Media Alert
February 1, 2021
Emily Lucier, Manager of PR & Marketing elucier@VirginiaHistory.org 804.342.9665
Richmond, VA – Celebrate Black History Month and explore Virginia History with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture’s (VMHC) lineup of virtual events this February.
Movie Mythbusting: The Color Purple – Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7:00pm
Join us for a Black History Month viewing of The Color Purple. An epic tale spanning forty years in the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in the 20th century South who survives incredible abuse and bigotry. Based on the novel by Alice Walker. Watch the film in advance and then log into an interactive Zoom presentation where all will chat about what’s true and what’s not.
Movie Mythbusting: Glory – Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 7:00pm
Join us for a Black History Month viewing of Glory, the first feature film to bring to life the role of African American soldiers in the American Civil War. Watch the film in advance and then log into an interactive Zoom presentation where special guest historian Kevin Levin, author of Searching for Black Confederates: The Civil Way’s Most Persistent Myth, will chat about what’s true, what’s not and make some interesting connections to the VMHC’s collections. These programs are free but registration is required.
Curators Conversations A Tale of Two Trunks (Member-Only Program) Monday, Feb. 8 at 10:00am
In 2001, a descendant of Gen. Robert E. Lee discovered two trunks that had belonged to Lee’s eldest daughter, Mary Custis Lee, in a bank vault in Alexandria. One was packed with papers and memorabilia not only about Mary’s world travels and father’s military career and postwar life, but also the lives of individuals formerly enslaved by the Lee family. Nearly a decade later, another “trunk”, discovered in a barn, came to the VMHC. Inside were the papers of James Jones and his descendants, members of an African American farming family from Prince Edward County which presented a fascinating story of labor, political activism, and the struggles to realize the promises of emancipation. Join Sr. Director for Curatorial Affair, Andrew Talkov as he looks into the stories of three remarkable lives lost to history. This program is free for members but registration is required.
Student Webinars – Virtual Programs Letters from a ‘49er – Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 10:00am
During this live webinar a VMHC Educator will lead students through a guided inquiry process to analyze and interpret a variety of primary sources. After registering, attendees will receive an automated confirmation email with connection instructions. Recommended for upper elementary students and above, this program will allow students to explore the 1849 travels of John Robertson Maben to California in search of gold, interpret letters home to his wife, trace his travels on a 19th-century map and examine the landscape. The program is free, but registration is required.
Banner Lecture Series The Story of Virginia – Thursday, Feb. 11 at 12:00pm
Based on his book, Arrival of the First Africans in Virginia, author Ric Murphy will discuss the 1619 arrival of a group of 32 African men, women and children in Virginia and how their arrival was shrouded in controversy because of colonialism, treason, piracy, kidnapping, enslavement, and English law, while also examining their present-day legacy. Viewers can watch this lecture livestream on the museum’s Facebook or YouTube channels.
Commonwealth Classroom “Hidden Figure” of GPS Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7:00pm
Celebrate the achievements of Black Virginians during Black History Month by joining a conversation with Dr. Gladys West, a trailblazing mathematician and “hidden figure” of GPS who helped transform modern life through her work at the Dahlgren Naval Facility in Virginia. This program is free, but advanced registration is required.
Activism from Home Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:00pm
Join a panel of changemakers featured in our recent exhibition, Today’s Agents of Change, as they offer insights from their experience and discuss how to tap into your passion, get involved in a cause, and conduct advocacy work from home. This program is free, but advanced registration is required.
For more information and details on all of these programs, please visit www.virginiahistory.org/events
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The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society — a private, non-profit organization established in 1831. The historical society is the oldest cultural organization in Virginia, and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the nation. For use in its state history museum and its renowned research library, the historical society cares for a collection of nearly nine million items representing the ever-evolving story of Virginia.
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is located at 428 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond’s Museum District. Hours are Monday – Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the galleries and museum shop, Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the research library. For more information call 804.340.1800, visit VirginiaHistory.org, or connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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