Indigenous
Perspectives Exhibition Opens Dec. 5
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A new, free multimedia exhibition at the Library of Virginia will highlight the
commonwealth’s Indigenous history and how the tribes remain a vital part of
Virginia’s culture today. Indigenous Perspectives, which runs Dec. 5,
2023, through Aug. 17, 2024, explores the voices and experiences of Virginia’s
tribal communities.
Visitors can view excerpts from video interviews with citizens of Virginia’s
tribes, archival records from the Library’s collection that were collaboratively
selected by the tribes and Library staff members, and objects contributed by the
tribes — such as eel pots, regalia and quilts — that reflect their traditions and
culture. Citizens of the 11 federally and state-recognized tribes in Virginia
shared their perspectives on related items in the Library’s collections, which
include maps, treaties, land records and other governing documents.
Indigenous Perspectives is presented by Amazon, with additional
support from the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond, Virginia Humanities,
and the Anne Carter Robins and Walter R. Robins Jr. Foundation.
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Recipients of the honorary Patron of Letters degree
pose after the 2023 Virginia Literary Awards presentation at the Library of
Virginia on Oct. 14, 2023. Shown left to right are Librarian of Virginia
Sandra G. Treadway, bestselling author David
Baldacci, renowned poet and educator Nikki Giovanni,
literacy advocate Michelle Baldacci, award-winning children’s
author Meg Medina and Library of Virginia Board chair
C. Paul Brockwell Jr.
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Authors Honored at 2023
Virginia
Literary Awards
Celebration
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Thank you to all who attended the 26th Annual Virginia Literary Awards Celebration
on Oct. 14 to help us recognize the best of Virginia literature! Top honors went
to All the Ruined Men: Stories by Bill Glose for the Fiction Award,
What the Eyes Can’t See: Ralph Northam, Black Resolve, and a Racial Reckoning
in Virginia by Margaret Edds for the Nonfiction Award and Selected
Books of the Beloved by Gregory Orr for the Poetry Award. The winner of Art
in Literature: The Mary Lynn Kotz Award was Hans Luijten for his book Jo van
Gogh-Bonger: The Woman Who Made Vincent Famous.
The Library Board
also recognized bestselling author David Baldacci and his wife, Michelle Baldacci,
a passionate literacy advocate; renowned poet and educator Nikki Giovanni; and
award-winning children's author Meg Medina with honorary Patron of Letters
degrees, the Library’s highest honor, for their significant contributions to the
literary arts.
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Special thanks to bestselling author and award-winning filmmaker Adriana Trigiani
for returning for her 16th year as host. Presented by Dominion Energy and
supported by Carole and Marcus Weinstein, this annual event raises critical
support for the Library’s conservation, education and community outreach efforts.
You can view photos from the event in the Library’s Flickr album and watch video from the
evening on our YouTube channel.
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Michael Lee Pope Discusses The Byrd
Machine in Virginia on Nov. 15
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Join us on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at noon for a lunchtime book talk. Award-winning
journalist and author Michael Lee Pope will discuss the last major political
machine in the commonwealth, the subject of his book The Byrd Machine in
Virginia: The Rise and Fall of a Conservative Political Organization. The
organization rose to power during the era of Jim Crow, wielding influence over
everything — from who got the nod to be governor to how the state maintained
racial segregation. The nadir of its era was massive resistance, a move to close
public schools rather than integrate them.
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Join Us for First Fridays at LVA on Dec.
1
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Venture east from Richmond’s Arts District for the Library’s final First Fridays
event of 2023! Join us on Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. to enjoy refreshments, view an art
exhibition by Virginia artists and take part in a “maker station.” December’s
theme is Sharing Your Traditions. View cookbooks, scrapbooks and music ephemera
from the Library’s collections and create a minibook to record your own
traditions.
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Rebekah Bautista from Massaponax High School was one
of four student contest winners in 2020.
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Strong Men & Women Student Creative
Expressions Contest Submissions Due Dec. 8
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200 Years, 200
Stories Biographies Are Now
Online
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Although our anniversary exhibition has closed, you can now explore the
fascinating narratives of the people featured in our 200 Years, 200
Stories exhibition through a new online educational
resource. Learn more about Virginians from all walks of life who have
contributed to the commonwealth’s history and culture. Search by an individual's
name or use filters to search by location, topic or time period.
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Shop Local for the
Holidays!
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Check out the Virginia Shop’s unique collection of books, prints, apparel and more
to find the perfect holiday gift. We also carry Virginia and Richmond-themed items
and state seal merchandise. Visit in person Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m.
Or shop online
anytime.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Virginia Appointed Its
First State Archivist in 1918
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Richmond native Morgan P. Robinson (1876–1943) had served as chief of the
Library’s Archives Department for three years when the General Assembly appointed
him as Virginia’s first State Archivist in 1918. In that capacity, he began
surveying Virginia’s city and county courthouses to determine the completeness of
their holdings and to rate the environmental conditions at each facility. Robinson
strove to make state records easier for researchers to find and encouraged their
storage in fireproof buildings. His focus on accessibility and preservation lives
on at the Library today.
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