3 10 50 https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/3c93a5e429bd2709941fc82f0460918e.jpg 3e694b885950825492a3c081e269bad0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birthplace Harrisonburg Biographical Text Brought to the United States as a child, she earned a master's degree in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University and received an honorary doctorate from the University of San Francisco for her advocacy work on behalf of immigrants' rights. Watch excerpts from Isabel's interview about: <ul> <li><a href="https://youtu.be/KRbq7EdgYHU" target="_blank">Challenges</a> (1:31)</li> <li><a href="https://youtu.be/mMN-WscP9YY" target="_blank">Virginia</a> (0:44)</li> <li><a href="https://youtu.be/U8FJiQ-m_iM" target="_blank">Opportunity</a> (1:16)</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Isabel Castillo Subject The topic of the resource New Virginians Description An account of the resource A native of Mexico, Isabel Castillo received an honorary doctorate from the University of San Francisco for her advocacy work on behalf of immigrants' rights. Civil Rights and Reform https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/63c008c1e02933da22e39bf1b1c11153.jpg 5a9e70aa42e9b0885dcef82596136253 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1920 Birthplace Spotsylvania County Death Date 1999 Occupation Civil Rights Leader Biographical Text The grandson of a slave, Texas native James Leonard Farmer (January 12, 1920–July 9, 1999) first encountered segregation as a child, when he could not purchase a soda in a Mississippi drugstore because of his skin color. Although he trained in the ministry, segregation in churches pushed him toward a career in activism. In 1942 Farmer became the chief organizer of the Chicago-based Congress of Racial Equality. CORE, as it became known, developed into a national civil rights organization that used nonviolent techniques such as sit-ins and peaceful demonstrations to fight segregation. Farmer became CORE's national director in 1961 and organized the Freedom Rides through the South to desegregate interstate bus travel. After resigning as CORE's director in 1966, Farmer labored during the next two decades to expand African American employment opportunities, served as an assistant secretary in the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and devoted himself to educating future generations. Early in the 1980s he moved to Spotsylvania County and taught at Mary Washington College for more than a decade. Farmer's book Freedom—When? (1965) examined civil rights issues. He also wrote a memoir, Lay Bare the Heart: An Autobiography of the Civil Rights Movement (1985). Along with Martin Luther King Jr., Whitney Young, and Roy Wilkins, Farmer was regarded as one of the "Big Four" in the civil rights movement. Farmer received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 1998. Nominated by Janet M. Stephens's sixth-grade honors U.S. History class (2010–2011), Albert H. Hill Middle School, Richmond. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2012" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2012</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of the James L. Farmer Collection, the Digital Archives at the University of Mary Washington. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource James Farmer Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource As director of the Congress of Racial Equality and as initiator of the Freedom Rides, James Farmer played a critical role in the national civil rights movement. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 African American Trailblazers Honoree Civil Rights and Reform Education https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/30017db41d2590f063250be09723aba9.jpg 5aa30b241de0006971f2d92fb1f49c16 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Postwar United States Description An account of the resource The era immediately following World War II brought about vast changes, not only in foreign policy, but in economics and a changing civic landscape. The liberalism of the New Deal era grew into movements towards increasing civil liberties and economic opportunities, particularly for minorities and women. Protests became more and more common to the average American as groups demanded equal rights and voting equality. These movements were juxtaposed with Jim Crow laws and the reemergence of the KKK, which showed the darker side of life in the American South. The Cold War pitted the United States and its allies in the newly formed NATO against the ever-increasing and expanding Soviet Union and its fellow Communist regimes, particularly China, Korea and Vietnam. While this era is considered Postwar, it is in fact a move towards a new type of war, where campaigns are fought not only on the battleground, but in the political arena and social consciousness as well, fueled strongly by the increasing influence of television news. The fall of the Nazi regime opened the door to the Iron Curtain and Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe, and the defeat of Japan opened previously invaded lands to the chance to choose new leaders, many of whom sided with the tenants of Communism over those of Capitalism. The United States would spend much of this time period combating the “Domino Effect” to try and stem the spread of Communism, particularly in its own hemisphere with Cuba. At the same time, the United States invested millions into Western Europe through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan to halt the spread of Communism further west. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1945-1970s Person An individual. Birthplace Prince Edward County Occupation Civil Rights Activist Biographical Text Born in Kingsville, Prince Edward County, John Arthur Stokes grew up in the Jim Crow South, a time and place in which public schools were segregated by race. He attended Robert Russa Moton High School, the county's only school for African Americans, located in Farmville. The one-story school was built for 180 students, but there were more than 450 pupils when he began his senior year in 1950. The school had only eight classrooms, an office, and an auditorium, but no gymnasium, cafeteria, or science lab and few educational resources. Recognizing the inequalities between Moton and whites-only schools, Stokes, with his classmate Barbara Johns, helped lead a strike by all the students in April 1951. They walked out and refused to return to class until construction began on a new high school for African Americans. With advice from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the students decided to demand integration of all county schools, rather than seek only a new, separate school. In May Davis et al. v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, Va., et al. was filed on their behalf to integrate the county schools. The U.S. District Court in Richmond rejected their lawsuit. On appeal, the case was combined with other lawsuits under Brown v. Board of Education, and on May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that public school segregation was unconstitutional. A year after graduating from Virginia State University, Stokes became an educator in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2008 the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial was placed at the State Capitol, with likenesses of student protestors commemorating the Moton school strike. Stokes lives in Prince George's County, Maryland. Nominated by Sally Miller's fourth-grade class (2009-2010), William Fox Elementary School, Richmond. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2011</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of John A. Stokes. Birth Date 1931 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource John Arthur Stokes Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource As a student at Robert Russa Moton High School, John Stokes helped lead a strike by pupils to gain better education facilities, an act of defiance that contributed to the integration of public schools in the United States. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2011 African American Trailblazers Honoree Civil Rights and Reform Government and Law https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/61615621b52dee02991845aee513c46d.TIF 29bb9821be433a86df1fd38eff7858da Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergence of Modern America Description An account of the resource The idea of a “Modern United States” begins with the advent of the Progressive era. The Progressive movement focused on reforms they viewed as necessary after drastic increases in industrialization, immigration, urbanization and corruption in the business and political realms. One of the most successful reform movements of the time periods is the women’s suffrage movement. Other movements that gained traction on a new scale during this era were the labor movement, including the rise of unions, and the Harlem Renaissance and northward migration of the African American population. The time also saw a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in direct retaliation to increased immigration and shifting roles for African Americans. With all of the changes on the home front of America, this era also saw the emergence of the United States as a major world power. The Spanish-American War pitted the United States against a European power other than Great Britain for the first time, and battles spanned the Atlantic and Pacific. The war also led to the rise of Theodore Roosevelt, an increase in propaganda and marketing of a war, both through yellow journalism and war slogans and ephemera encouraging citizens to “Remember the Maine!” Soon after, the United States would come to find itself embroiled in World War I, despite strong isolationist tendencies. Along with a large death toll, World War I led to the development of the failed League of Nations, ultimately pushing the United States even further into an isolationist standing that would last for decades. The immediate postwar period of the “Roaring 20s” saw a domination in politics and economics by big business and its supporters, which would all come crashing down in less than a decade. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890-1930 Person An individual. Birth Date 1869 Birthplace Newport News Death Date 1942 Occupation Lawyer and Editor Biographical Text Joseph Thomas Newsome (1869-1942) was born in Sussex County. The son of former slaves, Newsome graduated from Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (later Virginia State University) in 1894 and earned a law degree from Howard University Law School. "Lawyer Newsome," as he was known in Newport News, was involved with several high-profile criminal cases in eastern Virginia, and was one of two African American attorneys who made a successful appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals (later the Supreme Court of Virginia) in 1931 in Davis v. Allen in which black residents of Hampton were routinely prevented from registering to vote. Politically active, in 1921 Newsome opposed the "lily-white" direction of the Republican Party, and he ran for attorney general on a "Lily Black" Virginia Republican ticket. Newsome helped found and lead the Warwick County Colored Voters League, an organization that lobbied for schools, community improvement, and voter registration. He advocated for and helped secure the first high school for African American residents of Newport News. Newsome remained active in public affairs and at the time of his death was serving as president of the Old Dominion Bar Association, a black counterpart to the Virginia State Bar Association. Newsome edited the Newport News Star from late in the 1920s to late in the 1930s until its purchase by the Norfolk Journal and Guide. Very active in community churches, he also opened his home as a community center, even hosting Booker T. Washington on occasion. Although the Newsome house fell into disrepair after his death, it was renovated late in the 1980s and converted into a community center and a museum for black history, the Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/trailblazers-2010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2010</a> African American Trailblazers honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of the Newsome House Museum and Cultural Center, Newport News. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joseph Thomas Newsome Subject The topic of the resource African American Trailblazers Description An account of the resource A leading figure in Newport News, Joseph Thomas Newsome struggled to bring education and voting rights to the African American community. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2010 African American Trailblazers Honoree Civil Rights and Reform Government and Law Sports and Media https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/e88b7572c5815189ca0a0218de44f808.jpg c20985ca5d41b7128f03475c42a857bd Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1978 Birthplace Arlington County Occupation Political Activist and Mentor Biographical Text Krysta Jones grew up in a U.S. Navy family and was encouraged to understand the importance of African-American history. After graduating from the University of Florida, where she directed Students Taking Action Against Racism, she spent two years in Paraguay with the Peace Corps. She settled in Arlington County, worked as a lobbyist, and studied at the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership to hone her skills as an advocate for others. While earning a master's degree at The George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management, Jones was challenged to expand her thesis on Virginia's lack of African-American representatives in Congress, and in 2006 she established the Virginia Leadership Institute. Now known as Vote Lead Impact, her nonpartisan organization trains and mentors African Americans to run for elected office at all levels in Virginia and nationwide and also awards scholarships to those who want to pursue leadership development programs. Jones strives to bring diversity to government and engages women and young people in advocacy work to develop the next generation of leaders among traditionally underrepresented populations. A member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., she has invested countless hours in leading social action efforts and mentoring women in politics around the world. She published A Seat at the Table, an interactive guide to help people get involved in solving community problems. Active locally, Jones has served on the boards of the Junior League of Northern Virginia and the Arlington Community Foundation, and in 2014 she was named one of Leadership Arlington's inaugural 40 Under 40 honorees for her efforts to inspire and build connections among future community leaders. 2021 Strong Men and Women in Virginia history honoree, Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy. Bibliography Image courtesy of Krysta Jones. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Krysta N. Jones Subject The topic of the resource Strong Men and Women in Virginia History Description An account of the resource Krysta Jones is passionate about encouraging and empowering others to make a difference in their communities, state, and nation. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2021 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Civil Rights and Reform Community Leadership and Philanthropy Government and Law https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/13f3d93de316855749db30957e57a56a.jpg 1fd02e26748c99affd26832640568435 https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/52a184bfddb91ca8104ecc81bc8b88d3.mp3 e9d8b68e8ff94bd01565f80b351dfe37 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergence of Modern America Description An account of the resource The idea of a “Modern United States” begins with the advent of the Progressive era. The Progressive movement focused on reforms they viewed as necessary after drastic increases in industrialization, immigration, urbanization and corruption in the business and political realms. One of the most successful reform movements of the time periods is the women’s suffrage movement. Other movements that gained traction on a new scale during this era were the labor movement, including the rise of unions, and the Harlem Renaissance and northward migration of the African American population. The time also saw a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in direct retaliation to increased immigration and shifting roles for African Americans. With all of the changes on the home front of America, this era also saw the emergence of the United States as a major world power. The Spanish-American War pitted the United States against a European power other than Great Britain for the first time, and battles spanned the Atlantic and Pacific. The war also led to the rise of Theodore Roosevelt, an increase in propaganda and marketing of a war, both through yellow journalism and war slogans and ephemera encouraging citizens to “Remember the Maine!” Soon after, the United States would come to find itself embroiled in World War I, despite strong isolationist tendencies. Along with a large death toll, World War I led to the development of the failed League of Nations, ultimately pushing the United States even further into an isolationist standing that would last for decades. The immediate postwar period of the “Roaring 20s” saw a domination in politics and economics by big business and its supporters, which would all come crashing down in less than a decade. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890-1930 Person An individual. Birth Date 1865 Birthplace Richmond Death Date 1921 Biographical Text Social reformer and suffrage activist Lila Hardaway Meade (February 4, 1865–July 14, 1921) was born in Richmond and in 1886 married Benjamin B. Valentine, a wealthy businessman who shared her interest in public service. In 1900, Lila Valentine formed the Richmond Education Association to improve the city's public schools through the development of a kindergarten training school and curriculum, a vocational training program, and the construction of a new high school. In 1902, she helped organize and secure funding for the Instructive Visiting Nurse Association to provide health care services to the poor, including tuberculosis clinics. Valentine believed that female voters could help bring about social reform, and in 1909 she cofounded and presided over the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia. She traveled across the state campaigning for suffrage and speaking out against those who feared that woman suffrage threatened traditional gender roles and racial voting restrictions. Speaking before a legislative committee in 1912, Valentine informed delegates that "we do not conceive that we have freedom without the ballot." The General Assembly defeated suffrage measures in 1912, 1914, and 1916, and Valentine subsequently advocated a national amendment to the United States Constitution. Once the Nineteenth Amendment became law in 1920, she supported the Equal Suffrage League's transition to the Virginia League of Women Voters, although poor health prevented her active participation. Despite her crusade, Valentine died in 1921 without ever casting a ballot. A memorial plaque placed in the Virginia State Capitol in 1936 honors her achievements in the fight for woman suffrage. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/va-women-2000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2000</a> Virginia Women in History honoree, Virginia Foundation for Women and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, and featured as one of the Library's <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/va-women-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020</a> Virginia Women in History suffrage activists as part of the Library's 19th Amendment Centennial <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/wedemand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibition</a>, We Demand: Women's Suffrage in Virginia. Occupation Reformer and Suffragist Bibliography Image Courtesy of The Valentine, Richmond. Audio clip: excerpt of Lila M. Valentine's September 7, 1916, speech to the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention, read by Library of Virginia staff. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Lila Meade Valentine Subject The topic of the resource Virginia Women In History Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2000 Virginia Women in History Honoree Description An account of the resource Social reformer Lila Meade Valentine was a founder and president of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia. Civil Rights and Reform https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/440a5f694a4730026bd037444e6abdc8.tif 7842ef4011fefaa65c7579bac39dc0bb Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Postwar United States Description An account of the resource The era immediately following World War II brought about vast changes, not only in foreign policy, but in economics and a changing civic landscape. The liberalism of the New Deal era grew into movements towards increasing civil liberties and economic opportunities, particularly for minorities and women. Protests became more and more common to the average American as groups demanded equal rights and voting equality. These movements were juxtaposed with Jim Crow laws and the reemergence of the KKK, which showed the darker side of life in the American South. The Cold War pitted the United States and its allies in the newly formed NATO against the ever-increasing and expanding Soviet Union and its fellow Communist regimes, particularly China, Korea and Vietnam. While this era is considered Postwar, it is in fact a move towards a new type of war, where campaigns are fought not only on the battleground, but in the political arena and social consciousness as well, fueled strongly by the increasing influence of television news. The fall of the Nazi regime opened the door to the Iron Curtain and Soviet dominance of Eastern Europe, and the defeat of Japan opened previously invaded lands to the chance to choose new leaders, many of whom sided with the tenants of Communism over those of Capitalism. The United States would spend much of this time period combating the “Domino Effect” to try and stem the spread of Communism, particularly in its own hemisphere with Cuba. At the same time, the United States invested millions into Western Europe through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan to halt the spread of Communism further west. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1945-1970s Person An individual. Birth Date 1882 Birthplace Richmond Death Date 1959 Occupation Labor Organizer and Social Reformer Biographical Text The descendent of prominent Virginia families, Lucy Randolph Mason (July 26, 1882–May 6, 1959) used her social status to advocate for the rights of working people. She considered becoming a missionary as a teenager, but decided to serve her own community. Believing that women were vital to social reform efforts, she joined the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia to advocate voting rights for women. She served as president of the Richmond ESL chapter and later of the Richmond League of Women Voters. Through her work for the Richmond YWCA, Mason developed programs to aid white and African American women and became involved in labor issues, advocating legislation to improve working conditions for women and children. As general secretary of the National Consumers' League during the Great Depression, she also fought for a minimum wage and maximum working hours. In 1937 Mason joined the Congress of Industrial Organizations as a public relations representative. She traveled across the South, meeting with often-hostile community leaders, clergy, journalists, politicians, and others to promote organized labor and the role unions could play in improving the region's economy. She helped organize textile workers and miners, and during strikes negotiated on behalf of workers and brought national attention to civil rights violations. Mason fought racial discrimination throughout her career and believed that unions were the best way to promote interracial cooperation. She also campaigned against the poll tax and organized voter registration drives. In 1952 the National Religion and Labor Foundation honored Mason with its Social Justice Award. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/va-women-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2019</a> Virginia Women in History honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Lucy Randolph Mason Subject The topic of the resource Virginia Women in History Description An account of the resource Throughout her career, Lucy Randolph Mason championed social reforms and legislation to help Southern workers. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2019 Virginia Women in History Honoree Civil Rights and Reform https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/4f024d467daf18972e3b68e5854ce29c.jpg a6b377e6f9812dbfa67dd0d665012659 https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/f1f5353854b3a53a1caaa9c48ed18c01.mp3 cb72c68765c2aec0d590c411d5a75c29 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergence of Modern America Description An account of the resource The idea of a “Modern United States” begins with the advent of the Progressive era. The Progressive movement focused on reforms they viewed as necessary after drastic increases in industrialization, immigration, urbanization and corruption in the business and political realms. One of the most successful reform movements of the time periods is the women’s suffrage movement. Other movements that gained traction on a new scale during this era were the labor movement, including the rise of unions, and the Harlem Renaissance and northward migration of the African American population. The time also saw a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in direct retaliation to increased immigration and shifting roles for African Americans. With all of the changes on the home front of America, this era also saw the emergence of the United States as a major world power. The Spanish-American War pitted the United States against a European power other than Great Britain for the first time, and battles spanned the Atlantic and Pacific. The war also led to the rise of Theodore Roosevelt, an increase in propaganda and marketing of a war, both through yellow journalism and war slogans and ephemera encouraging citizens to “Remember the Maine!” Soon after, the United States would come to find itself embroiled in World War I, despite strong isolationist tendencies. Along with a large death toll, World War I led to the development of the failed League of Nations, ultimately pushing the United States even further into an isolationist standing that would last for decades. The immediate postwar period of the “Roaring 20s” saw a domination in politics and economics by big business and its supporters, which would all come crashing down in less than a decade. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890-1930 Person An individual. Birth Date 1864 Birthplace Richmond Death Date 1934 Occupation Enterpreneur and Civil Rights Leader Biographical Text An astute businesswoman, Maggie Lena Mitchell Walker (July 15, 1864–December 15, 1934) was also a tireless advocate for civil rights. Born in Richmond, Maggie Mitchell graduated from the Richmond Colored Normal School and became a teacher. On September 14, 1886, she married Armstead Walker Jr., with whom she had three children. By 1904 they were living in Richmond's Jackson Ward, a vibrant African American neighborhood. Maggie Walker joined the Independent Order of Saint Luke, an African American fraternal organization, in 1881. She rose through the ranks and became Grand Secretary and steered the Order to fiscal security. In 1901 she declared her intention to expand the Order's services to its members to include a bank, a newspaper, and a department store. The Saint Luke Penny Savings Bank opened in November 1903 with Walker as its president, making her the first African American woman to establish and be president of a bank. A voice for civil rights, Walker helped to organize a protest in 1904 against the Virginia Passenger and Power Company's policy of segregated seating on Richmond's streetcars. She advocated voting rights for women, arguing that equal pay for their work would not become reality until "women force Capital to hear them at the ballot box." When the Nineteenth Amendment guaranteeing woman suffrage was ratified, she and community activist Ora Brown Stokes organized a successful voter registration drive in Richmond. In 1921 she sought election as superintendent of public instruction on the "Lily Black" Republican ticket that featured Richmond Planet editor John Mitchell Jr., as the gubernatorial candidate. Maggie Lena Walker died in 1934 at her home, which is now a National Historic Site owned and operated by the National Park Service. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/va-women-2000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2000</a> Virginia Women in History honoree, Virginia Foundation for Women and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, and featured as one of the Library's <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/va-women-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020</a> Virginia Women in History suffrage activists as part of the Library's 19th Amendment Centennial <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/wedemand/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibition</a>, We Demand: Women's Suffrage in Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of The Valentine, Richmond. Audio clip: excerpt of Maggie Walker's July 14, 1912, speech to the Negro Young People's Christian and Educational Congress (Maggie Walker National Historic Site), read by Library of Virginia staff. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Maggie Lena Walker Subject The topic of the resource Virginia Women In History Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2000 Virginia Women in History Honoree Description An account of the resource Businesswoman and community activist Maggie Walker was the first African American woman to charter and serve as president of a bank. Business and Entrepreneurship Civil Rights and Reform Community Leadership and Philanthropy https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/333859d4957691c19b61e8722280fb99.jpg f836db9fc73828bab9b01ea99335ce97 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Contemporary United States Description An account of the resource This era is, in large part, a study of the United States as a global power – politically, economically and militarily. The detente with the Communist China under Nixon begins a shift in our “Domino Theory” in Asia. The collapse of the Soviet Union, the overthrow of communist governments in Eastern Europe, and the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race also changed how the United States interacted with Europe. At the same time, intervention and actions increased in our own hemisphere and in the Middle East. Terrorism also became a driving force behind foreign policy. Politically, there was a shift away from liberalism for much of this time period. Political scandals such as Watergate and Iran-Contra were treated differently than previous scandals, thanks in large part to an increase in television coverage. The governmental role in the economy, environmental protection, social welfare, and more shifted greatly during this time period and that role, and its scope, are still being debated today. Socially, this time period saw for the first time immigration primarily from Asia and Central America. A new wave of reform movements promoted environmental, feminist, and civil rights agendas. There was also a resurgence of religious evangelicalism. Technological advances once again redefined not only the economic landscape of America, but also the lives of everyday citizens. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1968-Present Person An individual. Birth Date 1943 Birthplace Richmond Occupation Community Activist and Philanthropist Recipient of the VABPW Foundation Business Leadership Award Biographical Text Martha Rollins grew up in Martinsville and graduated from Duke University with degrees in religion and teaching. In 1963 she completed an internship at the Henry Street Settlement in New York City. After moving with her husband to Richmond, she joined other residents of the city's Carillon neighborhood to fight racially discriminatory real estate practices, thereby helping it become, and remain, a diverse neighborhood stabilized by a culture of friendship. In 1975 she established Martha's Mixture, a popular antique shop that helped anchor the revitalization of Carytown, a local shopping district. Combining her passion for diverse communities, social justice, and economic development, she used her business skills and networks to establish Boaz & Ruth, a faith-based nonprofit located in an economically challenged neighborhood. Working with neighbors, Boaz & Ruth intertwined a second-chance reentry program with social enterprises, including two thrift stores, a café, and furniture refinishing, moving, and construction services, as well as restoring more than a dozen abandoned buildings in the area. Her success has attracted national attention and in 2006 she was one of the recipients of the inaugural Purpose Prize, which recognizes individuals over age 60 who have developed innovative ways to address the country's biggest social problems. Before retiring from Boaz & Ruth in 2013, Martha Rollins, along with 100 nonprofit leaders, was honored at the White House by President Obama. She remains committed to social issues and cofounded a Richmond chapter of Coming to the Table, an organization dedicated to healing racial wounds resulting from the country's legacy of slavery. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/va-women-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2017</a> Virginia Women in History honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Photograph by Mark Gormus, courtesy of Richmond Times-Dispatch. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Martha Dillard Franck Rollins Subject The topic of the resource Virginia Women In History Description An account of the resource Community activist Martha Rollins fights racism, recidivism, and prejudice by bringing Richmond communities together across racial, social, and economic barriers. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2017 Virginia Women in History Civil Rights and Reform Community Leadership and Philanthropy https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/files/original/23e60f81e6ce5490af64ea530e5c2e4a.jpg 69588de03fe58adf4f1b6f0fafff5962 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Expansion and Reform Description An account of the resource Between 1800 and 1860, the United States underwent a period of increased territorial expansion, immigration, economic growth, and industrialization. At the same time as the nation was increasing in population and size, regional differences were becoming more and more pronounced, and politically confrontational. The idea of “Manifest Destiny” led to movements first across the Appalachians, then across the Mississippi, and finally with the goal of reaching the Pacific Ocean, encouraged by the Gold Rush. This expansion, however, did have some negative results, most notably, the removal of many Indian nations in the Southeast and old Northwest. While the Louisiana Purchase increased the size of the nation more or less peacefully, large amounts of square footage were also acquired through the America’s victory in the Mexican-American War. Economic development, while increasing wealth and prosperity, also brought regional differences more sharply into focus. While the North began its path of Industrial Revolution, its increased urbanization and technological advancements separated it even further from an agrarian South. There was also a "transportation revolution" involving railroads, canals, and trans-regional roads, many times centered in the North. Slavery was also becoming a larger factor in the South, and would cause strife and political debate as new territory was added to the Union, particularly in the case of the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas–Nebraska Act which effectively repealed it. Despite expansion, free African Americans and women were still largely disenfranchised. Reforms movements occurred in bursts, setting the stage for post-Civil War major reforms. Learn more in the National U.S. History Content Standards. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1800-1860 Person An individual. Birth Date 1802 Birthplace Fredericksburg Death Date 1896 Occupation Anti-Slavery Activist Biographical Text Anti-slavery activist Mary Minor Blackford (December 2, 1802–September 15, 1896) grew up in a slaveholding family in Fredericksburg. Profoundly affected by the tragedies she saw on a daily basis in Virginia's slaveholding society, Blackford developed strong antislavery opinions. She considered colonization a path to end slavery, and with her husband, William Blackford, she participated in the activities of the American Colonization Society. In 1829 Blackford founded the Fredericksburg and Falmouth Female Auxiliary and raised funds to assist free African Americans and recently freed slaves in immigrating to Liberia. During the 1830s she reorganized the auxiliary to become the Ladies' Society of Fredericksburg and Falmouth, for the Promotion of Female Education in Africa, which helped fund an academy for girls in Liberia. In the aftermath of Nat Turner's rebellion, the Virginia General Assembly received a number of petitions to end slavery in the state. Blackford drafted a petition during the winter of 1831–1832 on behalf of Fredericksburg's female residents. In it she called on legislators to make provisions for gradual emancipation. She ultimately decided not to submit her petition. In 1832 she began keeping a journal entitled "Notes Illustrative of the Wrongs of Slavery," in which she recorded her personal feelings about the horrors of slavery. Blackford later moved with her family to Lynchburg, where her public work largely ended and she became increasingly alienated from the state's proslavery sectionalism before the Civil War. <a href="https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/va-women-2014" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2014</a> Virginia Women in History honoree, Library of Virginia. Bibliography Image Courtesy of Mansel G. Blackford Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mary Berkley Minor Blackford Subject The topic of the resource Virginia Women In History Description An account of the resource Appalled by the violence of slavery and its effect on society, Mary Minor Blackford became a vocal anti-slavery supporter. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2014 Virginia Women in History Honoree Civil Rights and Reform Community Leadership and Philanthropy