Neither rain, nor cold, nor dark of night can keep a history-loving crowd from its appointed rounds.
That was the case last Friday evening when an overflow assembly of 120 people gathered at Rappahannock Community College’s Warsaw campus to here Dr. Richard S. Dunn speak about his recently published book, A Tale of Two Plantations: Slave Life and Labor in Jamaica and Virginia.
Earlier that afternoon, some of Menokin’s Trustees were on hand to greet Dr. Dunn and his family as they arrived from a previous engagement in Charlottesville. Sarah Pope, Executive Director, made a brief presentation about Menokin and it’s revolutionary preservation plan to conserve and interpret this National Historic Landmark.
Guests, staff and trustees mingled with the Dunns, giving them a taste of Northern Neck hospitality, and some personal insights into the Glass House Project.
Then it was off to RCC. People came from far and near to attend the lecture. With space at a premium, many arrived early to get a good spot. The auditorium was full to capacity, with an overflow room taking those who were unable to make reservations.
The lecture wrapped up with a Q&A from the audience and a book signing.
Guests then attended a lovely reception hosted by Catherine and Tayloe Emery at nearby Mount Airy. Because Mount Airy and owner John Tayloe III were a focus of the book, it felt most appropriate for attendees to gather there to engage and be inspired.
The lecture was video-taped and I’ll be sure to post a link to you tube as soon as it’s ready to share.
Find out about upcoming events in the Menokin Speaker Series.
Richard S. Dunn is Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Professor Emeritus of American History at the University of Pennsylvania. Among his publications are Sugar and Slaves in 1972; The Papers of William Penn, edited with Mary Maples Dunn, in four volumes published in 1981–1987; and The Journal of John Winthrop, edited with Laetitia Yeandle, published in 1996. He also designed the McNeil Center for Early American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and was its founding director.