428 North Boulevard www.vahistorical.org for institutional advancement 804.342.9681 Pamela Seay, Vice president Seay, Pamela 23221-0311Richmond, Virginia Box 7311 P.O. 23220 Richmond, Virginia ty E l Soci A ic R to S Hi A gini R Vi 2013 Special Edition Annual Report SPECIAL EDITION ANNuAL reporT 2013 1 OUR MISSIoN ty E l Soci To connect people to America’s A ic past through the unparalleled R to S story of Virginia. Hi A gini R By collecting, preserving Vi Dear VHS Supporter: and interpreting the Commonwealth’s history, We are pleased to present to you the Virginia Historical Society’s 2013 Special Edition we link past with present and Annual Report. As in the past, you will find information on our exhibitions, a listing of some of the many additions to our already incredible collection, an overview of the lectures and inspire future generations. events we’ve hosted, and the names of our research fellows for the year. But unlike our past reports — and unlike any other annual report you’ve seen — this one Contents focuses on our future. 2013 Special Edition Annual Report 2 Story of Virginia Campaign Without a doubt, the Virginia Historical Society had an excellent 2013, owing to the continuing COVER — United States flag with 31 stars arranged into one generosity of our donors and patrons and the dedication of our staff, volunteers and overall star. The designer of this configuration has skillfully 3 Story of Virginia Exhibition trustees. We are privileged, indeed, to have such a supportive — and growing — community. achieved seeming symmetry despite working with an odd But we cannot rest on our past achievements. If we learn nothing else from Virginia’s number of stars. This was one of the first U.S. flags to fly over 5 Changing Galleries history, it is how remarkably forward-thinking the people of the commonwealth Richmond after its capture on April 3, 1865. It was taken back 6 Virginia Voices have always been. The VHS itself is the product of such thinking. Our founders wanted to to New Jersey by Captain and Brevet major frederick martin of preserve the past not for themselves, but for the generations of Virginians to come. General Benjamin Butler’s staff, who was briefly military 7 Learning Center mayor of Richmond. His granddaughter gave it to the Westfield 8 Boulevard Plaza It was a dynamic vision. Some might even have called it audacious. (New Jersey) Historical Society, which gave it to the Virginia And the success has been undeniable. We intend to build upon it, ushering in a new era of Historical Society “as a symbol of friendship between two 9 South Entrance growth for the VHS. historical societies, one in the South, and one in the North.” 10 Digital Learning We will do it through our new Story of Virginia Campaign. Copyright Virginia Historical Society, 2014. All rights reserved. and Research Initiatives No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted 11 Website Redesign This is not a traditional bricks and mortar effort. Instead, it’s a $38 million campaign that in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, puts learning at the heart of our mission. including photocopying, recording, or any information storage 12 Restoring the Charles Hoffbauer The Story of Virginia Campaign will help us renew and and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without Memorial military murals maximize our existing physical space so that we are able to permission in writing from Virginia Historical Society Public display even more of our collections, host more and larger Relations and Marketing, P.O. Box 7311, Richmond, Virginia 13 Summary of Campaign Objectives groups in our classrooms, lecture halls and public spaces 23221-0311, telephone 804.342.9665, [email protected], and build capacity behind-the-scenes so that we can continue except by media representatives who wish to quote brief 15 2013 Highlights to preserve and curate the historical items and artifacts passages in connection with articles written about the entrusted to our care. Virginia Historical Society. 15 Collections The Story of Virginia Campaign will open our facility, our Printed and bound in the United States of America. 31 Programs collections and our expertise to an even wider audience. Cover and interior design: Timothy H. Priddy, 36 Governance The goal, however, remains the same: collect, preserve and Paul A. Levengood Thomas G. Slater, Jr. Communication Design, Inc., Richmond, Va. interpret Virginia’s past for future generations. Editor and project manager: Elaine McFadden, 38 Financial Statement The following pages will show you in greater detail what we hope to achieve. Virginia Historical Society 40 Our Staff Thank you for your generosity and support this past year. Your society is stronger than ever. Contributing writer: Norm Leahy, Richmond, Va. Now, let’s take the next steps that will make the legacy in our care even richer. Donor recognition: Cathy Boe, Virginia Historical Society 42 Our donors Best wishes, Photography: All images appear courtesy of and copyright protected by the Virginia Historical Society except those credited otherwise on the inside back cover. The Virginia Historical Society expresses sincere appreciation to Paul A. Levengood Thomas G. Slater, Jr. all our employees whose professional standards and dedication to the VHS mission contribute immeasurably to our success. President and Chairman Of the B oard CHIEf EXECUTIVE O fICER 2012–2013 The Story of Virginia Campaign ociety Virginia at the Crossroads of History S istorical tHe STORY oF VIrGINIa eXHIBItIoN H irginia The new Story of Virginia exhibition will offer visitors new ways V to explore the connections between their favorite era in Virginia history and other points in time. The new exhibition will consist almost entirely of original objects and manuscripts, numbering approximately 500, supplemented with audiovisuals, short films, and graphics. We will also use technology to add even greater depth to the experience, linking the exhibition to our website and to mobile devices. This is especially important for those unable to visit 2013 Special Edition Annual Report the Story of Virginia in person — be they scholars conducting History leaves its imprint on every facet of our lives. research from afar or school children learning about history in their classrooms around the world. Set to open in 2015, the It runs ceaselessly in the background — gathering new Story of Virginia exhibition will be a rich, to it people and events that in the moment may engaging experience for seem insignificant, but in the future, they become the all of our visitors. essential common threads of our lives. Virginia is that essential thread. It binds our nation’s historical narrative together in ways that may not always be obvious but are critical to giving that story both meaning and purpose. Our new campaign is called “The Story of Virginia” for a simple reason: our history is America’s history. Telling Virginia’s story tells the story of us all. And we intend to tell it to the world. 2 3 The Story of Virginia Campaign The Story of Virginia Exhibition ociety Linking Past with Present S istorical CHanging GallerIeS H irginia Our long-term exhibition, The Our re-imagined museum space will give us greater opportunities to mount An exhibition of Virginia V Story of Virginia will occupy more specialized, traveling exhibitions, in addition to giving us the needed space landscape paintings in the than 10,000 sq. ft. and will offer and added security to host a much wider and more exciting variety of Olsson family Gallery will the most comprehensive look changing exhibitions. show the great diversity to be at Virginia’s rich history than can found in Virginia’s land. Perhaps most important, the changing exhibition space will allow us to put be found anywhere. But, it can’t Exceptional beauty can be history in the current moment — linking the past to current events to show tell every story of Virginia, found in our beaches, our the extent to which history informs our daily experience. nor can it include all the great Piedmont, the Shenandoah treasures in our collection. The new space also will give the VHS far more opportunities to host exhibitions Valley, our mountains and our from other museums, private galleries, and collectors that otherwise would rugged Appalachian corridor. 2013 Special Edition Annual Report Our reorganization of space not appear in central Virginia. These changing exhibits will include national The landscape of Virginia will create larger galleries for topics and collections not normally associated with history museums. determined how the original changing exhibitions, which can colony would be settled, how highlight particular stories, the Revolutionary and Civil either as a more in-depth look at Wars would be fought, and something covered briefly in how industry would develop in The Story of Virginia or as a way the twentieth century. to tell a completely different tale. 4 5 The Story of Virginia Campaign The Story of Virginia Campaign What’s Your Story? Inspiring the Next Generation VIrginia VoICeS learning CeNter History is a collection of stories. Some of them are sweeping and grand and Learning is at the heart of the VHS mission. It always has been. from our provide the fodder for textbooks and Hollywood films. founding in 1831, the society has opened its doors to scholars and researchers looking for historical evidence in our collections. We still actively engage But most stories are personal — and just as important. researchers from across the globe. But when we talk of learning today, it Collecting the stories of real Virginians is the aim of our documentary film means teachers, students and adult learners — citizens, current and future, project “Virginia Voices.” Through a special website, Virginians will be able to who access our resources to learn more about where Virginia has come submit videos telling their stories to the larger world.