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Click any excerpt below to read the full article. Tom Camden to Head Special Collections and Archives at Washington and Lee University Tom Camden, director of Special Collections and acting state art curator at the Library of Virginia, has inspired thousands of people ranging from elementary students to lawmakers with his dynamic tours of the treasures of the Library. His expertise and commitment to the Library have been evident to all who have had the pleasure to work with him. Hundreds have "felt the power" while holding a law book of Patrick Henry's or some other original book or manuscript in the Library's collections. Whether captivating... Spears Authors New Book on Richmond Landmarks Katarina M. Spears, director of retail operations at the Library of Virginia Foundation, is the author of a new book in Arcadia Publishing's popular Images of America series. Richmond Landmarks contains more than 200 vintage images from the Library's extensive photographic collection. The City of Richmond has a long history, from its early 17th-century exploration by the English, through its 18th-century economic expansion and importance to the American Revolution and 19th century significance as the center of the domestic slave trade... Please Remember the Library of Virginia in Your Year-end Giving Every year the members of the Semper Virginia Society add significantly to the Library's ability to collect, protect, and share the history and culture of Virginia. Your gift before December 30 can help us begin the New Year ready to do even more! There are terrific benefits, including members-only events, discounts to the Virginia Shop and Discovery Café, bus tours, and more... Earl Hamner to Receive Legislative Recognition The mere mention of the name of writer Earl Hamner elicits a wave of nostalgia for many. His heart-warming stories of upbringing in the Schulyer, Virginia, during the Great Depression have won generations of fans. His experiences during those times amid his family and the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains would etch themselves into his heart and mind, providing a wealth of material for and profoundly influencing his work throughout his life. The Virginia General Assembly will recognize Hamner and his extraordinary literary achievements with special... Database Spotlight: HeritageQuest Online Start your family history research today with HeritageQuest Online! This database of genealogical resources includes primary source materials, local and family histories, and finding aids that will help you start exploring your roots. The Library of Virginia provides access to the following five HeritageQuest Online collections: Freedman's Bank Records – Provides records that include the signatures of and personal identification data about depositors in 29 branch offices of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company from 1865 to 1874. The company was established in 1865 for the benefit of freed slaves. Many of the registers provide the following information: account number, name of depositor, date of entry, place born, place... A Well-Traveled Little Book The Library is occasionally contacted by individuals from across the country who come across Virginia books in family collections. One of the most recent contacts was from Abigail Addington-May in Rhode Island. Addington-May found a ca. 1826 copy of The Code of 1650, being a compilation of the earliest laws and orders of the General court of Connecticut in her grandmother's house in New York State. She e-mailed the Library to inquire whether we would like to have the volume. One might ask how this Connecticut law book relates to Virginia. The first blank page in the book bears an attached inscription that explains why Addington-May chose to contact the Library. She searched the Library's website for any reference to "Myers [sic] W. Fisher of Northampton County." VirginiaMemory.com contains a biographical sketch of Miers W. Fisher (1806–1873) written by our late colleague Sara Bearss. Fisher was a... Virginia Shop Offers a Wealth of Holiday Gifts If you're looking for a unique gift for a history buff or that hard-to-please person on your list, a visit in person or online to the Virginia Shop can make your shopping a snap. Just in time for the holidays, the Virginia Shop's December book clearance sale at the Library of Virginia continues while supplies last. Books on special include fiction, nonfiction, and children's titles. Visit the Virginia Shop online to save 30 percent on food items. Be a hit at holiday parties–bring a hostess gift of cheese straws, chocolate-covered peanuts, or pecan biscuits. Now through December, these items and more are available online at an... National Medal Recognizes 10 Exceptional Museums and Libraries On November 14, in a White House ceremony, the Institute of Museum and Library Services presented the 2012 National Medal for Museum and Library Service to 10 museums and libraries from across the country. The National Medal is the nation's highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community and celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities. IMLS director Susan Hildreth was joined by White House Domestic Policy Council director Cecilia Muñoz, to present the medal, and by NPR senior national correspondent Linda Wertheimer, who served as emcee. Librarian of Virginia Sandra G. Treadway was among those attending the presentation. The Park View High School Library Media Center in Sterling, Virginia, was among the libraries recognized. All events are free and take place from noon until 1 PM in the conference rooms at the Library of Virginia unless otherwise noted. Saturday, December 22, 2012 – Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Closed The Library of Virginia will be closed for the New Year's holiday. Saturday, December 29, 2012 – Tuesday, January 1, 2013 Closed The Library of Virginia will be closed for the New Year's holiday. Wednesday, January 9, 2013 Eccentric and Accomplished: "John Randolph of Roanoke" David Johnson will speak about and sign his book on John Randolph, the long-serving Virginia congressman and architect of southern conservatism. Randolph, who was one of the original "small government" proponents, grabbed headlines with prescient comments, public brawls, and clashes with every president from John Adams to Andrew Jackson. Wednesday, January 16, 2013 A Conversation with Earl Hamner Jr. Place: Lecture Hall Time: 6:30-8:00 PM Join the Library as we celebrate the gift of Earl Hamner's private papers and manuscripts to the Library. Lisa Lafata Powell will moderate this discussion with Hamner about his work, life, and love of Virginia. Earl Hamner received the Literary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Virginia in 2011. Special items from Hamner's collection will be on display. Saturday, January 19, 2013 Closed The Library will be closed Saturday, January 19 so that our reading rooms can be open on the Lee-Jackson (Friday, January 18) and Martin Luther King (Monday, January 21) holidays. LOBBY AND READING ROOMS WILL BE OPEN ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 18 and MONDAY, JANUARY 21.   Saturday, February 16, 2012 Closed The Library will be closed so that our reading rooms can be open on the George Washington Day. LOBBY AND READING ROOMS WILL BE OPEN ON  MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18.   Wednesday, February 20, 2013 The Loving Story: A Documentary Film by Nancy Buirski Time: 5:30-7:30 PM Place:Lecture Hall The Loving Story, winner of the prestigious John E. O'Connor Film Prize from the American Historical Association, tells the dramatic story of Mildred and Richard Loving, an interracial couple who were denied the right to live together in Virginia in the 1950s. The film not only explores their landmark Supreme Court case but also the current state of interracial marriage and tolerance in the United States. It is the definitive account of Loving v. Virginia–the landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriage. The Loving Story was co-produced by HBO Documentary Films and directed by Nancy Buirski.This program complements the Library's latest exhibition, You Have No Right: Law and Justice in Virginia. Style Weekly is the media sponsor for programming for You Have No Right: Law and Justice in Virginia. Thursday, February 21, 2013 "Books on Broad" featuring Jabeen Akhtar Time: 5:30–7:30 PM Place: The Virginia Shop Jabeen Akhtar will discuss and sign Welcome to Americastan, her quirky, refreshingly candid debut novel. With effervescent humor and wit she turns every stereotype of Muslim Americans on its head. Light refreshments (wine and cheese) will be served (5:30–6:00 PM), followed by author talk (6:00–6:45 PM), and book signing (6:45–7:30 PM). Through Saturday, May 18, 2013 You Have No Right: Law & Justice  Time:9:00 AM–5:00 PM Place: Exhibition Hall Using Virginia cases—and the stories of the people behind them—You Have No Right: Law and Justice demonstrates how the law affects individuals directly and how people have used the law to achieve political and social goals. Using original records and electronic resources to convey the themes of human rights, citizenship, and the rule of law in a lively and engaging presentation, the exhibition explores questions about citizenship, marriage rights, eminent domain, and why prosecutors have to prove guilt and defense lawyers don't have to prove innocence. Call to Schedule an Appointment in Special Collections Access to Special Collections at Library of Virginia is now by appointment only. Please call Special Collections to inquire about the collections and make an appointment to view materials. Special Collections materials include: broadsides, ephemera, prints and photographs, rare books, sheet music, and the state art collection. Researchers should consult with the Special Collections staff about materials housed there and call 804-692-3703 to schedule an appointment. Holiday Schedule The Library of Virginia will be closed from Saturday, December 22, through Wednesday, December 26, 2012, for the Christmas holiday. We will also be closed from Saturday, December 29, 2012, through Tuesday, January 1, 2013.

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