government based on

individual rights. individual rights.

Also gave instruction on admired non-Also gave instruction on admired non-

academic matters like art and leisure academic matters like art and leisure

This is a print from the article on fencing, This is a print from the article on fencing,

EscrimeEscrime. .

George Caitlin George Caitlin

Work consisted of the Work consisted of the Plains IndiansPlains Indians

First to depict them in First to depict them in their own territorytheir own territory

Admired the Indian as Admired the Indian as the Enlightenment’s the Enlightenment’s archetype for “The archetype for “The Natural Man”Natural Man”

Caitlin and NatureCaitlin and Nature

Really great work with Really great work with animals. animals.

Captures a personal Captures a personal expression that is rare in expression that is rare in natural art.natural art.

Particularly admired the Particularly admired the nobility of the Buffalonobility of the Buffalo

““Almost endless efforts have been Almost endless efforts have been made by eager and avaricious man to made by eager and avaricious man to enslave this noble Animal,and humble enslave this noble Animal,and humble him to the drudgery of the plough; but him to the drudgery of the plough; but with the like result.”with the like result.”

Caitlin’s “Pet’ BearCaitlin’s “Pet’ Bear

Several Indian Buffalo Hunt Several Indian Buffalo Hunt PlatesPlates

Caitlin’s Indian AdvocacyCaitlin’s Indian Advocacy

While Caitlin greatly admired While Caitlin greatly admired the Plains Indians, he viewed the Plains Indians, he viewed them as incompatible with the them as incompatible with the corruption of the expanding corruption of the expanding frontier.frontier.

Realistic on their chance of Realistic on their chance of survival, Caitlin saw the survival, Caitlin saw the significance of his art in a new significance of his art in a new way. way.

Caitlin ContinuedCaitlin Continued

Caitlin and Indian AdvocacyCaitlin and Indian Advocacy

Caitlin became an advocate for Caitlin became an advocate for the Plains Indiansthe Plains Indians

He saw his work as a way to He saw his work as a way to educate others on the need to educate others on the need to preserve their way of lifepreserve their way of life

Though he ultimately failed, his Though he ultimately failed, his body of work to preserved a body of work to preserved a beautiful testament to their beautiful testament to their civilization.civilization.

Long Term Exhibits:Long Term Exhibits: “The Story of Virgina”“The Story of Virgina”

Exhibit Spanning From The Indians Exhibit Spanning From The Indians Through the 1990’sThrough the 1990’s

One of VAHS’ Many Multimedia ExhibitsOne of VAHS’ Many Multimedia Exhibits Contains physical specimens like Contains physical specimens like

canoes, artifacts, and a real conestoga canoes, artifacts, and a real conestoga wagonwagon

Publishes a convenient and well-Publishes a convenient and well-organized online version of the organized online version of the exhibit.exhibit.

Comprehensive Teacher’s GuideComprehensive Teacher’s Guide Provides SOL-sensitive summarieProvides SOL-sensitive summarie Carefully structureCarefully structure Offers highly specialized outreach Offers highly specialized outreach

programprogram (pictured here: General Robert E Lee (top) and Activist and Lawyer (pictured here: General Robert E Lee (top) and Activist and Lawyer

Oliver Hill )Oliver Hill )

Current Exhibit:Current Exhibit: “Lee & Grant”“Lee & Grant”

Also a Multi-Media ExhibitAlso a Multi-Media Exhibit ““Test Your Knowledge Quiz”Test Your Knowledge Quiz” Scheduled Gallery WalksScheduled Gallery Walks Rich Gallery of Relevant ImagesRich Gallery of Relevant Images Pictorial Timelines w/quotesPictorial Timelines w/quotes Goes beyond the historical facts Goes beyond the historical facts

of these two Generals and of these two Generals and reviews:reviews:

Public perception of Lee & Grant Public perception of Lee & Grant Sources of their mythologySources of their mythology Evidence of romanticized traits in Evidence of romanticized traits in

personal life. personal life.

Online ExhibitsOnline Exhibits

Organized Exhibits on a Variety Organized Exhibits on a Variety of Virginian Themes:of Virginian Themes:

Top:David Bruce - Virginia Top:David Bruce - Virginia Diplomats (catalog of diplomatic Diplomats (catalog of diplomatic keepsakes)keepsakes)

Bottom: W.E. Dubois - The Civil Bottom: W.E. Dubois - The Civil Rights Movement in VirginiaRights Movement in Virginia

Other Online Exhibitions: Other Online Exhibitions: Child Labor in VA \ Legislative Moments \ Child Labor in VA \ Legislative Moments \

Colonial Dynasties \ Colonial Dynasties \ Old VA - Pursuit of A Pastoral Ideal \ Old VA - Pursuit of A Pastoral Ideal \

Michael Miley - General Lee’s PhotographerMichael Miley - General Lee’s Photographer

While Your Visiting The VAHSWhile Your Visiting The VAHS

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources The Virginia Department of Historic Resources • Administers the National Register of Historic Places and The Virginia Landmarks Administers the National Register of Historic Places and The Virginia Landmarks

RegisterRegister• Check if your house is on the registry!Check if your house is on the registry!

The Virginia HouseThe Virginia House Built in 1929 by the WeddellsBuilt in 1929 by the Weddells Made from materials of a 16th Century English ManorMade from materials of a 16th Century English Manor Family designed the home to eventually house the VAHSFamily designed the home to eventually house the VAHS. .

THE ENDTHE END