Hi fellow list folks!

Here is a new year-long special program from the curatorial/education folks
at Montpelier, the home of James & Dolley Madison, near Orange, Virginia.
With the exception of February's conference, ALL events are free and open
to the public.  If you're in the Washington, D.C., Charlottesville, VA., or
Richmond, VA area this year, try to attend one or more of these monthly
events.

Check out Montpelier's new website for more information!
www.montpelier.org


"THE YEAR OF THE WOMAN AT MONTPELIER: FROM FRANCIS TAYLOR MADISON TO MARION
DUPONT SCOTT, 200 YEARS OF WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE."

This series is sponsored by Wheat First Union Foundation, the Virginia
Foundation for the Humanities, the University of Virginia's Continuing
Education Center and the staff at Montpelier.   To make a reservation
(seating is limited to 75), call 540-672-0024 OR e-mail the curartor
(that's me, Lee Langston-Harrison), at [log in to unmask]

This monthly series of lectures, workshops, a conference and exhibits
focuses on the lives and contributions of the many women who helped shape
the history of Montpelier, including:

*       Frances Taylor Madison, President Madison's grandmother and childhood
tutor, a Virginia pioneer who was widowed at the age of 32 and successfully
ran the plantation for more than a decade;

*       Nelly Conway Madison, the President's mother who also maintained a
seperate household and plantation operation;

*       Dolley Payne Todd Madison, White House hostess for 16 years, key partner
and advisor to her husband, President Madison, and the first President's
wife to be called "First Lady":

*       the enslaved women who toiled for three generations of Madisons at
Montpelier, the challenges they overcame and their special legacies;

*       Annie Rogers (Zinn) duPont, who with her husband William, shaped the
Montpelier house and property as it exists todat; and

*       Marion duPont Scott, who created Montpelier as an international
equestrian center and bequeathed it to the National Trust for Historic
Preservation.


                        SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:


Sunday, 1/31:   "Dolley Madison's World", a lecture by Dr. Holly Shulman,
visitor professor of history at the Univ. of Maryland, and co-editor of the
upcoming "Collected Correspondence of Dolley Madison" (UVA Press).
Reception and tour of "Discovering Madison" to follow.  1:30-4:30 p.m.

Sat., 2/20:     "Madam President" a one-day conference, co-sponsored by UVA's
Contin. Ed. Center.  Course credit, $125 reg. fee, includes sit-down
luncheon and tour of main house and new "Discovering Madison". Contact UVA
at 804-982-4789.
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Sun., 3/7:      Exhibition and lecture presented by Raye Virginia Allen, noted
author and biographer of Gordon Conway, early 20th century artist and
fashion designer.  Conway was a direct descendent of Nelly Conway Madison,
the President's mother.
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Reception following the lecture.

Sat., 4/24:     "Patchwork Tales: A Story in Every Stitch," by Kathy Coleman,
Virginia storyteller and folklorist.  Ms. Coleman will present tales of the
women who lived and worked on the Piedmont "frontier".   A traditional
fiber quilt exhibit of traditonal Virginia patterns will be on view as
well.  2-4 p.m.

Sat., 5/22:     "Having Fun with History: Using Historic Sites as Fictional
Settings," a presentation by Dr. Rita Mae Brown, noted American author.
She will be discussing her work on "Dolley," a recent novel set at
Montpelier.  There will be a booksigning and reception following the
lecture.   2-5 p.m

Sat., 6/12:     "Art in the Montpelier Gardens"; a full day of fun for artists
of all ages.  Workshops on watercolors for kids in the morning, and
costumed models roaming the grounds and gardens for all artists throughout
the day.  Bring your paints, pallets, colors, etc., and work on the
grounds.  An exhibition of any/all finished work will be on view for
through July.   9-5 p.m.

Sat., 7/24:     "From Mistress to Mammy: Women on the Virginia Plantation," a
panel discussion among historic house museums and scholars focusing on the
variety of roles played by women living on Tidewater vs Piedmont
plantations.  Reception to follow, 2-5 p.m.  Also: the Orange County Fair
(voted one of the top 100 county fairs in the country) will be going on on
the grounds at Montpelier!

Sat., 8/21:     "Trivial Pursuits: Entertainment and Leisure in Early
Virginia," a series of activity stations geared to teaching the young and
young at heart how to play period games, including cards, dances, word
games, etc.  2-5 p.m.

Sat., 9/18:     "Constitution Day" at Montpelier 10-5: w/a special presentation
for the Year of the Woman, "The Bill of Rights Examined: Women and the
Law," at 2 p.m.  "James Madison" will also be on hand to discuss the
Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Sun., 10/10:    Celebrate Archaeology Month with "Frances Taylor Madison at
Mount Pleasant," a presentation by Tamarra Castillo Parker and Scott
Parker, staff archaeologists at Montpelier.  A special tour of the Mount
Pleasant archaeology site will follow the lecture.  2-4 p.m.

Sun., 11/14:    "Annie and Marion: The duPont Women of Montpelier," a
presentation and walking tour of the duPont rooms (now closed for
restoration). 2-5 p.m.  Reception in main house.

Sun., 12/12:    TBA: a presentation and a behind the scenes look of the 2nd
annual "Holidays at Home" room tour.

Most activities are being held in the Education Center at Montpelier.
Please call for more details, 540-672-0024.  Tell Andy or Laura that you
read about this on Museum-L!!!


Hope to see you here!

Lee Langston-Harrison
Dir. of Curatorial Operations and
YoW Project Director

1/21/99