Meeting Notes: November 16, 2022

 11/16/2022 – “Forting Up”

Held at University of Richmond

Due to unforeseen events, there was a last-minute change in the evenings’ program speaker. Again, another ARRT-Richmond member was called on, at the last minute, as speaker for the evening’s program presentation. Dr. Bruce M. Venter is CEO of America’s History, LLC , an experienced tour leader, and has written for Blue & Gray, Civil War and the Washington Times. He has previously led tours entitled Rogers Rangers and the French and Indian War and Defending the Highlands: The Revolutionary War in the Hudson River Valley.

After general announcements, Bruce spoke on “Forting Up: Defending the Mohawk Valley through the Artwork of Rufus Grider.” Rufus Grider’s artistic endeavors relating to New York State history began in 1886. At that time, he came up with the idea of making a “collection of pictures of old” buildings of the Mohawk Valley. He decided he could draw these buildings that “formerly existed” if he could find individuals who could describe them and recognize them when drawn. Initially he drew views of buildings and landscapes then Indian relics and finally ”any object suited for illustration,“ including documents, which he copied by tracing the original. From 1886 to about 1900, Grider traveled up and down the Mohawk Valley, with occasional excursions to the Cherry and Schohoarie valleys and Lake George and Lake Champlain, in search of historic buildings, battlefields, the sites of forts the relics of Indians. All of which he drew or copied with explanatory notes. Bruce presented images of Grider’s works and provided architectural details about the buildings’ construction, function and Revolutionary War historical significance.

The New York State Library holds a large collection of Grider’s works

At meeting’s end, Bill Welsch offered the Board’s recommendations for leadership positions of ARRT-Richmond for the next two years and changes to the by-laws. A vote was taken and the Board’s recommendations were unanimously accepted.

Meeting Notes: September 21, 2022

9/21/2022 – Washington’s Lieutenants

Held at University of Richmond

Due to unforeseen events, there was a last-minute change in the evenings’ program speaker. Luckily, Bill Welsch stepped in and presented a program on the Continental generals under George Washington. Bill is a frequent speaker on and experienced tour leader of New Jersey Revolutionary War sites. He is a founding member and president of the American Revolution Round Table of Richmond, Virginia.

After general announcements, Bill began his presentation with a collective perspective about the 78 Continental Army’s leaders who were promoted or commissioned as major generals and brigadier generals and took part in the American Revolutionary War.

Summary level demographic information about the generals included: origins by state, pre-war military and political experiences, ethnic origins, professions, Masonic affiliations, and European origins. Bill also spoke about their relations with Congress, Washington, and each other; and offered bits of trivia about a number of the generals, as well as Washington’s opinions about his subordinates.  He concluded with a slide show of generals’ portraits.

Bill offered Washington's Revolutionary War Generals (Campaigns and Commanders Series Book 68) by Stephen R. Taaffe as a good source for further information.

Next Meeting: March 15, 2023

At our next meeting on March 15, 2023, Larry Kidder will speak on "That Unhappy Affair at Trenton."

We will be returning to the Westhampton Room in the Heilman Dining Center. Regular dining service will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m.

University of Richmond campus map:

http://www.richmond.edu/visit/maps/print/campus.pdf

THIS IS NOT A ZOOM MEETING, BUT IN-PERSON ONLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND.

Next Meeting: January 18. 2023

*** ZOOM MEETING ***

Our next meeting on January 18, 2023 will feature Tyler Putnam speaking on "Washington's Tent."

Join Tyler Putman of the Museum of the American Revolution for an historic and virtual exploration of George Washington's life on campaign during the Revolutionary War. This program will include an exploration of the Museum's virtual tour of Washington's wartime headquarters and explore the history of Washington's sleeping marquee (which is in the Museum's collection) and the surprising stories of the diverse people who made, maintained, and preserved it over three centuries.

Dr.Tyler Rudd Putman is the Senior Manager of Gallery Interpretation at the Museum of the American Revolution, where he manages talks, tours, theatrical programs, and living history.

Note that this is a ZOOM meeting and not an in person meeting. We will be joined by the University of Richmond's Osher students and, hopefully, friends around the country.  Sign on details will be included in Bill Welsch's January newsletter.

2023 Dues

Because our January meeting will be via ZOOM, we will begin collecting 2023 membership dues in-person at our March 15 meeting. If you wish to pay by mail before then, simply go to the "Dues" tab above, print the membership information form, complete it and mail with your check for $20.00 to the address on the bottom of the form.

2023 Meetings

The dates for our 2023 meetings have been posted to the "Meetings" tab above. Topics and speakers will be posted as they become available. Please note that our January 18 meeting will be a ZOOM meeting.

Yorktown Tour

Thanks to Sarah Pace, here are pictures from our recent tour of Yorktown.  Michael Moore and Maureen Wiese did a fantastic job of covering the village.  Again, thank you to two of our anonymous members, who came through with extra donations to keep the tour in the black.  Scroll down through the pictures. 

https://www.facebook.com/HenricoCountyHistoricalSociety