The Virginia Teacher

Volume XVIII APRIL, 1937

Alexandria MUSEUMS IN VIRGINIA Museum o£ the Alexandria Washington Lodge, WITH the arrival of Spring, the No. 22 A. F. & A. M., Cameron Street. Found- urge to abandon classrooms and ed 1812. Control: Alexandria Washington Lodge. Admission, 10 cents. Open weekdays, go on pilgrimages becomes 9-S. strong in teachers and pupils alike. Since Material pertaining to Washington as a Mason. museums frequently make worthy and re- Carlyle House, 123 North Fairfax Street. Open- warding objects of pilgrimage, it is thought ed as a museum, 1914. Privately owned. Ad- that a list of them will be timely. mission, 15 cents (reduced to 10c for parties.) The state museums may be grouped into Open weekdays, 9-5. House built in 1752 by John Carlyle. Archi- four categories. In the first and largest of tecturally and by association, representative of these—museums, houses, and parks that the period just prior to the Revolution; fur- memorialize phases of state history the nished in the style of that time. state is especially rich. Any teacher with Gadsby's Tavern, 132 North Royal Street. Open- energy enough to conduct a class on a state- ed as a museum, 1929. Control: Gadsby's Tavern and City Hotel, Inc. Admission, 25 wide tour of places and institutions con- cents. Open weekdays, 1-4. nected with the lives of state heroes, public A building erected in 1752, and an addition events, and economic factors will find that built in 1792; furnishings characteristic of col- method of teaching effective, though stren- onial period. uous. Charloltesville The second category—art museums and Michie Tavern. Opened as a museum, 1928. Pri- collections—has shown a decided growth in vately owned. Admission, SO cents. Open recent years. In 1935, the establishment of daily, 8:30-S ;30. A house built in 1735, with which the names a State Museum of Fine Arts and a State of many Virginians of the Revolutionary period Art Alliance gave to art interests a strong are associated; furnished as a colonial tavern. new impulse which they may be counted Service to schools: A reduction in admission upon to foster and encourage. The Fed- fee is made for school and study groups; spe- eral Art Project of the Works Progress cial guide is available on application in advance. Administration has also been an important Monticello. Opened as a museum, 1923. Con- trol: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation. factor in the encouragement of art museums, Admission, 50 cents. Open daily, 8-4:30. and of historical museums as well. An estate, with house and out-buildings, built The science museums, for the most part, by Thomas Jefferson. Personal possessions grow only under university patronage. and furnishings associated with the versatile third President. Compared with other states, we are lament- Service to schools: A fifty per cent reduction ably weak in this field. is made in admission fee for classes. Though There are only two general, of culture no published material is furnished free, descrip- history museums, which try to present tive matter may be purchased for small sums. through exhibited objects a wide field of Eastville human endeavor. Old Court House Museum. Opened as a museum HISTORICAL HOUSES, PARKS, AND 1924. Control: Northampton Branch, Associa- MUSEUMS tion for the Preservation of Virginia Antiqui- A. Colonial and Revolutionary Period ties. Admssion, free. Open weekdays. 70 THE VIRGINIA TEACHER [Volume 18, No. 4 Court House and Records, and associated foundations of colonial houses, memorials to Clerk's Office and Debtor's Prison. Pocahontas, Capt. John Smith, Robert Hunt, Service to Schools: Special guide is furnished and others, and a museum of material found on application in advance of visit. in excavations. Fredericksburg Service to Schools: Classes below the eighth Rising Sun Tavern, 1306 Main Street. Opened as grade are admitted free on Fridays, if appoint- ments are made in advance a museum, 1907. Control: Mary Washington Branch, Association for the Preservation of Colonial National Monument. Established as a Virginia Antiquities. Admission, 25 cents. Open museum, 1930. Control; National Park Service, weekdays, 9-6. U. S. Department of the Interior. Admission A tavern bult in 1760 by Charles Washington; free. Open daily. with it are associated the names of many fam- A museum located at the Ranger Station, which ous Virginians of the Revolutionary period; contains the more interesting finds of extensive furnished as a tavern of the colonial period. archaeological work which is being conducted. Service to Schools: A reduction in admission Mt. Vernon fee to IS cents is made for groups of more Mt. Vernon, P. O. Mt. Vernon-on-the-Potomac. than fifteen. Opened as a museum, 1860. Control: ML Ver- Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, Main and Amelia non Ladies Association. Admission, 25 cents. Streets, Opened as a museum, 1928. Control: Open weekdays, 10-4:30. Citizens Guild of George Washington's Home House built in 1743 by Lawrence Washington, Town, Inc. Admission, free. Open weekdays. and inherited by George Washington in 1752. Shop operated by Hugh Mercer from 1763 to With servant's quarters, outbuildings, stable, the Revolution. Furnished as a shop of the and gardens, it presents a comprehensive pic- period. ture of plantation life in Colonial Virginia. The Mary Washington House, Charles and Lewis Service to Schools: Admission fee is waived Streets. Opened as a museum, 1892. Control: for elementary schools upon advance applica- Mary Washington Branch, The Association for tion to the superintendent, the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. Ad- mission, 25 cents. Open weekdays, 9-6. Stratford House bought by George Washington in 1772 Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County. Opened for his mother. Furnished as a dwelling of the as a museum, 1929. Control: Robert E. Lee period. Memorial Foundation, Inc., Admission, 50 cents. Kenmore, Lewis Street and Washington Avenue. Open daily, 10-6. Opened as a museum, 1922. Control: The Ken- The house built between 1730-35. by Thomas more Association. Admission, 25 cents. Open Lee; the birthplace of Gen. Robert E. Lee. The daily, 9-6. house, with outbuildings, servant's quarters, House built in 1752 by Fielding Lewis, for his kitchens, gardens, etc., presents a comprehensive wife, Betty, George Washington's only sister. picture of plantation life in Colonial Virginia. Furnishings of the period. Service to Schools: Special guide is available to Service to Schools: Fee is reduced to 10 cents schools and groups upon application to the Su- for students. perintendent in advance; and a reduction to 25 Masonic Museum, Washington's Mother Lodge; cents is made in admission price. Hanover and Princess Anne Streets. Opened Wakefield as a museum, 1927. Control; Fredericksburg Wakefield, George Washington's Birthplace; P. O. Lodge No. 4, A. F. and A M. Admission, 35 Oak Grove. Opened as a museum, 1931. Con- cents. Open weekdays, 8:30-5; Sundays, 1-5. trol : National Park Service, U. S. Department A building erected 1814; records and Masonic of the Interior. Admission, free. Open daily, memorabilia of George Wasehington. 8:30-5:30. Jamestown Island The house in which Washington was born, built Jamestown, First Permanent English Settlement in 1715, burned in 1780, and rebuilt on original in America. Opened as a museum, 1907, Con- foundations, 1928-30, Furnishings appropriate trol : Association for the Preservation of Vir- to the period. ginia Antiquities. Admission, 25 cents. Open Williamshurg daily 9-5 winter; 9-6 summer. College of William and Mary; Library Collection. An enclosed park, containing the ruins of a Established, 1705. Control: College of William colonial church tower, and the restored church; and Mary. Admission, free. Open daily. April, 1937] THE VIRGINIA TEACHER 71

Portraits of historical interest; incunabula; co- memorabilia of Mr. and Mrs. James Monroe, lonial and revolutionary memorabilia exhibited and the furniture which was first used in the in the Library and in the Wren Building. present White House. Colonial Williamsburg, Inc. Opened as a series Service to Schools: Special rates are made to of museums, 1932. Control; Colonial Williams- classes and special guide may be had upon ap- burg, Inc. Open weekly, 9-6. plication in advance. In this case the entire town is the museum. The Court House Museum (free) in which are Richmond housed the results of extensive excavations is John Marshall House, Ninth and Marshall Streets. a splendid preparation for a visit to the town. Opened as a museum, 1913. Control: Associa- There a brief introductory talk will be given tion for the Preservation of Virginia Antiqui- by a staff member upon request. The other ex- ties. Admission, 25 cents. Open weekdays, 9-5. hibition buildings (to which there are charges House and appropriate furnishings which be- ranging from SO to 25 cents) are: The Capitol, longed to the Marshall family. The Governor's Palace and Garden, the Lud- Service to schools: Free admission is granted well-Paradise House; the Raleigh Tavern; and to classes accompanied by a teacher. the Gaol. Poe Foundation, Old Stone House, 1916 East Main Street. Established as a museum, 1921. Yorktown Control: The Poe Foundation controls the Col- Colonial National Monument. Established as a lection; the house is owned by the Association museum, 1930. Control: National Park Service, for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities U. S. Department of the Interior. Admission, Admission, 25 cents. Open weekdays, 9:30-S :30. free. Open weekdays. The house (the oldest in Richmond) contains Restored colonial buildings, and the restored personal possessions of Edgar Allan Poe, orig- Yorktown Battlefield. The buildings of the inal manuscripts, and a library. Swan Tavern house archaeological material. Service to Schools: The admission is reduced The Moore House, where the terms of the to 10 cents for groups of ten or more; a flat Cornwallis Surrender were arranged, has been rate may be arranged for very large groups. restored to colonial appearance. Two rooms are at the disposal of teachers who Services to Schools: Illustrated lectures and wish to hold classes or discussions while visit- special guide service are offered to schools and ing the Foundation. groups. The Wickham-Valentine House, 1015 East Clay B. Early Federal Period Street. Opened as a museum, 1898. Control: The Valentine Museum. Admission, free. Open Arlington weekdays, 10-5. Arlington, Lee Mansion. Opened as a museum, A house built in 1812 by Robert Mills, for John 1930. Control: United States War Department. Wickham. It contains furnishings of the period Admission, free. Open daily, 9-4; summer, 9-6. from 1800 to 1825, and two rooms of the 1850's. A house commenced in 1802, and completed Service to Schools: Special guide is available prior to 1825. Contains furnishings of its per- upon application in advance. iod. C. Confederate Period Charlottesville Frederickshurg Ashlawn. Opened as a museum, 1930. Control: National Battlefield Museum, George and Prince privately owned. Admission, 50 cents. Open Edward Streets. Opened as a museum, 1929. daily, 7-7. Control: Privately owned. Admission, 25 cents. A house built in 1798, and for twenty-six years Open weekdays, 9-6. the home of James Monroe. Contains furnish- Material from all battlefields of the Confeder- ings and personal belongings of Monroe. ate War. Service to Schools: Admission price is reduced Lexington to 25 cents for students, and special guide is Lee Museum, Lee Chapel. Opened as a museum, furnished upon application in advance. 1928. Control; Washington and Lee University. Frederickshurg Admission, 25 cents. Open daily. Law Office of James Monroe, Charles Street The room General Lee used as an office when Opened as a museum, 1928. Control: Privately President of the University, and a collection of owned. Admission, 25 cents. Open daily, 8-6. documents and other materials relating to the The house built in 1758; now furnished with Lee and Washington families. 72 THE VIRGINIA TEACHER [Volume 18, No. 4

Richmond Virginia Historical Society. Admission free. Battle Abbey, Boulevard and Kensington Avenue. Open weekdays 10-5, Saturday 10-12. Opened as a museum, 1921. Control: Confeder- The house occupied by the family of General ate Memorial Institute. Admission, 25 cents. Robt. E. Lee during the Confederate War. Con- Open weekdays, 10-5; Sundays, 1:30-S ;30. tains historical exhibitions, portraits, manu- Mural paintings by Charles Hoffbauer, and a scripts, and a library. collection of portraits owned by R. E. Lee Virginia State Library Collection. Opened as a Camp, No. 1, Confederate Veterans. museum, 1907. Control: Virginia State Library. Services to Schools: classes and student groups Admission free. Open weekdays, 8-30-5:30; are admitted free. Saturdays 8:30-12:30. Portraits, maps, and historical objects relating Richmond to state history. Confederate Museum, 12th and Clay Streets. Opened as a museum, 1896, Control; Confed- Saluda erate Memorial and Literary Society. Admis- Middlesex County Museum. Opened as a museum, sion, 23 cents. Open weekdays, 9-5; Saturdays, 1935. Control: WPA and Middlesex County 9-2. Woman's Club. Admission free. Open week- The building is the "White House of the Con- days 8:30-5:30, winter; 8:30-6, summer. federacy," and contains portraits, furniture, cos- Housed in an old Clerk's Office; collections re- tumes, uniforms, military records, etc., relating lating to county history and changing exhibi- to the Confederate War. tions. Service to Schools: Student groups are admit- Service to schools: Special guides are furnished ted free. to visiting classes, and an effort is made to fit the collections to the school curriculum. D. General Collections, covering more than 'one Period West Point King William County Museum. Opened as a mu- Lexington seum, 1936. Control: WPA and West Point Museum of Virginia Military Institute, Nichols Town Council. Admission free. Open, Mon- Memorial Hall. Opened as a museum, 1909. day through Friday, 9-4:30. Control; Library, V. M. I. Admission free. A collection of material relating to county his- Open weekdays, 9-4; Saturdays 9-12. tory. Material relating to the history of the Institute and to distinguished alumni. H. ART MUSEUMS, COLLECTIONS, AND Newport News ASSOCIATIONS The Mariners' Museum. Founded, 1930. Control: Big Stone Gap The Board of Trustees, of The Mariners' Mu- Federal Demonstration Gallery. Opened as a mu- seum. Admission free. Open weekdays, 9-5, seum, 1936. Control; WPA and Sponsors Sundays 2-S. Group. Admission free. Open weekdays, 9-6. A lake, park, library and a museum with col- Holds changing exhibitions, and exhibits work lections pertaining to nautical interests and his- done on the Big Stone Gap WPA Federal tory. Art Project. Service to Schools: Special guides are furnished Service to Schools: Lectures and classes in to show school groups through buildings and drawing and painting, grounds; any available information is furnish- Danville ed on request Danville Art Club, 129 Robertson Street. Opened Richmond as a museum, 1929. Control: Danville Art Club. Dooley Museum, Maymont Park. Opened as a Holds changing exhibitions. museum, 1926. Control; Richmond Department Lexington of Parks and Playgrounds. Admission free. Bradford Art Gallery, University Library. Open- Open, April to October, Tuesday to Saturday ed as a museum, 1908. Control: Washington 11-5; Sunday 2:30-5. and Lee University. Admission free. Open A dwelling of the early IXth Century with weekdays. furnishings representative of the taste of that An exhibition of sculpture and sixty paintings. period. Virginia Historical Society, 707 East Franklin Lynchburg Street. Opened as a museum, 1893. Control: Gallery of Randolph-Macon Woman's College April, 1937] THE VIRGINIA TEACHER 73

Art Department. Control: Randolph-Macon HI. SCIENCE AND NATURAL HISTORY Woman's College. Admission free. MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS Has a permanent collection of American paint- ings, and an art library; holds changing exhi- Lexington Geology Museum, Washington and Lee Univers- bitions. ity. Opened as a museum, 1886. Control: Sci- Federal Art Gallery. Opened as a museum, 1936. ence Department, Washington and Lee Univers- Control: WPA and Sponsors Group. Ad- mission free. Open weekdays 10-6; Tuesday ity. Admission, free. and Thursday evenings, 7:30-9:30; Sunday 3-6. Geological material, an herbarium, and a col- Holds changing exhibitions and exhibits work lection of skeletons. done on the Lynchburg WPA Federal Art Richmond Project. Virginia State Museum, State Library Building. Service to Schools-. Lectures, guides for classes Opened as a museum, 1928. Control: Commis- visiting exhibitions, and instruction sion on Conservation and Development. Ad- in drawing and painting. mission, free. Open weekdays 8:30-5; Satur- Richmond days and holidays, 8:30-5:30. A. A, Anderson Art Gallery, 901 West Franklin Minerals, forest material, and birds of Vir- Street. Opened as a museum, 1930. Control: ginia; models of the inventions of Cyrus H. Richmond Branch, College of William and McCormick. Mary. Admission, free. Open weekdays 9-5; Service to Schools: Special guide is available. Sunday afternoons during special exhibitions. Museum of the University of Richmond. Opened Permanent collection of American paintings and as a museum, 1884. Control: University of an art reference library; holds temporary ex- Richmond. Admission, free. Open weekdays, hibitions. 9-5, except Saturday, 9-12. Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts, 1112 Capitol Synoptic series of Virginia mammals. Egyptian Street. Opened as a museum, 1931. Control: Greek, and Roman antiquities, and an Egyptian Board of Trustees, assisted by the WPA mummy. Admission, free. Open weekdays 10-S; Sun- Services to Schools: School visits are permit- days 2:30-5. ted, but appointments should be made in ad- Permanent collection of paintings, prints and vance. sculpture. Holds special temporary exhibitions. University Services to Schools: Guides are furnished for Lewis Brooks Museum. Opened as a museum, visiting classes. 1879. Control; Science Department, University Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Boulevard and of Virginia. Admission, free. Open: Monday- Grove Avenues. Opened as a museum, 1936. Thursday, 8:30-5:30; Friday, 8:30-4:30; Satur- Control; Board of Directors, Virginia Museum day 8:30-1:30. of Fine Arts, Admission, free to members, 25 Rocks, minerals, vertebrate and invertebrate cents for public, except on Saturdays and Sun- fossils. days. Open weekdays, 9-5; Sundays, 2-S. Services to Schools: Services of guide are pro- The John Barton Payne Collection of Paintings, vided if appointments are made in advance. and the Strauss collections of tapestries, clocks, furniture, textiles, glass, ceramics, etc. IV. GENERAL OR CULTURE HISTORY Services to Schools: Classes making application MUSEUMS in advance are admitted free, and a lecturer's Norfolk services are available. Collections not on ex- Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences, Lee Park. hibition are available to study groups. Courses Opened as a museum, 1931. Control: Norfolk of lectures are given from time to time, and Society of Arts. Admission, free. Open daily. students are admitted for half-price. Student Sculpture reproductions, modern paintings and memberships are available. An art reference li- textiles. Holds temporary exhibitions. brary is in preparation. Services to Schools: Special guide service is furnished for temporary exhibitions. Children's University classes are held five days each week; and a Museum of Fine Arts, Thomas H. Bayley Me- special historical talk once a month; and child- morial Building. Opened as a museum, 1935. ren's art hour once a month. Control: University of Virginia. Admission, free. Open daily. Richmond Temporary exhibitions. The Valentine Museum, 1015 East Clay Street. 74 THE VIRGINIA TEACHER [Volume 18, No. 4

Opened as a museum, 1898. Control; The Val- meet the needs of children and accomplish entine Museum. Admission, free. Open week- the aims of society. In the third article dis- days, 10-S. tinction was made particularly between two Culture history material exhibited to show chronological development and culture influ- types of learning activities: first, those ac- ences. tivities which count toward growth and con- Services to Schools-. Special guides are pro- structive development because they are vided for classes when appointments are made closely related to the experiences and inter- in advance. Boxed exhibitions relating to his- ests of pupils; second, studies in sub- tory, geography and art studies are provided ject-matter fields which are largely fixed and are loaned to schools throughout the state. When material has to be sent by express or par- and teacher-assigned, with not much pupil- cel post, the museum bears half of the expense. purposing to do anything but meet require- In dosing a few practical suggestions to ments. In the present article it is the pur- teachers may not come amiss. Always write pose to indicate the place of subject matter or telephone in advance of visits to in secondary education, principally by giv- make appointments and to insure adequate ing some illustrations and principles that service for the classes. Few institutions are govern in a single subject. equipped to give special guidance to more Questions as to the worth of any school than one class at a time, and some haven't subject have been raised previously and are the space to hold more than one at a time. here repeated in brief form: Therefore conflicting visits should, as far 1. Does it appeal to children? as possible, be avoided. Whenever possible, 2. Do interests of pupils help in learning prepare the classes for the visit by telling it and do interests grow? them what kind of a museum is to be seen 3. Do pupils learn it enthusiastically and and what to look for. It is inadvisable to apply it often? see too many places in one trip; only blur- 4. Do pupils who take it succeed in meet- red impressions of museums are received ing requirements? by tired minds. Museums welcome sugges- 5. Are the aims of education accomplish- tions for improving their usefulness, when ed through it? the suggestions are practical. Museums If a subject meets in fair measure these exist primarily to be useful to the public, requirements, we can be certain that it so and not for their own benefit. If perusal of lies within the range of interest and of dif- this list indicates obvious deficiencies to you, ficulty as to guarantee that children will remember that all the museums here were work at it successfully. We may feel as- started by single enthusiastic individuals or sured that the chief aims of education will small groups. The lack you notice may well be accomplished through subject matter be supplied by your own initiative. which children work at with enthusiasm, Helen G. McCormack which they succeed at doing, and which arouses more interests as they work. Any subject which appeals to children in these THE HIGH SCHOOL AS A ways must deal with things that really mat- PEOPLE'S COLLEGE ter in life. In order to meet all of these PART FOUR WHAT SUBJECT MATTER SHOULD tests subject matter must clear itself of all HIGH SCHOOLS TEACH ? deadwood, mere conventionalities, and ra- IN THREE previous articles of this tionally justified content. series we have considered adolescent English as a school subject, in its several children as high school pupils, the pur- phases of literature and reading, spoken and poses which children and adults have in edu- written language, and mother-tongue skills, cation, and what schools should teach to involves all the points just stated. Practices