4 – Ink and Independence: The Power of Print

Guests:

• Dr. James Herrera-Brookes: Melanie Trent De Shutter Sr. Director of Research & Publications at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.  James is responsible for leadership of the VMHC’s library services, overall management of research and publications, and growing the library’s print collection. He holds an MRes and Ph.D. in American studies and history from the University of Nottingham, where he specialized in the American Civil War and American print and visual culture. James has held research fellowships at the Newberry Library, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Library of Congress. James’ doctoral research examined Civil War soldier-artists and the varied ways they pictured the conflict and has been published in Civil War History and Journal of American Studies. This work will form the basis of a forthcoming exhibition and publication by the VMHC.
   
• Dr. Cathleene "Cathy" B. Hellier: Senior Historian at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia. Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, she joined the Foundation in 1978 as a historical interpreter. Since 1979, she has worked in Historical Research at the Foundation. This department produces original research, primarily on Virginia during the colonial period, and supports programming in the Foundation’s Historic Area. Hellier has master’s degrees in Museum Education and American Studies and a doctorate in American Studies. Her dissertation is on enslaved male domestics in Virginia to 1800, and her other research interests include the politics and ideology of the American Revolution; the community of Williamsburg; history of the family; eighteenth-century English language; dance and deportment; and household management. She and her husband Ben have two grown children, Stephen and Katie.