Presenter: Kate Egner Gruber, Special Exhibitions Curator for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia

Description: Women’s lives and roles in early Virginia were rarely recorded, and seldom find their way into traditional narratives of the colony’s earliest years. Using historic documents, archaeological artifacts, and surviving material culture, this presentation brings to light—and to life—the Virginia Indian, English, and West Central African women who were very much a part of the story, and celebrates the women who were determined to survive and persisted, and ultimately left legacies of their triumphs,  trials, and tenacity for us today.

 

Kate earned her B.A. in historic preservation and classical humanities from the University of Mary Washington, and her M.A. in early American history from the College of William and Mary. Employed by the Foundation as a curator since 2013, Kate has contributed to the development of the permanent galleries at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, including the award-winning signature film, Liberty Fever. As special exhibition curator, Kate develops exhibitions for galleries at Yorktown and Jamestown Settlement, including last year’s "Tenacity: Women in Jamestown and Early Virginia," which has been honored with a leadership in history award from the American Association for State and Local History.

Presenter: James M. Beidler, Genealogist and Author

Description: There are many stereotypes about the immigrants who came from German-speaking lands to America in the 1700s. This lecture uses the personal memoirs of the immigrants themselves to dispel the myths about why they came, what the voyage was like, and how they liked America. 

 

 

In his writings, Ric Murphy explores the roles and rich contributions made by African Americans in United States history, for which he has received over twenty awards. He has served in elected and appointed positions within state and local governments, and has taught and lectured at the post-secondary level. He has served as Chairman of the Board of several private and community based organizations; on numerous national, local and not-for-profit Boards of Directors; on countless Advisory Boards to community-based organizations and not-for-profits; and has received numerous national awards for his public activism and community work. His family lineage dates to the earliest colonial periods of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and of Jamestown, Virginia. Mr. Murphy’s lineage has been evaluated and accepted by several heredity societies, including the Daughters of the American Revolution; the National Society of the Sons of Colonial New England; the Sons of the American Revolution; the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War; and the Sons and Daughters of the U. S. Middle Passage. Mr. Murphy was a Fellow at Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government; and he has a Masters in Urban Affairs from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Massachusetts.

 

Thomas describes himself as a lifelong learner with a background in a multitude of topics who has finally figured out what he does best: teach, inspire, instigate, and serve as a curator and go-to-guy for concept nurturing and inspiration. Thomas is a big believer in success, and that we all succeed when we help each other find success.