Humanities Feature Bureau

Since the 17th century, fortifications have guarded the peninsula that juts out into the Chesapeake Bay,  where the Elizabeth, James and Nansemond Rivers converge.  Fort Monroe has stood sentry the longest, since 1819 — a six-sided stone structure that will continue to be an Army outpost until 2011. From then on, its future is subject to much debate, but its place in African-American history is not, as Sondra Woodward explains:

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The rebel yell. What did it sound like – that battle cry that terrorized union troops and rallied Confederates to battle?  Historians have clues from letters and diaries but still have never agreed. Recently, though, a Richmond man released a CD of what he asserts is the authentic rebel yell. Producer Peter Solomon spoke with Waite Rawls, President of the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia.

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In the Late 1970s, Almost a third of Cambodia’s people were murdered by the Khmer Rouge regime or died from starvation. A U.N.-backed court is finally trying these war crimes. But, closer to home here in Virginia, a Vietnamese-American artist and a Roanoke-based poet are exploring how to honor the victims through their art and forging a unique collaboration. Jesse Dukes has this report.

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On March 4th, bluesman John Cephas passed away at the age of 78.  Though late in life he performed around the world, Cephas learned his style of blues — called the Piedmont Blues — from family in Caroline County, Virginia.  Producer Steve Clark has more on Virginia’s Piedmont Blues.

We recommend these two resources to learn more about John Cephas:

• Library of Virginia’s 2009 African-American Trailblazers
• Virginia Folklife Program’s Master Profile of Cephas

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Matisse, Picasso, Chagall: an extensive collection of European Modern Art began a two-year tour around Virginia this month.  Sixty years ago, a private donor gave the paintings away, splitting them between the University of Virginia’s Art Museum and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.  This touring exhibition reunites the works for the first time for display in Charlottesville, Winchester, Abingdon and Richmond.  Peter Solomon reports on “Matisse, Picasso, and Modern Art in Paris: The T. Catesby Jones Collection.”

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Monday February 16th is Presidents Day—set aside to honor Presidents Washington and Lincoln.  Washington is a recognized Virginian. And, although Illinois calls itself the Land of Lincoln, the roots of our sixteenth president actually run deep into Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, as well. Martha Woodroof reports.

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Today  there is a social networking website for every interest group. Even scholars of 19th century history.  But one such website run by the University of Virginia allows researchers to do more than just share pictures or chat, as reporter Martha Woodroof explains.

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Colonial Williamsburg is usually pretty quiet in the Winter.  But this year, there’s quite a bit of activity on one end of the museum’s main street. Sondra Woodward visits the archaeological site of an 18th century coffeehouse turned  modern day construction site.

Watch progress of the Charlton Coffeehouse restoration.

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A growing number of Christian churches across the United States are adding Celtic-inspired services to their worship offerings. To find out why, Nancy King paid a visit to an Episcopal Church just west of Charlottesville.

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For a global generation, climate change is a hot field. It’s drawing students in record numbers to classrooms where global warming and sustainability are taught. Their interest has prompted colleges across the country, including George Mason University in Northern Virginia, to re-design their curricula to meet this growing demand. Danielle Karson reports.