VMHC Lectures

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The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832 Apr 28, 2014

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On April 17, 2014 Alan Taylor delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832." In 1813, British warships appeared in the Chesapeake Bay to punish Americans for declaring war on the empire. Over many nights, hundreds of slaves paddled out to the vessels seeking protection for their families from the ravages of slavery. The runaways pressured the British into becoming liberators. As guides, pilots, sailors, and marines, the former slaves used their intimate knowledge of the countryside to transform the war. Tidewater masters had long dreaded their slaves as "an internal enemy." By mobilizing that enemy, the war ignited the deepest fears of Chesapeake slaveholders. It also alienated Virginians from a national government that had neglected their defense. Alan Taylor is the Distinguished Professor in History at the University of California, Davis, and the author of The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772–1832. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832 By Alan Taylor Apr 28, 2014

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The Grandees of Government: The Origins and Persistence of Undemocratic Politics in Virginia Apr 11, 2014

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On March 27, 2014 Brent Tarter delivered a Banner Lecture entitled "The Grandees of Government: The Origins and Persistence of Undemocratic Politics in Virginia." From the formation of the first institutions of representative government and the use of slavery in the seventeenth century through the American Revolution, the Civil War, the civil rights movement, and into the twenty-first century, Virginia’s history has been marked by obstacles to democratic change. In The Grandees of Government, Brent Tarter offers an extended commentary based in primary sources on how these undemocratic institutions and ideas arose and how they were both perpetuated and challenged. With its thorough reevaluation of the interrelationship between the words and actions of Virginia’s political leaders, The Grandees of Government provides an entirely new interpretation of Virginia’s political history. Tarter is a founding editor of the Library of Virginia’s Dictionary of Virginia Biography and a cofounder of the annual Virginia Forum. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

The Grandees of Government: The Origins and Persistence of Undemocratic Politics in Virginia Apr 11, 2014

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From the Earth: The Environment in Virginia's Past and Future Mar 19, 2014

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From the Earth: The Environment in Virginia's Past and Future was a FREE, day-long conference focusing on the historic relationship between Virginia's environment and its people held at the Virginia Historical Society on March 16, 2012. The conference was sponsored by the Virginia Historical Society and made possible by a generous grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Backstory with the History Guys: Thanksgiving in American History Mar 19, 2014

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On November 21, 2011, Internationally renowned historians and hosts Edward Ayers, Brian Balogh, and Peter Onuf presented "Thanksgiving in American History." The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Pistol, Pop, Peanut & Pedro: The Negro League Baseball Experience Mar 19, 2014

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On August 11, 2012, the Virginia Historical Society (VHS) hosted four Negro League baseball players at its museum located at 428 North Boulevard in Richmond. Henry "Pistol" Mason, Joe "Pop" Durham, Mamie "Peanut" Johnson-Goodman, and Pedro Sierra participated in an interview-style educational program answering questions about their Negro League ball-playing days and Civil Rights struggles in the 1950s and 1960s. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War Mar 11, 2014

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On November 16, 2011, Tony Horwitz delivered the Alexander W. Weddell Trustees lecture entitled Midnight Risinig: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War. (Introduction by Paul Levengood). The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

We Cannot be Tame Spectators: Four Centuries of Virginia Women's History Mar 10, 2014

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On march 6, 2014, Cynthia A. Kierner delivered the banner lecture "We Cannot be Tame Spectators: Four Centuries of Virginia Women's History" From before Jamestown to our own new millennium, women have been central figures in the families and communities of the Old Dominion. In recent decades, historians have also shown that Virginia women—as civic leaders and reformers, genteel ladies and embattled laborers—were also significant historical actors. Join us in commemorating Women’s History Month by celebrating the flourishing field of Virginia women’s history, and by exploring how what we’ve learned about women’s historical experiences can transform our understanding of Virginia history generally. The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

Secretariat Mar 07, 2014

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On october 13, 2010, Kate Tweedy delivered the banner lecture "Secretariat" Secretariat, the great red stallion who became the 1973 Triple Crown winner, was born on March 30, 1970, at The Meadow, a historic farm in Caroline County. The new book, Secretariat's Meadow, celebrates the farm, the family—especially Chris Chenery and his daughter, Penny—and Secretariat. The story is told by Penny Chenery's daughter, Kate Chenery Tweedy, with the assistance of her coauthor, Leeanne Ladin. More than 300 photos, most of which have never been seen, offer a magnificent visual journey to complement this special story in one of America's greatest sports moments.(Introduction by Paul A. Levengood) The content and opinions expressed in these presentations are solely those of the speaker and not necessarily of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

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