NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL COMING TO RICHMOND IN OCTOBER In a few short months, the banks of the James River in downtown Richmond will welcome the 67th National Folk Festival, featuring Issue 170 • July/August 2005 25 groups on seven performance stages, 15 of Virginia’s finest musical instrument makers, amazing foods, a showcase of the Official Newsletter finest craftspeople from Virginia and the region, and a children’s area. This “moveable feast of deeply traditional folk arts” has NINE BOOKS ARE FINALISTS FOR THE TH ANNUAL been held in 27 communities around the country, beginning in 8 1934, and now finds itself on the banks of River City October LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA LITERARY AWARDS 7–9, 2005, as a signature event of Richmond Region 2007. The entire weekend is free to the public. Historian Merrill D. Peterson Is Lifetime Achievement Recipient The National Folk Festival features a broad array of music including Cajun, blues, African, Celtic, bluegrass, Hispanic, klezmer, Asian, rockabilly, gospel, cowboy, and much more! The National Folk Festival is the oldest multi- cultural traditional arts celebration in the nation. Please visit <http://www.nationalfolkfestival.com> for the latest information on music and dance performances, workshops, storytelling, parades, dances, crafts exhibitions, and foodways scheduled for this event. The Library of Virginia and the Library of Virginia The Library of Virginia and the Library of The finalists for the best non-fiction Peterson, Professor of History Emeritus at the Foundation hosted a reception for NAGARA con- ference participants on July 21 at the Library of Virginia Foundation are pleased to about Virginia or by a Virginia author are: University of Virginia. Dr. Peterson, a noted announce the finalists for the 8th Annual Jeffersonian scholar, is the editor of the Virginia. NAGARA, the National Association of Joseph J. Ellis Government Archives and Records Administrators, Library of Virginia Literary Awards. The Library of America edition of the writings of His Excellency: George Washington October 15, 2005 held its annual conference in Richmond from finalists were chosen by an independent Thomas Jefferson and author or editor of 37 Alfred A. Knopf AT THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA July 20 through 23. The association is dedi- panel of judges from 110 books nominated books including Lincoln in America and John FOR TICKETS CALL 804-692-3900 cated to the improvement of federal, state, and local government records and information for the awards. Winners of the prestigious Melvin Patrick Ely Brown: The Legend Revisited. Peterson management. literary awards will be announced at a gala Israel on the Appomattox: A Southern remains a superb historian, meticulous celebration on October 15, 2005, at the Experiment in Black Freedom from the researcher, and writer of numerous books in Library of Virginia. 1790s through the Civil War retirement. In fact his latest work, Starving NON-PROFIT ORG. The finalists for the best work of fiction Alfred A. Knopf Armenians: America and the Armenian U.S. POSTAGE by a Virginia author are: Genocide, 1915–1930 and After, was nomi- Camilla Townsend nated for this year’s literary awards. Peterson PAID Carrie Brown Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma went to Armenia as a Peace Corps volunteer 800 East Broad Street RICHMOND, VA Confinement Hill and Wang and became fascinated by the country’s histo- Richmond, VA 23219-8000 PERMIT NO. 1088 Algonquin Books The honor books in the non-fiction category ry. The result is an eloquent narrative of the Joe Jackson are Sir William Berkeley and the Forging of tragedy and resilience of the people of How I Left the Great State of Tennessee Colonial Virginia by Warren M. Billings, pub- Armenia and the American response to the and Went on to Better Things lished by Louisiana State University Press and Armenian genocide. Carroll & Graf Publishers Scandal at Bizarre by Cynthia A. Kierner, Dr. Peterson also has served as a mentor published by Palgrave Macmillan. to a generation of Virginia’s and the nation’s Leslie Pietrzyk The finalists for the best book of poetry historians of early America. A gifted teacher A Year and a Day by a Virginian are: and winner of the 1997 National First William Morrow, an Imprint of Freedom Award, Peterson has guided scores HarperCollins Publishers Rita Dove of undergraduate and graduate students on to American Smooth: Poems The honor book in the fiction category is careers as historians and teachers. W. W. Norton & Company Enchanted Heart by Felicia Mason, published by The winners of the fiction, non-fiction, Dafina Books–Kensington Publishing Corp. Ruth Stone and poetry awards will be announced on In the Dark Saturday, October 15, 2005, from 7:00 to Copper Canyon Press 9:30 PM at the 8th Annual Library of Virginia Awards Celebration Honoring Virginia Charles Wright Authors & Friends. The winners of the Buffalo Yoga People’s Choice Award, sponsored by the 800 East Broad Street Farrar, Straus and Giroux Richmond, VA 23219-8000 James River Writers, also will be announced (804)692-3592 • www.lva.lib.va.us The honor book in the poetry category is that evening. Winners will receive a monetary Janice M. Hathcock, Editor Insomnia Diary by Bob Hicok, published by award and a crystal replica of a book. Tickets Amy C. Winegardner, Graphic Designer University of Pittsburgh Press. are available at $75 per ticket. For ticket Christopher M. Marston, Board Chair The recipient of the Library of Virginia information, please call 804-371-4795. Nolan T. Yelich, Librarian of Virginia Lifetime Achievement Award is Merrill D. Fry-Jefferson Map PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY Lends Authenticity COMES TO VIRGINIA Young children in Buchanan, Scott, Overhead costs for the program are covered to Modern Powder Dickenson, Wise and Warren counties can by Dolly Parton, the Dixie Stampede dinner now enroll in the Dolly Parton Imagination theater chain, Dollywood, and corporate Horn Library, which sends one book each month sponsors. Local communities pay for the cost In these days of heightened security, a man to children until their fifth birthdays, as long of the books and mailing. Cost of the pro- carrying a powder horn attracts attention even as they remain residents of these counties. gram is approximately $30 per year per child if no black powder rifle is in view. So it was Dolly Parton, the award-winning singer, and is paid through local philanthropic when David Childress visited the Library of songwriter, and actor, is an advocate for liter- organizations, banks, and foundations. Virginia on June 28. Archivists were curious acy and other educational initiatives. The Local groups supporting the about what he brought into the reading room. Imagination Library, a program of the Imagination Library in southwest Virginia Photo Credit: Heather Fultz Childress stopped by to show Library of Dollywood Foundation, encourages pre- include the Lonesome Pine Office on Youth, Sean Wright signs up his daughter Heather for the Virginia staff the powder horn and leather school reading and parental involvement as United Way of Southwest Virginia in Scott Imagination Library at Lonesome Pine Regional bag that he commissioned from a Midwest keys to success in school. County, Lonesome Pine Regional Library, Library in Wise County. More than 700 children in WILLIAMSBURG REGIONAL Wise County are enrolled in the program. craftsman. Childress used the Fry-Jefferson The nonprofit literacy program was Dickenson County Office on Youth, map from the Library’s collections as the basis launched in 1996 for preschoolers in Sevier Dickenson County Office of Virginia LIBRARY TO HOST 2006 for the horn’s design. The modern artifact County, Tennessee, where Parton was born. Cooperative Extension, Friends of the appears to be old and represents the latest Each book in the 60-volume collection, Buchanan Public Library, and the United Norfolk Public Library example of how archival records and historic which starts with The Little Engine That Way of Front Royal/Warren County. Director Norman Maas ARBUTHNOT LECTURE maps at the Library of Virginia may be used Could, is chosen by a committee of represen- For more information about the Russell Freedman, award-winning author of outstanding history and biography for children in innovative ways. tatives from areas of expertise including edu- Imagination Library, please contact Christy Elected to ALA Board and young adults, will deliver the 2006 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture in Williamsburg The powder horn also features an Oliver cation, child development, academia, and Crouse, Regional Director, Dollywood Norman Maas, director of the Norfolk on April 28. The Library of Virginia will partner with the Williamsburg Regional Library to Cromwell quotation: “Trust in God but keep early childhood literacy. Foundation, 1020 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Public Library, has been elected to the present the lecture. The Center for the Book at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities your powder dry.” This quotation was first used In 2004, 375 communities in 39 states Forge, TN, 37863; 865-428-9607; American Library Association (ALA) Board and Public Policy also is a partner. in the mid-1600s but has continued to be wide- participated in Parton’s Imagination Library. <[email protected]>. of Directors (Council) for 2005–2008. He According to an article in the winter 2005 Association for Library Service to Children ly used. The horn was fashioned from a steer will represent the Public Library Association (ALSC) newsletter, Freedman was drawn to write history for children because of his belief that horn by Kenny Robertson, a craftsman from Tom Camden, director of Special Collections at the Library of Virginia, (PLA) division of the ALA. The Council is uninspiring texts cause children to under-appreciate our heritage. “Freedman set out to Belmond, Iowa, who specializes in period cor- displays one of the Library’s miniature the policy-making body for the ALA and breathe life into what he believed was a fascinating subject.” That he was successful is unques- rect, hand-stitched, museum quality bags and books in his palm for members of the helps to govern the association.