In partnership with the Washington and Lee University Library, Frances Richardson and the Central Virginia Fiber Guild assembled a digital exhibit on weaving history in 19th-century Rockbridge county, including reproductions of the original patterns.
“ROCKBRIDGE WEAVERS,” curated by Frances Richardson, is free and open to the public on weekends at the RHS Museum through December 2024 (Saturdays and Sundays, 12-4, 101 E. Washington St.). The origins of this project – archival and artisanal alike – drew from the discovery of early 19th century weaving patterns preserved on small scraps of paper held at Washington & Lee, and shared with friends and family. More broadly, this representative group of “ordinary women, with extraordinary skills,” further highlights a range of everyday connections, financial exchanges, and social networks linking the farmsteads and stores near “Panther Gap” (near Goshen, in the northwestern corner of Rockbridge).
Displays of period samples held in RHS Collections, and explanations of historic techniques, are complemented by displays, samples, and reflections shared by Richardson and a wider group of fellow “Sisters at the Loom.” Through their own craft and curiosities, they have used these particular patterns, inked and pinned by local hands two centuries ago, to create contemporary and often colorful reproductions of their own.
At the museum (or on this video feature by Rockbridge Report), you can see live demonstrations on Richardson’s 6-foot antique loom. You can also learn about these histories virtually, via an online exhibit developed by staff in W&L’s Special Collections Archives and Digital Humanities Division.
Saturday, March 23, 2-3:30 PM
Begins: Lexington Library
Ends: RHS Museum, with Closing Reception & Exhibits
Celebrate Women’s History Month with leaders from the Rockbridge Historical Society, as they guide an illustrated and interactive community ‘Walk-and-Talk,’ spotlighting a wide sweep of distinctive if often little-known local histories. Begins with a slideshow at the Lexington public library; continues with a history stroll down Main Street; wraps with a reception at the RHS Museum, and a final chance to see its exhibits on “Rockbridge Women’s Histories.” Click HERE for more illustrations, profiles, and contexts.
Sunday, March 10, 3-5 PM
Lexington Community Center
300 Diamond Street
In 2008, a set of skeletal remains was found in downtown Lexington, determined to be those of a woman of African descent, who died young, sometime in the 19th-century. In a civic ceremony in 2019, the bones of “Miss Jane,” were re-interred in Evergreen Cemetery. In late 2023, new DNA analysis revealed some surprising genetic findings. This data now spurs new questions about her heredity, the migration patterns and timetables that may have brought her to this area, and the broader ‘journeys’ of any descendant lines who may have remained here, or moved on.
During Women’s History Month, join the City of Lexington, the Rockbridge Historical Society, Washington & Lee University Dept. of Anthropology, and the Paleogenomics Lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz to hear more about these findings, pose questions to both scientists and historians, and to seed community conversation, ahead. Sunday, March 10, 3 PM; Lexington Community Center, 300 Diamond Street. For more, see RHS Facebook @rockbridgehistory.
For the full news feature, click HERE.
Sunday, December 15, 2:00 PM
Manly Memorial Baptist Church
202 S. Main St., Lexington
Cap RHS’ 85th year with a deeper dive into our 2024 Exhibit, which was curated by our year’s final presenter, Frances Richardson. Her illustrated slideshow will discuss the origins of a project: drawn from the early 19th century weaving patterns inked onto small scraps of paper, shared with friends and family, and now preserved at Washington & Lee, and. More broadly, the representative group of “ordinary women, with extraordinary skills,” further highlights a range of everyday connections, financial exchanges, and social networks linking the farmsteads and stores near “Panther Gap” (near Goshen, in the northwestern corner of Rockbridge). Richardson will also discuss how these traces of material culture have helped to shape her own curiosities and practice as a weaver, joined by a wider group of fellow “Sisters at the Loom,” who have used these historic patterns – scripted and pinned by local hands two centuries ago – to create contemporary and often colorful reproductions of their own.
The complementary exhibit, “ROCKBRIDGE WEAVERS” remains open on weekends at the RHS Museum through December 2024 (Saturdays and Sundays, 12-4, 101 E. Washington St.). There, you can see live demonstrations on Richardson’s 6-foot antique loom. You can also learn about these histories virtually, via an online exhibit developed with staff in W&L’s Special Collections Archives and Digital Humanities Division. A video feature by the Rockbridge Report gives you a further glimpse of the displays and design, and clips of the weaving process, itself.
Before the featured presentation, outgoing President Larry Spurgeon will introduce the nominees for next team of RHS Officers, and provide an overview of proposed revisions to the RHS Constitution and By-Laws (you can review those updates, approved by the Board in November, HERE. Our contributing members are invited to vote for adoption of those recommendations, as well as the proposed Officer slate for 2025-2026: President, Tom Roberts; Vice President, Julie Goyette; Secretary, Cathy DeSilvey; Treasurer, Stephanie Hardy.
Sunday, March 26
2:00 PM
Loop through Downtown Lexington
Sunday, March 26
2:00 PM
Loop through Downtown Lexington
This free, intergenerational 90-minute stroll through local history loops you through a series of historic sites and presentations that spotlight leading ladies from the Rockbridge past.
Presenters from 6 partner museums, history organizations, and universities join to highlight this year’s theme of “Education and Civic Leadership.” Their accounts of interesting individuals and groups will illuminate the lives and networks of a range of local women whose impact was and is still evident in and beyond this community: in higher ed and local schools; in religious and charitable organizations; in medical and military service.
Doors open at the RHS Museum (101 E. Washington St.) at 1:30 to browse relevant exhibits, before opening remarks launch the walk at 2:00. The interactive tour finishes with a final presentation at First Baptist Church Lexington (103 N. Main Street), followed by a reception and a chance to explore additional displays of local histories. Welcome to all ages!
