the magazine of the broadSIDE SUMMER 2009 Man, Myth, or Monster A COLLABORATIVE EXHIBITION PRESENTED BY THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA AND THE POE MUSEUM, page 2 broadSIDE THE INSIDE STORY the magazine of the LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA Nurture Your Spirit at a Library SUMMER 2009 Take time this summer to relax, recharge, and dream l i b r a r i a n o f v i r g i n i a Sandra G. Treadway hatever happened to the “lazy, hazy, crazy days of l i b r a r y b o a r d c h a i r Wsummer” that Nat King Cole celebrated in song John S. DiYorio when I was growing up? As a child I looked forward to summer with great anticipation because I knew that the e d i t o r i a l b o a r d rhythm of life—for me and everyone else in the world Janice M. Hathcock around me—slowed down. I could count on having plenty Ann E. Henderson of time to do what I wanted, at whatever pace I chose. Gregg D. Kimball It was a heady, exciting feeling—to have days and days Mary Beth McIntire Suzy Szasz Palmer stretched out before me with few obligations or organized activities. I was free to relax, recharge, enjoy, explore, and e d i t o r dream, because that was what summer was all about. Ann E. Henderson My feeling that summer was a special time c o p y e d i t o r continued well into adulthood, then gradually diminished Emily J. Salmon and eventually disappeared. The change was more than the consequence of growing g r a p h i c d e s i g n e r older and taking on more responsibility. It was also a reflection of the way in which all Amy C. Winegardner of our lives have changed in the past few decades. Young people now have summer schedules that are as hectic as the ones they juggle during the school year. Summer photography camps, team sports, and enrichment classes keep them constantly on the go. In the Pierre Courtois realms of business, education, and government, there may be fewer external meetings contributors at this time of year, but in most organizations the pace of work doesn’t skip a beat as Barbara C. Batson we try to accomplish as much as ever with fewer people and resources. Paige Stevens Buchbinder We can never turn the clock back to an earlier and simpler day, but we still can Mark E. Fagerburg use our summers to relax, recharge, and nurture our spirits. One excellent way to do Tameka B. Hobbs this requires only a good book and a lawn chair in the shade. Another is to devote an Audrey Johnson afternoon or two to visiting a library, Kathy Jordan museum, historic site, or other cultural One excellent way to do Elizabeth Lewis attraction. Spending just a few hours Jennifer Davis McDaid this requires only a good exploring one of Virginia’s many cultural Betsy R. Moss resources—including your local public book and a lawn chair in Dale L. Neighbors library—can do wonders for the soul Catherine G. OBrion the shade. without putting a dent in your pocketbook. Christopher P. Semtner Here at the Library of Virginia we would be delighted to have you enjoy our colorful Dan Stackhouse new exhibition Poe: Man, Myth, or Monster—or listen to Ellen Crosby, Dwayne Betts, or Lucinda Roy talk about their latest books. We would love to help you track down an broadSIDE is published quarterly by the elusive ancestor in our vast genealogical holdings, or just offer you a good book and a Library of Virginia. © 2009 Library of Virginia. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or quiet spot to read it. Please drop by—and do something special for yourself this summer. in part without permission is prohibited. Sincerely, broadSIDE is funded by the Library of Virginia Foundation and other special funds. i n q u i r i e s | c o m m e n t s | a d d r e s s corrections Ann E. Henderson, Editor, Broadside Sandra G. Treadway, Librarian of Virginia 800 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219 [email protected] 804.225.2225 NEW & Equine Advertising NOTEWORTHY New York horse broadside offers link to Virginia families roadsides are commonly referred to as documents with text on only one Bside. Typically broadsides were posted, though sometimes mailed, and are considered ephemeral in nature, lasting only as long as the advertisement was timely. The Library of Virginia recently acquired this illustrated broadside for a stud called Potomac, dated 1846. It focuses on the stallion’s Virginia breeding connection and recent arrival in the Finger Lakes region of New York, making him a good source for new genes. The breeder, Jesse Edgington, Esq., was the prosecuting attorney for Brooke County, Virginia (now West Virginia), and owned a large farm. The horse’s two owners were brothers-in-law and cousins, both born in 1802 into prominent Virginia families. Robert C. Nicholas was the son of Judge John Nicholas, a U.S. congressman from Virginia. Henry Rose was the son of Robert S. Rose, a U.S. congressman from New York. The families of both Judge John Nicholas and Robert S. Rose moved from Virginia to the Geneva, New York, area in 1803, settling on large farms and engaging extensively in agricultural pursuits. In 1826 Mary Selden Rose married Robert C. Nicholas, Judge Nicholas’s son and her cousin. —Audrey Johnson, Senior Rare Book Librarian GOOD GENES This stallion’s Virginia background and recent arrival in New York added to his appeal for breeding. The Library currently has a large selection of broadsides online, including several other stud broadsides. See www.virginiamemory.com. Under Digital Collections, choose DigiTool. broadSIDE contents SUMMER 2009 Raven Mad exhibition celebrates Poe bicentennial 2 Women’s Work Votes for Women! exhibition 5 Veni, Vidi, Vineyard Italian winemakers spur Jeffersonian lawsuit 6 Helpful Havens library use surges in tough times 8 800 East Broad Street | Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000 804.692.3500 | www.lva.virginia.gov Celebration 2009 Grisham gets Lifetime Achievement nod 11 Open Monday–Saturday, 9 AM –5 PM Underground parking available for visitors Calendar summer events and exhibitions 12 Welcome to the Library of Virginia, the state’s oldest Wanted: Family Papers gifts-in-kind add depth to collections 14 Patel institution dedicated to the preservation of Virginia’s history and culture. Our resources, exhibitions, and events attract more than 190,000 visitors each year. Prakash In Circulation Trailblazers & Virginia Women in History 15 Our collections, containing nearly 110 million items, Serving Breakfast & Lunch © document and illustrate the lives of both famous Mon–Fri until 2:30 PM | Sat until 2 PM Virginians and ordinary citizens. 804.692.3808 Why Membership Matters Tameka Hobbs 16 Photograph SUMMER 2009 broadSIDE 1 EXHIBITIONS Poe: Man, Myth, or Monster AN EXHIBITION BY THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA AND THE POE MUSEUM JULY 20–DECEMBER 5, 2009 RAVEN MAD Exhibition commemorates 200th anniversary of author’s birth by Christopher P. Semtner and Barbara C. Batson ho was Edgar Allan Poe? He was America’s first internationally influential Wauthor, he invented a new literary genre, and he overturned the traditional Gothic tale by creating the modern psychological horror story. Poe was a Virginia gentleman, an amateur scientist, a journalist, and America’s first great literary critic and greatest poet. He was also a famously gifted performer who recited his works to large audiences up and down the East Coast. Who is Edgar Allan Poe? An instantly He overturned the recognizable American author and historical figure, traditional Gothic his name calls to mind spine-chilling stories and melancholy poetry. He evokes the image of the tale by creating the tragic romantic poet, misunderstood and rejected modern psychological by society. We are so familiar with his life and work that we already know him. Or do we? horror story. The popular Poe is as much a fictional creation as the characters in his stories. Organized in partnership with the Poe Museum, Poe: Man, Myth, or Monster commemorates the 200th anniversary of Poe’s birth. Materials on display include rare copies of Poe’s first book, Tamerlane, and the poem Al Aaraaf; the newly restored Poe family Bible; a desk from the office of the Southern Literary Messenger, where Poe was editor; and representations of Poe WINGED CREATURE This 1884 edition of Poe’s The Raven features in modern popular culture such as dolls and action figures, comic books, and movie illustrations by Gustave Doré. posters. The exhibition includes three interactive stations: Poe’s Words (readings from Poe), Poe in Film (the 1928 silent film The Fall of the House of Usher), and Fact or Fiction (visitors get to test their knowledge of Poe). visit www.iknowpoe.com Christopher P. Semtner is acting director of the Poe Museum and curator of the exhibition. For more inFormation Barbara C. Batson is exhibitions coordinator at the Library. 2 broadSIDE WWW.LVA.VIRGINIA.GOV SUMMER 2009 LITERARY RARITY The Middle Eastern warlord Tamerlane inspired Poe’s first published book ike many European artists of his day, notably the British Exhibition Events Lpoet Lord Byron and the French painter Eugene Delacroix, All events are free unless otherwise noted. Poe was fascinated by the Middle East. The title character of his first published book, Tamerlane and Other Poems, By Every Tuesday & Thursday, July 21– such as face painting, crafts, a a Bostonian, is a real-life 14th-century warlord whose empire December 3 | 2:00–2:45 PM scavenger hunt, and performances by stretched from the Mediterranean to India.