DATE: Sunday, November 23, 1997             TAG: 9711130673

SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J2   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Book Review

SOURCE: BY GEORGE HOLBERT TUCKER

                                            LENGTH:   69 lines

LIBRARY COLLECTION TAPS STATE TREASURES

THE COMMON WEALTH

Treasures from the Collection of the Library of Virginia

EDITED BY SANDRA GIOIA AND EDWARD D.C. CAMPBELL JR.

Library of Virginia. 293 pp. $65.

Even though this beautiful and marvelously informative coffee-table-sized volume has been designed to showcase a select few of the bibliographical, topographical and artistic treasures housed in the new Library of Virginia in Richmond, the items included only constitute a tip of the iceberg: A wealth of priceless material has been acquired by that institution since it was established in 1823 to serve as an archival and research center for the citizens of the Commonwealth.

Even before 1823, Virginia's colonial government realized the importance of having an official reference library, first based at Jamestown, then at Williamsburg, and later in Richmond, that could be used by legislators to guide the Old Dominion's royally appointed governors and locally elected officials. Unfortunately, because of fires and wartime destructions, much of this original material has disappeared. Even so, many of the items now on exhibition in the library date from that far-off period and afford the preceptive viewer a fleeting, but thankful, glance at the taste and desire for good government and culture that guided Virginia's founders.

I had a chance to visit the exhibition. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in Virginia's long political, literary or artistic heritage not only take in the show - which will continue through Sept. 7, 1998 - but also, if possible, add this handsomely produced, color illustrated book to his or her library.

The exhibition is divided into three sections:

Treasures of the People: Collected here are records of events in the lives of Virginians, including church records, business records, personal papers and organizational materials as well as photographs and prints.

Among the personal and organizational papers is an important confidential Civil War letter from Robert E. Lee to Jefferson Davis; materials from the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia, which finally succeeded in gaining Commonwealth women the vote; an illustrated history of the Norfolk Fire Department; wonderfully evocative early 20th century photographs by Norfolk's most celebrated photographer, Harry C. Mann; and documentary photos taken throughout Virginia during the Great Depression.

Treasures for the People: These exhibits include items preserved for public use and study, fabulous old maps, documents relating to Virginia's official history, government documents, guides and reference works, items from the colonial Council library as well as early newspapers and periodicals.

Among the artifacts are a survey made by George Washington; an expense account kept by Daniel Boone; the World War I military service record of Colgate W. Darden, one of Tidewater's most distinguished sons, who later served as governor of the Commonwealth; Mark Catesby's Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, with its stunning 18th century hand-colored engravings - one of which is the red bird or cardinal, Virginia's official state bird; and a book on sea mollusks by Edgar Allan Poe that resulted in his being accused of plagiarism.

Treasures by the People: This section includes works by Virginia authors, musicians and artists as well as posters created during both World Wars.

The exhibition also includes a good deal of pictorial material from the Jamestown Tri-Centennial Exposition, held in 1907 on the site of the present Norfolk Naval Station.

The Common Wealth: Treasures from the Collection of the Library of Virginia is available in local bookstores. It can also be ordered through the Library of Virginia, (804) 692-3999, or online at http://www.leo.vsla.edu. MEMO: George Holbert Tucker is a columnist for The Virginian-Pilot.

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