Greetings--The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce the
 release of the 1939 New York World's Fair photograph collection
 as part of the LVA Digital Library Project.  The searchable
 database and photographic images are located at http://image.vtls.com.

 Among the U.S. exhibits at the 1939 World's Fair in New York City
 was the Court of States, where 22 of the 49 states of the United
 States were represented.  The Virginia Room was a quiet, circular
 space with comfortable couches surrounding a gently splashing
 fountain.  Visitors were served complimentary glasses of ice water
 as they perused the collection of photograph albums prepared by the
 Virginia State Chamber of Commerce.

 The photo albums were shelved in bookcases embracing the curvature
 of the room, in alcoves underneath painted symbols on the walls
 representing twelve aspects of Virginia life: scenic tours,
 recreation, historic homes, culture, history, colonial archaeology,
 scenery and natural wonders, physiography, agriculture, education,
 government and the people, and industry, commerce, and
 transportation.  Five to sixteen albums were devoted to each
 category.

 The Library's digital collection consists of 3,018 images.  The
 Electronic Index to the collection can be searched by geographical
 locations, personal names, building names, historical subjects, and
 many other terms.  The World's Fair images are linked to these
 records and can be viewed online.
>
 For more detail about the World's Fair photographs, see Edward D.
 C. Campbell, Jr., "Fair Shadows: Virginia, Photographs, and the
 1939 World's Fair", __Virginia Cavalcade__ 41 (summer 1991): 6-19.
>
 For information on the Virginia Room exhibit, see Mary Tyler Cheek,
 "'An Island of Quiet in an Ocean of Noise': the Virginia Room at
 the 1939 World's Fair", __Virginia Cavalcade__ 34 (summer 1985):
 30-37.

 To obtain information about ordering copies of photographs in the
 LVA collections, or for other information, please contact Picture
 Collection Staff by telephone at (804) 692-3703 or send electronic
 mail to [log in to unmask]


 --
 Elizabeth Roderick                              email ([log in to unmask])
 Assistant Director, Library Development         voice (804) 692-3761
   and Networking Division                       fax   (804) 692-3771
 The Library of Virginia
 800 E. Broad Street
 Richmond, VA  23219

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                         http://leo.vsla.edu
                   The LVA Digital Library Project
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