Jessi Bennett – Page 2 – The UncommonWealth

“Charging Hell with a Bucket of Water”: The Virginians of the 370th Infantry

In 2018, we shared a blog post detailing the World War I experience of James P. Spencer, a Black soldier in the 370th Infantry of…

Jessi BennettJuly 6, 2022

Archives Digital Projects

Virginia Senior Portraits: A Fashion Show

We cover a lot of serious and heavy topics on the UncommonWealth blog but every once in a while we like to present something just…

Jessi BennettJune 1, 2022

Archives Digital Projects Manuscripts & Special Collections

Hazing on the High Seas

In 1823, Jacques Arago’s Voyage autour du Monde was published. After describing a line-crossing ceremony he had witnessed, he waxed philosophical, noting, “I have no…

Jessi BennettSeptember 1, 2021

Digital Projects Manuscripts & Special Collections

The Way We Were: Virginia High School Yearbooks

Last Friday we took a look at some of the ways that Virginia high school yearbooks have celebrated their graduates in the past, but there…

Jessi BennettJune 4, 2021

Digital Projects Manuscripts & Special Collections

Please Hold Your Applause Till the End: A Virginia Digital Yearbook Collection Update

The high school classes of 2020 and 2021 will always stand out for their unique senior year experience. We’ve had to invent new ways to…

Jessi BennettMay 28, 2021

Digital Projects

“She was, before her marriage, an accomplished teacher.”

Sometimes after a long day of looking at archival documents on my computer screen, I go home and relax by looking at archival documents on…

Jessi BennettMarch 24, 2021

Colley’s Calling: Reconstruction-Era Richmonders in Africa

On 13 September 1886, an ill W. W. Colley returned to Richmond, Virginia, from Liberia, trying once again to outrun scandal. However, the month-long boat…

Jessi BennettFebruary 17, 2021

Education & Programming

We Demand Complete Realization: The Slow Legal Fight for Enfranchisement

CONTENT WARNING: Materials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and…

Jessi BennettSeptember 11, 2020

Archives Education & Programming

“On Account of Race”: Disenfranchisement of Black Voters in Virginia

The history of African American disenfranchisement and exclusion in Virginia is a lengthy one. This blog post is meant to serve as an introduction and…

Jessi BennettSeptember 9, 2020

Newspapers

Why Juneteenth?

In mid-October of 1899, Richmond's Black Community prepared to have a three day celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation complete with a large downtown parade. The Richmond…

Jessi BennettJune 19, 2020

Public Libraries

“Physically distant but still connected”: Public Library Programming During Quarantine

Recent global circumstances have forced us all to change and adapt quickly. It is hard to adapt to a new situation without information, but libraries…

Jessi BennettJune 8, 2020

Public Libraries

“We continue to become more interconnected as a planet”: Public Library Spotlight with Cristina Ramirez

Cristina Ramirez is the Assistant Library Manager at the Varina Area Library in Henrico County. She was due to receive Virginia Commonwealth University’s Unsung Heroes…

Jessi BennettMay 11, 2020

Digital Projects Public Libraries

Public Library Spotlight: A Preservation Partnership

This is a post in our new series highlighting the people and programs of the public libraries of Virginia. To view more posts about our…

Jessi BennettApril 13, 2020

Public Libraries

Status of Virginia Public Libraries During COVID-19

Last updated September 10, 2020. Please click through to the library website for the most recent information. You can still enjoy many digital resources from…

Jessi BennettMarch 17, 2020

Digital Projects Manuscripts & Special Collections The Stacks

Welcome to 2020!

Library of Virginia, Visual Studies Ephemera Collection A reminder that the Library is closed today for New Year's. We will reopen tomorrow, January 02,…

Jessi BennettJanuary 1, 2020