|
Division of Legislative Services > Legislative Record > 2010 |
Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War CommissionAugust 11, 2010Members of the Advisory Council were welcomed to the annual meeting by Dr. Sandy Treadway, Librarian of Virginia. Speaker William J. Howell, Chairman of the Commission, greeted members, spoke of the Advisory Council’s importance in providing input from a wide array of constituencies, discussed the positive tourism and economic impacts of the four-year commemoration, and asked members to continue to look for ways that sesquicentennial programs can reach out to all Virginians in an inclusive and educational manner. Last, Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr. spoke about Virginia’s critical role in the sesquicentennial and the many opportunities that lay ahead. Overview of Plans in Development Staff reviewed the Advisory Council’s previous recommendations and presented a detailed overview of the Commission’s plans in development. Signature Conference series The annual conference series began in 2009 and was widely hailed as setting a model for the sesquicentennial nationwide. Each conference covers a particular aspect of the Civil War that, when taken together, will tell all aspects of the conflict, its causes, and its legacies. The tentative conference schedule is as follows: 2009: America
on the Eve of the Civil War 2010: Race,
Slavery and the Civil War: The Tough Stuff of American History 2011: American
Military Strategy and the Civil War 2012: Leadership
and Generalship in the Civil War Conference 2014: Civil
War in a Global Context 2015: Memory
of the Civil War DVD for schools In partnership with the Virginia Tech Center for Civil War Studies and Blue Ridge Public Television, the Commission distributed an Emmy-nominated program, Virginia in the Civil War: A Sesquicentennial Remembrance, free of charge to every public school in Virginia in Fall 2009. The DVD consists of nine 20-minute chapters, divided for ease of teacher use in the classroom. Civil War 150 HistoryMobile Development continues in partnership with the Virginia Historical Society and the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on the HistoryMobile, a self-contained and immersive exhibition housed in a single-expandable tractor trailer that can travel throughout Virginia and to other states. Substantial funding for the fabrication of the HistoryMobile has been provided from several generous grants. A Request for Proposals for design/build of the HistoryMobile will be sent out by the end of August enabling construction to begin by year end. The HistoryMobile will debut at the kickoff event in Manassas in July 2011. Interactive website The Commission has made available a rich array of Internet resources, including an interactive Then/Now map that details hundreds of Civil War-related sites in the state, a statewide calendar of events, vodcasts of Civil War sites, and web resources for teachers. Walk in their Footsteps database The Commission is developing a research portal that provides regimental history information on both Union and Confederate regiments’ service in Virginia. This comprehensive database will offer a launching point for users to create a “battle plan” to map out and visit the actual sites where their ancestors may have fought while serving during the Civil War. The database may be featured on a kiosk outside of the HistoryMobile as it travels throughout the state and will be accessible via the Commission’s website. Special Events Commemorative events began in June 2009 with a successful joint kickoff event at Harpers Ferry with West Virginia’s Sesquicentennial Commission. Planning is underway for large-scale commemorative events at Manassas (July 21, 2011) and Appomattox (April 9, 2015). In addition, local committees are planning events to mark key anniversary dates throughout the state, all of which will be highlighted on the Commission’s website. Grant Program The Commission has designated over $200,000 to its Sesquicentennial Tourism Marketing Grant program. Administered by the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC), this grant program provides matching funds to local sesquicentennial committees and their partners to market Civil War events and destinations statewide. Travel Kiosks Through federal enhancement grant funding, the Commission is working with the Virginia Department of Transportation, VTC, Civil War Trails, the Civil War Preservation Trust, and Virginia wineries to develop and place information kiosks in the 13 Welcome Centers throughout the Commonwealth, promoting all that Virginia has to offer to visitors. Local Sesquicentennial Committees Currently, 126 of the 134 localities have formed local sesquicentennial committees to work with the Commission and develop programs that highlight and enhance local history. Overview of An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia Andrew Talkov, Sesquicentennial Exhibit Coordinator, Virginia Historical Society (VHS) Mr. Talkov offered
a detailed description of the gallery exhibition entitled, “An
American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia.” Rich in
artifacts, documents, and high-tech interactives, the exhibition will
emphasize the impact of the Civil War from the battlefront, home front,
and African-American perspectives. The exhibition will be organized thematically
rather than chronologically, in order to better travel to other venues,
and will pose questions rather than present answers, allowing visitors
to sort through the issues and form their own conclusions. Civil War 150 Legacy Project: Document Digitization and Access Renee Savits, Library of Virginia Ms. Savits presented an overview of the Civil War 150 Legacy Project: Document Digitization and Access. To date, the Library of Virginia (Library) has completed pilot projects at Danville and Winchester that yielded over 800 images of Civil War-related documents that are available for viewing at www.virginiamemory.com/CW150. Ms. Savits, coordinator for the eastern region of the state, and Laura Drake Davis, coordinator for the western region, are in the process of contacting localities to schedule visits to identify, scan, and digitize additional Civil War documents that are currently held in private collections. In addition to publicizing the project using the well-established network of local sesquicentennial committees, the Library also intends to promote the project by having staff attend meetings of national groups such as the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). Advisory Council members discussed the project in depth and expressed their strong support for the Legacy Project due to its unparalleled potential to identify and preserve previously unknown documents related to one of the most important eras in American history. The program was also praised for its ability to engage people directly in the commemoration, allowing them to explore their personal connection to the Civil War. Ask, Answer, and Analyze Session The Honorable Lisa Hicks-Thomas, Secretary of Administration Secretary Hicks-Thomas offered greetings from Governor McDonnell. Secretary Hicks-Thomas commended the Advisory Council and expressed the Governor’s enthusiasm for its efforts to develop a commemoration that is inclusive and promotes Virginia. Secretary Hicks-Thomas reported that the Governor’s office is working closely with the Commission, and recently sent President Obama a letter of invitation to the commemorative event at the Manassas National Battlefield Park on July 21, 2011. Mitch Bowman, Executive Director, Virginia Civil War Trails Mr. Bowman offered comments regarding the impact of the sesquicentennial in increasing heritage tourism in Virginia. Mr. Bowman stated that since 1995 and the creation of Civil War Trails, there has been a fourfold increase in the number of tourists that actively seek out Civil War sites. Such visitation will only increase during the sesquicentennial. Breakout Sessions “Ask, Answer, and Analyze” breakout sessions were then held, where members could offer comments, feedback, and suggestions on a number of topics. Wrap-up and Adjournment Members were thanked for their support and invited to stay involved as the commemoration begins in earnest. Members were also asked for their assistance in getting the word out about the wide array of programs being developed, to partner with the Commission wherever possible, and to work to ensure that Virginia remains the destination for the Civil War sesquicentennial. Dr. Treadway indicated that she would report on the Advisory Council’s deliberations at the next meeting of the Commission. Next Meeting The next meeting date will be posted on the Commission’s website and the General Assembly website as soon as information is available. Chairman: For information,
contact: Division of Legislative Services > Legislative Record > 2010 |