CRESSET THE
News of Your Impact on The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
FALL 2024
STORY OF A PATRIOT HISTORIC DRESS COLLECTION
Donor support restores this 1957 historic film to its original experience. PAGE 4
TUCKER HOUSE HAPPENINGS
Our donor reception center offers rest, refreshments and unique programs for donors. PAGE 5
New Archaeological Discoveries Illustrate
Digging into the history under our feet
A beautiful exhibition showcases something we can all relate to — getting dressed. PAGE 6
Excavations at the site of the Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center uncovered the foundations of a 17th-century home. (Right) A blue glass inlay from a button found at the Revolutionary War barracks site.
We are pleased to present the fall issue of The Cresset. A sensory experience that helps to define Colonial Williamsburg, cressets line Duke of Gloucester Street. They are used for a small fire, burning as a light or beacon. This newsletter is intended to be just that a beacon to highlight the stories, places, people and projects that demonstrate...
Central to The Power of Place — The Centennial Campaign for Colonial Williamsburg is the recognition that the physical landscape of this historic site plays an important role in how we tell the stories of our nation’s founding, allowing visitors to learn about our shared history while standing in the location where pivotal events unfolded. Despite almost 100 years of archaeological investigation in the Historic Area, excavations continue to uncover new discoveries and reveal new insights into the past. Two recently discovered sites, in addition to our ongoing excavations at sites like Custis Square, truly show that Colonial Williamsburg, the birthplace of historical archaeology, remains a place of never-ending discovery.
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For membership information and assistance, please contact The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation at DonorSocieties@cwf.org. The Revolution Is Here.
History. Happens. Here.
Dear Friends,
Since taking the helm as Chief Development Officer late last year, it has been inspiring to witness the tremendous impact of your commitment to Colonial Williamsburg. We are amid the most activity in the Historic Area since the 1960s, with multiple archaeological digs, major restorations, new programming and so much more happening concurrently. We can do this work because of your confidence in our mission and your curiosity in our shared history. Thank you for letting us feed that curiosity.
It is our duty to share the role Williamsburg played in the founding of our nation. It was here that some of the most well-known names in history set a plan in motion toward independence. But it was also here that more than half the population of the city, members of the enslaved and free Black community, wondered if that independence applied to them too.
In Williamsburg, we can share a larger picture of early American history and better understand the complexities of how an entire community grappled with such monumental change. The Revolution is here.
THE CRESSET
This newsletter is published by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation exclusively for members of the Colonial Williamsburg Burgesses, Colonial Williamsburg Associates, Raleigh Tavern Society and the W.A.R. Goodwin Society.
Cliff Fleet, President & CEO
The Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Distinguished Presidential Chair
Sani Silvennoinen, Chief Development Officer
WRITERS
Elizabeth Henderson, Emily MacIntosh and Rachel West
EDITOR
Rachel West
CONTRIBUTING
EDITORS
Betsy Edwards and Laura Potts
ART DIRECTOR
Bob McCracken
PROOFREADER
Elizabeth Narney
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Brendan Sostak and Brian Newson
For membership information and assistance, please contact The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, P.O. Box 1776, Williamsburg, VA 23187-1776 or email
DonorSocieties@cwf.org.
You may also call 1.888.293.1776.
That is the power of this place and why we named our fundraising campaign The Power of Place — The Centennial Campaign for Colonial Williamsburg For nearly a century, the Foundation has worked to fulfill our mission That the future may learn from the past by being leaders in historic preservation, creating engaging educational programming, and inspiring generations through civic engagement initiatives.
Since the spring issue of this newsletter, we welcomed over 500 educators for the Teacher Institute, the largest in-person cohort since its inception 35 years ago. Renovations began at the Teacher Institute Center, the program’s new home which will feature classroom and office space for teachers and staff. Construction continues at the Campbell Archaeology Center, where excavations recently wrapped up on the surprising discovery of a 17th-century dwelling. You will read more about that in the cover article.
As we near the one-year anniversary of the public launch of the Power of Place Campaign, I am pleased to share that at the time of this publication, we are approaching $400 million toward our $600 million goal.
With your support, we can accomplish great things. I am so glad to have you with us on this journey of never-ending discovery.
Warmly, Sani Silvennoinen
Chief Development Officer
Continued from page 1 Archaeological Discoveries
At the northern end of our campus near the Visitor Center, excavations begun during the summer of 2023 ultimately identified the remains of Continental Army barracks, built in 1776 shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Executive Director of Archaeology Jack Gary and his team turned their attention to the site when it was selected as the location for a new sports center by the Historic Triangle Recreational Facilities Authority. Historical records, including 18th-century maps, indicated that barracks once stood in the area, so archaeologists had good reason to believe that the previously unexcavated site would yield some traces of its past use. Initial excavations soon recovered bricks and artifacts typical of the mid-18th century, as well as intact chimney bases.
Further investigation recovered evidence of multiple structures and artifacts, including gun hardware, high-end ceramics and button inlays made of glass and mother-of-pearl. A piece of lead shot was found bearing tooth marks, perhaps speaking to a soldier’s boredom. As Gary explained, “Soldiers would chew on the shot. It’s soft, kind of sweet tasting.” Taken together, the evidence
site being the location of the barracks, which were occupied from 1777 until 1781, when it is believed that they were burned by troops under General Cornwallis on their way to Yorktown.
Plans for the sports center have shifted their future location to preserve the barracks site. For now, only a small percentage of the site has been excavated, but it has been covered back up to protect the artifacts during construction. Still, the preliminary finds provide a promising window into the daily lives of soldiers in Williamsburg during the Revolutionary War and a connection to the war’s last major land battle with the Siege of Yorktown, and archaeologists hope to return to the site in the coming years.
“There is a lot more work to do at the barracks, and we plan to come back as early as 2026 to conduct a more complete investigation of the property,” Gary said.
“We’ve only scratched the surface so far.”
At the southern end of the Historic Area, construction at the site of the new Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center led to the discovery of a 17th-century structure this past March. This find expands our knowledge of Williamsburg prior to its establishment as the colony’s capital in 1699, when the settlement was known as Middle Plantation. Preserved only a couple of feet below the ground surface, archaeologists uncovered the brick foundations of a 32 foot by 24 foot residence, complete with a cellar and a nearby well. Based on the dimensions of the bricks and the associated artifacts, the team was able to determine that the building was constructed in the late 17th century and likely survived into the first few decades of the 18th century, making it contemporaneous with John Custis IV’s house at Custis Square and several other properties that stood in this part of the town.
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(Above) A wagon wheel nail and a Virginia halfpenny are among the artifacts found at the Revolutionary War barracks site. (Left) A Colonial Williamsburg staff member sifts through the soil at the site of the Campbell Archaeology Center.
Shown daily from 1957 to 2020, “Story of a Patriot” earned the title of longest-running motion picture.
Aniconic and historic film
depicting Williamsburg’s important role in our nation’s origin story is once again shown in a stunning 70mm format thanks to generous donor support.
“Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot” follows John Fry, a fictional Virginia planter portrayed by Jack Lord, who is elected to the House of Burgesses and navigates a tumultuous time in the fight for independence. Filmed in the Historic Area, it was shown daily since its 1957 debut — earning the title of longest-running motion picture — until the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of the Foundation’s public sites. By that time over 30 million people had seen the film.
The film was created by a true powerhouse group of Hollywood filmmakers, including composer Bernard Herrmann, who took home an Oscar for “The Devil and Daniel Webster” and scored several Hitchcock films, and director George Seaton, who won an Oscar for writing “Miracle on 34th Street.”
In “Story of a Patriot,” Seaton utilized new technological advances such as a high-definition, ultrawide-screen format known as VistaVision instead of the standard 35mm film and a new six-channel sound recording system instead of a single with a goal of truly immersing viewers in the story. Even the theater screens enhanced the viewing experience.
(Above left) Jack Lord, known for his long-running role in Hawaii Five-0, starred in “Story of a Patriot” as fictional Virginia planter John Fry. (Above right) Still from “Williamsburg: The Story of a Patriot” with members of the House of Burgesses, filmed at the Capitol.
Story of a Patriot
Donor Support Restores Historic Film to Original Experience
During the closure, the Foundation explored updating the 1965 70mm projectors — which hadn’t been in use since 2017 — and the film was instead shown in a digital format. President’s Council, Raleigh Tavern and Goodwin Society members Sally and Jim Thomas offered to provide the funding to support the project so visitors could once again experience the film as originally intended.
For each showing, a projectionist sets up and plays the film and performs routine maintenance on the projectors between showings. It is currently shown Fridays through Tuesdays in the East Theater of the Visitor Center with a goal of expanding to Wednesdays and Thursdays. A digital version of “Story of a Patriot” is shown daily in the West Theater.
Our many thanks to the Thomases for their generosity in making this initiative a reality. CW
Tucker House Happenings
The St. George Tucker House, our premier donor reception center, provides eligible donors a comfortable place to relax, engage with fellow donors, experience exclusive programs and enjoy light refreshments. Below is a recap of some recent donor events at the Tucker House, as well as a reminder to reserve your spot for upcoming fall programs.
Book
Discussions with Nation Builders — In April, Nation Builder Katharine Pittman, who portrays Martha Washington, led a book club style conversation about Patricia Brady’s “Martha Washington: An American Life.” In August, Nation Builders Ron Carnegie, who portrays Gen. George Washington, and Kurt Smith, who portrays Thomas Jefferson, led a discussion of Frank D. Cogliano’s “A Revolutionary Friendship: Washington, Jefferson, and the American Republic” and shared their perspectives on the friendship between these two pivotal leaders.
Podcasting History: The Making of Ben Franklin’s World — In June, Founding Director of the Colonial Williamsburg Innovation Studios Liz Covart shared her personal journey and the story behind the creation of our award-winning history podcast. On Ben Franklin’s World, Covart welcomes historians from around the world to discuss their research, share ideas and explore our shared history.
Juneteenth Drum Circle and Open House — As part of Colonial Williamsburg’s commemoration of Juneteenth, a community drum circle was held under the shade of the mature trees in the Tucker House garden. Attended by over 400 people, this event was paired with open house tours of the Tucker House. Volunteers shared architectural and family history of the original 18th-century home and its current hospitality mission. Nearly 200 visitors explored the house in just an hour!
Donor Visit with a Nation Builder programs at the Tucker House are a wonderful way to engage with the historic interpreters in up-close and personal conversations. Space is limited, so reserve your seats for this popular program today by calling (877) 293-8477.
The St. George Tucker House is one of Colonial Williamsburg’s 89 original structures.
New Exhibition Highlights
Elegance, Taste & Style showcases a total of 150 pieces of 18th- and 19th-century
Atthe entrance to the new Mary Turner Gilliland and Clinton R. Gilliland Gallery at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, museum-goers are greeted by a larger-thanlife video panel showing different historic interpreters, who portray a wide range of early American society, race and class, going about a very everyday activity: getting dressed.
the sensitivity of textiles to light, the exhibition has been planned to include three rotations of 40 to 50 objects at a time, allowing museum visitors to appreciate a larger range of the historic costumes in Doering’s encyclopedic collection. Each rotation will be installed for approximately 12 months, with the new selections targeted to open in February each year.
This exhibition is a must-see for museum visitors and was made possible through the generous investment of our
As Neal Hurst, curator of historic dress and textiles, noted, choosing clothing and getting dressed is “still something we do every day. We still wake up every morning, check the weather outside… [historic dress is] something we can still relate to, it’s personal.”
donors.
(Above) A French printed cotton textile, designed between 1800 and 1805, depicts figures and creatures from Classical mythology. (Right) In this fashionable men’s ensemble from the late 18th century, the brightly colored, yellow-green silk coat is cut to show off the embroidered waistcoat worn underneath. The exhibition displays footwear and accessories as well, including this ca. 1800 pair of children’s turn shoes, measuring only 4 1/2 inches long.
This video has already proven to be popular with guests since its installation in February as part of the special exhibition Elegance, Taste & Style: The Mary D. Doering Fashion Collection. Beyond its place in the Gilliland Gallery, excerpts from the full recording have been shared on the Foundation’s social media accounts and included among the resources for teachers participating in Teacher Institute.
Among the shimmering silks and intricately embroidered details on view in the first rotation, Hurst pointed out a simple, long-sleeved green gown, produced around 1815. He described the gown as “fashionably cut and beautifully plain.” More importantly, it is a rare example of a wool garment from the early 19th century. While wool dresses from the period were likely common, they do not tend to survive to the present day because the material is particularly vulnerable to insects like moths and carpet beetles. “For lots of insects, a wool gown was Thanksgiving dinner,” he said.
Elegance, Taste & Style will showcase a total of 150 pieces of 18th- and 19th-century historic dress, shoes, accessories and textiles from the collection of Mary D. Doering, noted costume historian, educator and lifelong collector. Due to
Doering’s collection is a wonderful resource not only for its sheer quantity, but also for the rare examples of historic garments and textile documents that she acquired from flea markets, antiques stores and auction houses. Primarily, high-end garments tend to survive over time, but Doering sought out good examples of plain, everyday styles as well. “Her collection is unique in that you could use it to dress somebody from
historic dress items on loan from Mary D. Doering
Vast Historic Dress Collection
historic dress, shoes, accessories and textiles from the collection of Mary D. Doering
head to toe,” Hurst said. Currently, more than 1,000 pieces from Doering are on loan to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Thanks to the Thomas L. and Nancy S. Baker Museum Exhibitions Support Fund and the generosity of donors Ellan and Charles Spring, Hurst and his colleagues in textile conservation were able to take advantage of these materials to plan and research this special exhibition for visitors to the Art Museums.
Mounting an exhibition of historic clothing requires many practical considerations beyond the research into and care for the objects themselves. To best present the gowns, waistcoats, jackets and other pieces, specialty mannequins needed to be ordered and then further customized to provide the proper foundation for each garment or ensemble, essentially recreating the form of the original wearer. Reproduction shoes and accessories were produced to finish the look. This attention to detail can be seen in the display of a ca. 1820 pleated cotton dress in the current installation, another of Hurst’s favorites. The white cotton of the gown is thin and almost sheer, and it would have been worn over an appropriate slip. The exhibition team decided to sew a green slip to highlight the delicate pleating. While it is impossible to know if the dress’s owner would have worn it over a colored underdress, this choice helps modern viewers appreciate both the garment’s construction and the ways people in the past thought about their daily wardrobe.
The Doering exhibition is the inaugural show for the Gilliland Gallery, which is dedicated to historic dress. Hurst mentioned that a potential focus for a future exhibition is the undergarments and other foundation pieces that gave 18th- and 19th-century styles their characteristic silhouettes. Along with the Len
and Cyndy Alaimo Gallery, also in the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Foster and Muriel McCarl Gallery in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, the Art Museums now have three galleries reserved for the display of historic clothing, needlework, quilts and other textiles, creating exciting opportunities for the curatorial and exhibition staff to share these fragile collections with the public.
All the additional behindthe-scenes work that went into Elegance, Taste & Style — filming and editing the exhibition video; purchasing fabric and materials to make reproduction accessories; building up the mannequins — makes the exhibition a must-see for museum visitors and was made possible through the generous investment of our donors. For those interested in ensuring that informative and engaging new exhibitions continue to open within the Art Museums, Colonial Williamsburg’s Pooled Endowment for Museum Exhibitions provides direct support to exhibition development, design and production. Please contact campaign@cwf.org for information on making a gift to this endowment.
A reproduction petticoat and accessories were created to complete the display of this women’s outfit, dating to 17901800. The jacket of this stylish dress is unusual, because two different block printed cotton fabrics were used to complete the garment.
Donor Spotlight – John and Judi Morrow
Leaving a Legacy:
The Morrows Look to the Future to Preserve the Past
For John and Judi Morrow, Williamsburg is a haven — a place to escape the pressures of work and life and to connect with each other through their memories of experiences shared here over the years.
Their Colonial Williamsburg journey began decades ago when they first visited on their honeymoon. Since then, the Morrows have moved from Pennsylvania to Texas and then to Oklahoma, but they always find time to return to Williamsburg each year.
Judi has an affinity for the Rare Breeds and Coach & Livestock, while John’s interest is in the Historic Trades and Skills. For them, both initiatives tell a story that could be read about in a history book, but here, it is brought to life.
To John, the most exciting time to visit the Historic Area is during the fall for the annual brick firing. Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, he heard his parents’ stories of the beehive ovens that burned coal to be used in the steel mills. Witnessing and assisting the brickmakers as they work around the clock to fire 20,000 to 30,000 hand-molded bricks at over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit makes him feel connected to his parents and their family history.
Some of Judi’s favorite memories come from interactions she’s had over the years with tradespeople in the Historic Area. “When we came in the spring, I always made a visit to the weavers,” she said. “It got to the point where I would walk in the door, and they would
“We are already looking forward to when we can bring our granddaughter, Ava, to Williamsburg to teach her about the American story.”
recognize me. We’d see them weaving and dyeing the yarn, and once we got to see them shearing the sheep.”
The Morrows have seen changes in Colonial Williamsburg over time, and they are excited about the future. “What I remember from when we first started visiting is that it seemed like the focus was on the architectural preservation and the historic buildings,” said John. “But now there is a more inclusive picture of everyone who was living and working in Williamsburg at the time. They’re bringing in the average inhabitants, the tradespeople, Indigenous people and others.”
For John and Judi Morrow, Colonial Williamsburg is an important part of their shared past and their future legacy.
“I like the direction of telling a wide variety of stories, and the inclusiveness that it brings. I look at what is going on with the Williamsburg Bray School and the First Baptist Church and we’re not ignoring what happened in the past, but it’s a collaborative effort to move forward. We’re saying, ‘What can we do to move forward together?’”
The Morrows’ contributions to the Colonial Williamsburg Fund began as a small annual gift that, as time went on, they were able to increase. Now, as members of the Colonial Williamsburg Burgesses, the Morrows have decided to make The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation a part of their legacy. John said, “As we got older, it came time to think about estate planning. And we’re thinking ‘What do we want our legacy to be when we’re not here anymore?’ So, we looked at what’s important to us, and we’ll continue to support on an annual basis, but now it’s about, ‘Where do we want to leave our legacy?’”
(Right) Visitors to the pasture behind the Randolph House could spot this year’s first calf, Uno, exploring the field among the adult cattle.
(Below right) Lambing season comes earlier in the spring, with the first lambs of the year born in March. Once they are old enough to leave the stables, the growing lambs can be seen throughout the Historic Area.
(Far right) 2024’s first foal, a filly named Audi-Blu, was born in May. Over the summer, she and her mother were a popular sight in the Blair Pasture at the corner of Nassau and Duke of Gloucester streets.
COACH & LIVESTOCK WELCOMES
Spring Additions
Every spring, the dedicated animal husbandry team in the Coach & Livestock department are excited to introduce the newly born animals to visitors. By July, the staff welcomed one American Milking Devon calf, three Cleveland Bay foals and eight Leicester Longwool lambs.
CW
How You Can Help
Architectural preservation — and the research that goes into ensuring its accuracy — is fundamental in Colonial Williamsburg’s mission to tell complete stories of 18th-century life.
MATCHING GRANT
The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation has challenged Colonial Williamsburg to raise $300,000 in support of the Magazine’s restoration. Once the funding is secured the foundation will award another $300,000 for the Magazine project. For more information on how you can contribute to the matching grant challenge, contact us at campaign@cwf.org.
The Power of Place Campaign supports the people and infrastructure that bring early American history to life. To learn more, please visit colonialwilliamsburg.org/powerofplace/
According to Gary, although further research is needed, “We’re starting to get the sense that this area was sort of like its own neighborhood of the early years of Williamsburg.”
The recovered artifacts speak to the affluence of the home’s residents and include imported ceramics and a silver teaspoon, as well as architectural elements like bits of plaster from the original walls and an almost-intact leaded casement window that was found in the cellar. “We rarely find windows still intact — usually just fragments of the glass panes and the lead strips that hold them together — but in this case we found the panes and lead still holding together,” Gary said. “This is the most intact casement window we have ever found archaeologically here.”
Because the 17th-century site is located within the footprint of the new archaeology building, the Foundation is exploring ways to interpret the structures within the completed Campbell Archaeology Center so that visitors can still learn about the excavations once the site has been covered up. Current plans include installing a glass floor panel over the north wall of the historic brick foundation and using some of the original bricks from the well’s upper courses to indicate its findspot. Before excavations were completed, only the first six feet of the well’s interior were able to be safely investigated. A plaque will be placed within it to mark the level of the 2024 excavations for future archaeologists who may
return to the site, carrying on our belief that there is always something new to learn and discover.
When completed, the Campbell Archaeology Center will provide a world-class modern laboratory for conservation and analysis while engaging the public with archaeological methods. Every artifact we recover represents a tangible connection to the real people from Williamsburg’s past, and the facility’s new exhibition spaces will allow us to provide greater access to our collections, with focused exhibitions featuring artifacts like those found at the barracks and the 17th-century site. These research spaces will complement the active public archaeology sites, like the adjacent Custis Square. Here, the archaeologists continue to explore the 18th-century landscape and look for new ways to interpret the lives of the people who lived and labored on the property. As we remain committed to our Campaign goals, the generous investment of our donors will enable this important research to continue and preserve this history for future generations.
For more information on how you can support this initiative, including naming opportunities, contact campaign@cwf.org.
(Above) Excavations at the site for the sports facility quickly led to the discovery of bricks and other artifacts, leading to the identification of the Revolutionary War barracks.
(Below) High-end ceramics and a Spanish real coin found at the 17th-century dwelling site help paint a picture of the home’s wealthy occupants.
As a member of one of Colonial Williamsburg’s donor societies, you receive special discounts from our standard rate each night of your stay in any official Colonial Williamsburg hotel.
Call 1.877.293.8477 today and mention your affiliation when making your reservation. Some restrictions may apply. b
2024-2025 SPECIAL EVENTS
Raleigh Tavern Society Meeting (Fall)
NOVEMBER 1 - 3, 2024
Grand Illumination
DECEMBER 7, 14, 21, 2024
The W.A.R. Goodwin Society Meeting MARCH 7, 2025
Colonial Williamsburg Burgesses Meeting MARCH 8, 2025
Raleigh Tavern Society Meeting (Spring)
APRIL 4 - 6, 2025
If you have any questions about special events, please contact our Development staff at 757.220.7279 or cwevents@cwf.org. To receive our emails, including meeting and special event links, send an email to donorsocieties@cwf.org.
Thank you for your generous and continuing support.
CRESSET
