“Encyclopedia Virginia’s mission is to provide a free, reliable, multimedia resource that tells the inclusive story of Virginia for students, teachers, and communities who seek to understand how the past informs the present and the future.”
Encyclopedia Virginia’s mission statement was created in 2017 just after I became director of the project. As I recall, the EV staff had multiple meetings animated by debate and punctuated with reflection and compromise. Ultimately, we articulated an expression of purpose that still motivates our work today.
Cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities and our parent organization, Virginia Humanities, announced last week will require significant changes to EV and the way we do our work.
This federal funding cut has forced me to consider what would be lost if we were unable to continue pursuing our mission. And more specifically, who would be affected by Encyclopedia Virginia‘s absence.
Here’s what some of our audiences say about EV.
Students
“We are doing a school project and this website had all the information we needed. This made it really easy to find information. I liked how it included a map.”
“Thank you so much for providing a citation for the article!! I chose to use this article for my English final involving a moment in history regarding mass hysteria. Everything in this article was well-written and information-dense!!”
When I was in school, I would not have taken the time to write a thank-you note to the folks who published the references that I used for my homework, but as you can see, occasionally we receive grateful feedback from students.
Teachers
Teachers rely on Encyclopedia Virginia to engage their students with local history, to boost their own understanding of Virginia’s past, and as a more engaging alternative to textbooks.
“I teach government and like using local stories to create connections from the content to students’ lives. Using the information provided by you all helps with that.”
—Albemarle teacher
“I started using Encyclopedia Virginia as an upper-elementary social studies teacher. While I’ve been a long-time history student, I was by no means an expert and found that many of the historical narratives and details found in my social studies curriculum felt incomplete or distorted. Encyclopedia Virginia quickly became my go-to for finding the most comprehensive historical narratives that helped to expand my understanding of the history I was hoping to teach in the classroom.”
—Norfolk teacher
“Unlike most textbooks, Encyclopedia Virginia helps every child across the state see themselves in the story of Virginia and throughout all of American history.”
—Richmond teacher
“I found Encyclopedia Virginia when I was looking for a website to share in a library media class. I was so impressed by the site that I created a research assignment for my middle school library classes using Encyclopedia Virginia.”
—Wise teacher
Communities
It’s gratifying when Virginians recognize their own stories in Encyclopedia Virginia or learn more about their own communities through our entries.
“Desegregation of Pulaski County High School took place in 1960 with several students supported by the NAACP, after standing before local and County judges to testify as to why we wanted to go to the White School. I was the 1st Black student to graduate from Pulaski High School in June, 1961.”
“This [entry on urban renewal in Norfolk] is so meaningful to me not just as a Norfolk resident and Virginian; but as someone with roots to these neighborhoods. My great-grandmother and all of her children (and several of their children) live/lived in Young Park, and I spent more than half of my childhood being babysat, attending birthday parties, visiting cousins, etc. right in that neighborhood.
I have NEVER read or been made aware of any research that is even close to this level of comprehensiveness on the history of these neighborhoods and their origins, development, context within the current housing fights in the city, etc.”
It’s especially rewarding when community members directly contribute their perspectives and stories to Encyclopedia Virginia. Chief Lynette Allston of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia worked alongside other tribal citizens to write their Encyclopedia Virginia entry:
“When native people read history in a history book it’s not what we would say about ourselves. So, having an opportunity to tell our own story gives more breadth to what needs to be told. We see that as an opportunity to tell it from our perspective and the folks with Encyclopedia Virginia were very receptive to listening to hearing what we had to say.”
Eight years ago, the staff of Encyclopedia Virginia committed to publishing articles that resonated with three specific groups: students, teachers, and communities. And while our work does not feel valued in Washington D.C., it’s encouraging to be reminded that the people who appreciate our project and take the time to comment on our work are the same people we included in our mission statement.
EV will continue to serve the students, teachers, and communities of Virginia with whatever resources we have for as long as we are able. We believe in the power of stories to strengthen communities, and we are committed to this work. But we need your support.
- Do you have a story of how EV changed your perspective? Or helped you discover your own history? Are you a teacher or student who has used EV? We’d love to hear your story.
- And if you are able, please make a gift. With our federal funding eliminated, we are now entirely reliant on private donations and state funding to continue this work. Your continued support means everything to us.
