Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission

1. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission William J. Howell, Chairman Speaker of the House of Delegates Charles J. Colgan, Vice-Chairman President pro tempore, Senate of Virginia Cheryl Jackson, Executive Director

2. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Sesquicentennial Commission established by HB 1440 (2006) Commission membership: Speaker William J. Howell, Chair Sen. Charles J. Colgan, Sr., Vice Chair Sen. R. Creigh Deeds Del. Albert C. Eisenberg Sen. John S. Edwards Del. Algie T. Howell, Jr. Sen. Janet D. Howell Del. Johnny S. Joannou Sen. Mamie E. Locke Del. R. Steven Landes John P. Ackerly, III Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter Dr. Paul A. Levengood Del. Thomas C. Wright, Jr. Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr.

3. Virginia Sesquicentennial Of The American Civil War CommissionOrganizational Chart Sesquicentennial Commission Chair: Speaker William J. Howell Vice-Chair: Sen. Charles J. Colgan, Sr. Executive Committee Chair: Speaker Howell Vice-Chair: Sen. Colgan Staff: Division of Legislative Services House Clerk’s Office Senate Finance Committee House Appropriations Committee Workgroup 1: Coordination Chair: Sen. Colgan Workgroup 2: Signature Events Chair: Speaker Howell Workgroup 3: Education Chair: Del. Algie Howell, Jr. Advisory Council Liaison: Dr. Sandy Treadway Local Sesquicentennial Committees

4. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Vision statement “Understanding Our Past, Embracing Our Future” Goals for the commemoration: • Diversity: The commemoration will be inclusive of, and meaningful to, all Virginians, particularly: • Diverse racial and ethnic groups; • Immigrants and citizens who do not have a hereditary link to the American Civil War; and • Young people who do not understand the relevance of the American Civil War to today's population • Inclusiveness: The commemoration will seek to portray a fair and balanced story of Virginia's participation in the American Civil War that includes the African-American, Union and Confederate perspectives. • Statewide Accessibility: The commemoration will be statewide, involving all localities and encompassing all Civil War-related institutions, museums, battlefields, parks and facilities in the Commonwealth. • Education:The commemoration period have a strong education component, which will be intended to ignite a renewed interest in Virginia's historical heritage.

5. 2009 Conference: America on the Eve of the Civil War Military History: Military Technology in the Nineteenth Century Cultural History: Life in Virginia’s Counties, Cities and Towns 2010 Conference: Race, Slavery and the Civil War Military History: The Union Responds to Growing Sectional Tensions Cultural History: Slavery and Freedmen in Virginia 2011 Conference: American Military Strategy and the Civil War Military History: Mobilizing for War: The Opening Moves in the Virginia Theater Cultural History: The Road to Secession 2012 Conference: Leadership and Generalship in the Civil War Military History: The Valley Campaign and the Rise of the Army of Northern Virginia Cultural History: Agriculture, Manufacturing and Commerce in Virginia 2013 Conference: The Home Front in the Civil War Military History: The Confederates Counter-Attack, and the Union Turns the Tide Cultural History: Communications, Letters and News on the Home Front 2014 Conference: Civil War in a Global Context Military History: On to Richmond: The Burden on the Soldiers in the Field Cultural History: The Strain of War on the Families and Communities 2015 Conference: The Memory of the Civil War Military History: The Fall of Richmond, Lee’s Retreat, and Surrender Cultural History: Reunion and Rebuilding on the Home Front Annual Conferences and Themes2009 - 2015

6. Centennial Center October 1961 – November 1965: 630,000+ visitors

7. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Signature Conference Series 2009: America on the Eve of the Civil War University of Richmond: April 29, 2009 2010: Race, Slavery and the Civil War: The Tough Stuff of American History Norfolk State University: September 24, 2010 2011: American Military Strategy and the Civil War Virginia Tech: May 21, 2011 2012: Leadership and Generalship in the Civil War Virginia Military Institute 2013: The Home Front in the Civil War College of William and Mary 2014: Civil War in a Global Context George Mason University 2015: Memory of the Civil War University of Virginia

8. Signature Conference series Conference proceedings available on DVD Publication (UVA Press) – Autumn 2010

9. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Plans in Development Major Exhibition: “An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia” 1. Gallery Exhibition: Two parts (Battlefront and Home front - 3,000 sq. ft.) • Major statewide traveling exhibition rich in artifacts, documents, and high-tech components • Opens in Richmond (Virginia Historical Society) in February 2011 • Beginning in 2012, will travel to Roanoke, Abingdon, Lynchburg, Winchester, Manassas, Hampton and Appomattox 2. Panel exhibition: Travel to museums, libraries, schools and smaller venues 3. Mobile exhibition: Civil War 150 HistoryMobile • Ability to travel nationwide and reach millions • Interactive components, maps • “Soldier in Virginia” database

10. Draft Rendering of Civil War 150 HistoryMobile

12. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Plans in Development Educational Film: Produced by Blue Ridge Public Television and the Virginia Tech Center for Civil War Studies • Distributed free of charge to schools, major libraries and local sesquicentennial committees beginning Autumn 2009 • Divided into nine 20-minute segments designed for use by teachers in the classroom • Supporting teacher materials will be developed with DOE • Segments will focus on the background of the war, military campaigns, the African-American experience, leading Virginia personalities, the common soldiers, homefront activities (including women and medical care) and legacies of the war for all Americans.

13. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Plans in Development Digitization project: Partner with the Library of Virginia for a major initiative to identify, collect, catalog, and preserve Civil War documents currently held in private collections through digital scanning. Successful pilot programs have been held in Danville and Winchester – more to be scheduled. Interactive battlefield tours: Partner with NPS and state battlefield sites throughout the state to develop interactive ‘Vodcast’ battlefield tours for widespread access through the Internet. Strategic Marketing Plan: Work with the Virginia Tourism Corporation to develop and implement an 8-year marketing plan for the statewide commemoration.

14. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Special Events Kickoff event: Harper’s Ferry: June 25, 2009 • 150th anniversary of John Brown’s Raid • Partnering with West Virginia for inaugural event • Purpose: Bring national attention to the sesquicentennial; media presence • Panel discussions with historians, tours Significant milestone events: 2011: First Battle of Manassas 2012: Battle of the Ironclads (Hampton Roads) Jackson’s Valley Campaign (Shenandoah Valley) Seven Days Battles (Richmond) 2013: Emancipation Proclamation Chancellorsville (Fredericksburg/Stafford) 2014: Overland Campaign (Spotsylvania) Siege of Petersburg 2015: Culmination (Appomattox)

15. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Sesquicentennial - Plans in Development Coordination: The Commission will lead the linkage, coordination, unification, and support of museums and historical sites statewide. • Promote Civil War destinations through: • Interactive website • Computer kiosks • Comprehensive marketing plan • Goal: Making travel easy for visitors • Local sesquicentennial committees • Liaison between the state Commission and the locality • Plan events to highlight Civil War history and experience in the community • Submit information to Commission for online maps, calendars, etc.

16. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Local Sesquicentennial Committees To every extent possible, the local sesquicentennial committee should include representatives of: • Office of the chief administrative official • Governing body (i.e., City Council or Board of Supervisors) • Tourism industry organizations • Convention and Visitors' Bureau or visitors' services office • Chamber of Commerce or economic development office • Education community (e.g., Superintendent, teachers, PTA representatives, etc.) • Battlefields and National Park Service personnel • Civil War Trails local coordinator • Civil War museums and facilities • Historical society • Public and private nonprofit organizations engaged in commemorating historical events

17. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Local Sesquicentennial Committees: Suggested activities • Inventory Civil War sites for “Then/Now” interactive map; provide narrative history of the locality’s Civil War involvement for website • Plan events and activities that highlight the locality’s Civil War history and that have importance and meaning to its citizens (include multiple perspectives). Work together regionally whenever possible. • Promote and support the Commission’s signature events, such as the Signature Conference series, document digitization project, and HistoryMobile visits • Record Podcast tours of battlefields • Join or expand participation in Civil War Trails program to increase access to uninterpreted sites **Understand that the opportunities provided by the sesquicentennial also create an obligation to present complete, unbiased history.**

18. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Local Sesquicentennial Committees: The Commission’s Role • Serve as the umbrella under which all activities and events fall - - coordinating and marketing the state, with the goal of making travel easy for visitors. • Develop and implement a strategic statewide marketing campaign through the Virginia Tourism Corporation. • Publicize activities through a statewide master calendar of events • Administer a competitive micro-grant program coordinated by VTC to provide financial support to local committees for marketing of sesquicentennial events and activities. • Provide technical assistance by aiding searches for grants, in-kind resources, etc. • Work with the local committee to schedule a HistoryMobile visit and schedule participation in the Document Digitization project. • Keep local committees informed of and involved in the Commission's activities. Hold periodic "Civil War 150 Local Committee Roundtable" meetings

19. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War Commission Use of the Commission’s Logo • Memorandum of Understanding – Three types • 1. UA – Committees acting under the authority of a local government (i.e., BOS/Council resolution or endorsement) • All requests go through local committee for endorsement • Local committee can assign the logo to third parties and will monitor usage in the locality • 2. NUA – Committees not acting under the authority of a local government • Local committee may use the logo, but not assign its usage to third parties • Applications subject to longer review process at state level • 3. Private entity • Violations subject to $5,000 penalty • An application for use of logo must be filed and approved before each instance of usage

23. Virginia Sesquicentennial of theAmerican Civil War CommissionStaff Contact Information Cheryl Jackson Executive Director Michele Howell Grants Administrator and Project Manager Tricia Hagan Executive Assistant Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission Division of Legislative Services 910 Capitol Street, GAB, 2nd floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 Phone: (804) 786-3591 Email: info@virginiacivilwar.org donate@virginiacivilwar.org Website: www.VirginiaCivilWar.org