This Week in Virginia History
Sure, Virginia history includes big moments, big battles, and big names. But the richer history is full of smaller events occurring in the fullness of time. The disenfranchised, the nonconformists, and just regular people making Virginia history. Week in, week out. This Week in Virginia History explores those stories, curated by Nathan Moore and culled from the vast archives at Encyclopedia Virginia.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 2 minutes
- Episodes
- 125
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2023
Week of January 3: The Great Cold Wave
Episode Notes
This week in 1912, Virginia experienced a debilitating six-week cold snap, the longest and most severe in state history. Snow and plummeting temperatures contributed to train wrecks, wa…
Week of December 27: Richard Slaughter's Memories
Episode Notes
This week in 1936, as a part of a national program collecting the stories of former enslaved people, reporter Claude Anderson talked with 87-year old Richard Slaughter. Slaughter had be…
Week of December 20: The Second Battle of Saltville
Episode Notes
This week in 1864, the Union army destroyed the Confederate salt mines in Saltville, a blow to the Confederate army that marked a turning point in the Civil War.
This podcast is powere…
Week of January 10: The Inauguration of Virginia's 2nd Term Governor
Episode Notes
This week in 1974, Mills Godwin became the first and only Virginia governor elected for two (nonconsecutive) terms -- and he ran on different political tickets each time. He's often rem…
Week of December 13: Williamsburg's Homespun Ball
Episode Notes
This week in 1769... when the House of Burgesses sponsored at ball at Williamsburg’s capitol building, Virginian women shunned fine Bristish fabrics and showed up in homespun gowns. Th…
Week of December 6: The Murder of Daniel Park
Episode Notes
This week in 1710... a prominent Virginia politician meets a grisly end. Daniel Parke quickly ascended to the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Governor's Council, before being awarde…
Week of November 29: James Lafayette Petitions for his Freedom
Episode Notes
This week in 1786... James Lafayette submitted a petition for his freedom from enslavement. During the American Revolution, Lafayette's espionage helped lead Americans to victory agains…
Week of November 22: The Demise of Richmond's Electric Streetcars
Episode Notes
This week in 1949... as automobiles took over America's roads, Richmond officials destroyed the last of their electric streetcars, which had roamed Richmond's streets for more than 60 y…
Week of November 15: Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific Ocean
Episode Notes
This week in 1805... a year and a half after leaving St. Louis, Virginians Lewis and Clark and their "Corps of Discovery" reached the Pacific Ocean.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.
Week of November 8: Lord Dunmore's Proclamation of Freedom
Episode Notes
This week in 1775... Lord Dunmore promised freedom to all indentured servants and enslaved people who fought for the British against the American revolutionaries.
Week of November 1: Virginia opens public schools
Episode Notes
This week in 1870... Virginia created a state-wide system of free public schools.
Week of October 25: the resignation of John B. Eastham
Episode Notes
This week in 1867, Unionist John B. Eastham resigns just days after his election to the Constitutional Convention in Richmond.
Week of October 18: Irene Morgan defies segregation laws
Episode Notes
This week in 1944... In MMiddlesex County, Virginia, Irene Morgan refuses to sit at the back of the bus.
Week of October 11: The opening of the largest hospital in the south
Episode Notes
This week in 1861, Richmond opened Chimborazo Hospital. With 150 buildings and capacity of up to 3600 patients, it was the largest hospital in the south at the time.
Week of October 4: The escape of George and Rebecca Latimer
Episode Notes
This week in 1842... George and Rebecca Latimer escaped slavery in Virginia. Their story and the challenges they faced inspired the 1843 Liberty Law, which forbid Massachusetts officers…
Week of September 27: Eyre Crowe publishes images of slavery
Episode Notes
This week in 1856... Eyre Crowe's illustrations of Richmond auction houses spread awareness of the horrors of the domestic slave trade.
Week of September 21: The lynching of Thomas Smith
Episode Notes
This week in 1893... after a white woman made allegations against him, Thomas Smith became targeted by a mob of white people in Roanoke. Smith's name is engraved on a tablet at the Nat…
Week of September 13: The Gloucester County Conspiracy
Episode Notes
This week in 1663... a group of nine indentured servants attempted to kidnap the Governor to demand their freedom. But things did not go according to plan.
Week of September 6: The Monticello Wine Company disaster
Episode Notes
This week in 1881... The Monticello Wine Company thrived as one of the largest and most prestigious wineries in the South. As business boomed and vintage's won awards, no one could have…
Week of August 16: Virginia gets a new governor
Episode Notes
This week in 1768... Virginia was in need of a new governor and Narbonne Berkeley, the baron of Botetourt, saw his chance to move up in the world. Despite his allegiance to the Crown, B…