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