Alexandria Historical Society Lecture

Wednesday, June 22, 2011, 7:30 pm
The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street, Alexandria, Virginia

LETTERS FROM VIRGINIA
By Barb Winters

When Barb Winters volunteered to sort, read, and organize the six boxes of old
letters, photos, diaries, and other records dropped off at the Local History/Special
Collections Department of the Alexandria Library, she had no idea she would
become as involved with the lives of three families from her adopted home. For
over three years, Barb processed, read, and organized over 800 family letters
donated to the Alexandria Library Local History Special Collections in 2000. These
letters, written by members of the Eaches, Fendall and Tackett families, spanned
three generations, two major wars, and more than one hundred years. Since the
publication of Letters to Virginia last fall, Winters has eagerly shared the stories of
these three families by speaking with community groups.

Barb worked for ten years for the Alexandria Library, including nine years in the
Local history Special Collections section of the Catherine Waller Barrett Branch
from 2000-2009 before retiring in 2010. In addition to her work on the letters,
she was involved beginning in 2002 in the digitizing of over 2000 records which
resulted from a special assessment of properties in the Old Town Historic District
of Alexandria conducted in the late 1960’s. Before working at the library, Winters
wrote articles for the Chicago Bulls and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Barb is the
recipient of the 2011 T. Michael Miller Alexandria History Award.

In Letters to Virginia, Barb provides the context of the lives of 15 Alexandrians
who draw the reader into the interpersonal relationships of members of these
three families from 1817-1940 and provides detailed insight into Alexandria’s
history. The result is a compelling narrative that reveales Alexandria’s past by
people who lived it and experienced war and deadly disease, fame and fortunes,
deep devotion and cruel deception. It is an intimate tale of their lives, told by
them through hundreds and hundreds of handwritten letters they left behind,
uncensored and unread until the 21st century. It is, in effect, the diaries of their
daily lives and loves, struggles and accomplishments. It reflects what life was like
during those times in Alexandria.

Copies of Letters to Virginia: Correspondence from Three Generations of Alexandrians Before, During and After the Civil War will be available for purchase and signing following the program.

This event is free and open to the public.  No reservations are required.  Seating is on a first come, first seated basis.  The capacity of the hall is 120.