NewsPortraits of George
If you’re an American, you probably have a clear mental image of what George Washington looked like. But this was not the case at the beginning of the American Revolution. Few people had ever seen Washington’s likeness. Over the course of his service as commander and chief of the Continental Army and President of the United States, this changed, as George Washington evolved from a member of the Virginia elite and Patriot leader to an American icon. Read more about: Portraits of George
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NewsDonor Profile: Jeannie Palin
Hi. My name is Jeannie Palin. For me, Virginia Humanities is like a tapestry connecting people, places and programs. The unique contributions are woven together to create a diverse and …
News2026 Black History Month Reads
From March 20 to 22, the 2026 Virginia Festival of the Book will bring powerful stories of Black heritage, identity, and culture to the forefront.
NewsDonor Profile: Ina Dixon
Hi, I’m Ina Dixon, and I am a historian working in Danville, Virginia. I’m passionate about the humanities because I believe the humanities are the best way to explore the …
NewsA Miserable Revenge
George Newman, born to free Black parents in 1855, was only 21 or 22 when he wrote the novel, A Miserable Revenge: A Story of Life in Virginia. Newman’s granddaughter, Ruth Toliver, talks about the just-published novel with Virginia Humanities Center for the Book director Kalela Williams.
News2026 Festival Shirts
Our 2026 Virginia Festival of the Book poster featuring cardinals, hawks, ocean waves, the blue ridge mountains, and a vintage typewriter was designed by Katie McBride. You can learn more …
NewsDonor Profile: Cate Whittington
When I returned to my native Virginia twenty years ago, settling in Charlottesville, I was delighted to discover the wide programming offered by Virginia Humanities. A friend told me how …
NewsThe Grand Mothers
Two stunning poetry collections by Remica Bingham-Risher and Latorial Faison honor their grandmother’s. And: a legendary interview with Lucille Clifton.
NewsYosef Medina & Monika Rhue on the “Humanities =” Podcast
Yosef Medina, our director of strategic initiatives, and HBCU Scholars Fellow Dr. Monika Rhue were recently featured on the Humanities = podcast. Give it a listen! Having an opportunity where …
NewsTexas Gladden & the Art of Appalachian Ballads
In this event, recorded on February 4, 2026, Encyclopedia Virginia Managing Editor Patti Miller and folklorists Daniel Bachman and Aldona Dye discuss the career and legacy of famed Appalachian ballad …
NewsBringing the Revolution to Life
In March of 1781, a 23-year-old Patriot major general set out to capture a renowned American traitor-turned-British general. The traitor slipped away, but the effort to capture him was a turning point in the war. Just six months later, that campaign would lead to the defeat …
NewsPoster Artist Q&A: Katie McBride
Katie McBride is an illustrator and designer based in Richmond, VA. Katie designed our lovely 2026 Virginia Festival of the Book poster. We wanted to learn a little about her …
NewsStaggered By the Fact of You
Join us as we bring two nationally renowned Black poets conversation with a new generation of Black poets.
NewsDonor Profile: Lena McDonald
I am passionate about the humanities because history, literature, the arts, philosophy, religion, and cultural studies are devoted to the human enterprises that enrich everyone regardless of age or background. My particular passion …
