2009 Brown Bag History Series kicks off with Dave the Potter Author

The Museum will kick off the 2009 Brown Bag History Series on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. with Carolina Clay: The Life and Legend of the Slave Potter Dave, presented by Mr. Leonard Todd, author of the book by the same title.

While researching his family history, Todd discovered that one of the most famous slave artisans of the antebellum South had been owned by his family. He traveled from his home in Manhattan to South Carolina, where he sifted through records of slavery, rebellion, and war to uncover Dave's stirring story. Carolina Clay: The Life and Legend of Slave Potter Dave was published in October 2008 by W.W. Norton and was recently reviewed in the October 20, 2008 edition of Newsweek. His Brown Bag lecture will unveil the story of how he discovered his ties to Dave the Potter, the history of Dave's life, and the impact and significance his pottery had on antebellum art.

Todd is also the author of Squaring Off, a novel for young adults, published by Viking Penguin and optioned for a feature film. An earlier young adult novel, The Best Kept Secret of the War, was published by Alfred A. Knopf and optioned for a television special. Both books were set in areas of the South that Todd knew well when he was growing up. Other fiction publications include short stories in Cosmopolitan and elsewhere. An original screenplay, Honkytonk, was optioned for a movie musical.

His nonfiction publications include Trash Can Toys & Games, a recycling book for children, published by Viking Penguin. Prototypes of the toys he designed for the book were exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History in a long-running show. He has published articles in Travel & Leisure and other travel publications, has covered architecture in Mexico, oysters in Ireland, golf in Morocco, and beaches on Mykonos.

Todd graduated from Yale College and from the Yale School of Art and Architecture. He is a former Fulbright Scholar to France. He has been a resident at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris and now resides with his wife in Edgefield, South Carolina.

The Brown Bag History Series is an educational lecture series provided monthly by the Augusta Museum of History, and is an ideal lunch-time break for downtown professionals, retirees, and students. The lectures are free to members and $3 for non-members. Participants should bring a lunch and the Museum provides beverages and dessert. Refreshments are served beginning at 11:30 a.m.; the lecture runs from 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

2008 Holiday Gingerbread Village Preview Party

Gingerbread House winners

The annual Holiday Gingerbread Village was a smashing success. The incredible gingerbread houses were on display November 21 - 30, 2008, and we've still had people calling asking that the display be extended through December in 2009!

The winners were as follows:

Chef Marvin Herrera, Executive Chef of the Augusta Country Club, won the People's Choice Award. Hundreds of patrons cast their votes for their favorite gingerbread house over a period of 10 days. This depiction of the Old Club House won People's Choice!

Most Artistic was won by Tereasa Lily of Tres Bon Catering for her creation of the Augusta National Golf Club.

Brigette Pedroza won Third Place for her precise recreation of the Appling Courthouse in Appling, GA.

Casey Igel of Augusta won Second Place for her depiction of the Church of the Good Shepherd:

And Jennifer Mooney of Midville won first place (the third year in a row!) for her depiction of Williams Antiques, located in Waynesboro, Georgia:

Check the Museum website in August 2009 for an application to participate in the 2009 Holiday Gingerbread Village and enter for your chance to win $1,000 Grand Prize!

It's time to spice the holidays!

The houses have been delivered - with candy cane columns, sunflower seed roofs, and rock crystal paths.. the Augusta Museum of History is spicing up the holidays with the annual Holiday Gingerbread Village! Museum staff worked hard today along with our amazing Decorating Committee of Julie Ann Boardman and Caroline Morris, and with the incredible artistic and floral talent of Mr. Greg Boulus of charleston street, to transform the Museum Rotunda into a wintery gingerbread village! We'll kick off the event tomorrow evening at the HGV Preview Party, where hundreds of guests will enjoy decadent food, yummy cocktails, jazz music, and much, much more

The judges will make their selections tomorrow at 10:00 am, and we look forward to seeing what sugary masterpiece they select to win the grand prize of $1,000 cash!

Be sure to come by between now and the Sunday following Thanksgiving (November 30) with your family and friends and make the Gingerbread Village a new part of your holiday traditions!

Sweet History

The annual Holiday Gingerbread Village is just around the corner!

Experience the enchantment of winter as you view architectural masterpieces made entirely of gingerbread! The annual Holiday Gingerbread Village is a gingerbread house competition featuring confectionary replicas of historic structures in the CSRA. Delight in the imagination shown in these sugar-and-spice creations created by some of the area’s most talented bakers.

The annual event begins with the Holiday Gingerbread Village Preview Party, the official kick off to Augusta's holiday social season. The party, on Thursday, November 20th at 7:00 at the Museum, includes an open bar, incredible food, silent auction of gingerbread houses, raffle, and musical entertainment. The don’t miss event of the year!

This year’s competition will include expanded judging categories and great prizes! Five awards will be handed out – Grand Prize, Second Place, Third Place, Most Artistic, and People’s Choice. Cash prizes will be awarded by guest judges, Mr. Anthony Fernandez, Executive Pastry Chef, Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation; Architect Mr. Al Cheatham; Historian Dr. Lee Ann Caldwell; and Local Artist, Ms. Kathy Engler as follows:

Grand Prize - $1,000 cash!
Second Place - $750
Third Place - $500
Most Artistic - $250
People’s Choice - $250

Friday, November 21 through Sunday, November 30, each historic-themed gingerbread house will be available through silent auction, with proceeds benefiting the programs of Augusta Museum of History. Bid on your chance to take one of these delectable masterpieces home during the Silent Auction. Strolling through the competition is a sure way to be swept up in the holiday spirit! And be sure to come by and cast your vote for People’s Choice! Free admission to view the display!

On Saturday, November 22 bring the entire family by the Museum for Gingerbread Family Fun Day, a day of crafts, tours, movies andthe opportunity for families to view the Gingerbread Village. Free with regular paid Museum admisison.

Presidential Campaigning Microexhibit now installed!

With what can be considered one of the most exciting elections in United States presidential history occurring today, the Augusta Museum of History is taking a look back at past presidential campaigns with a new exhibit, Campaigning for the Presidency, open now through February 1, 2009.

Every four years, Presidential hopefuls compete for the public’s vote by inundating the country with their image, name, slogans, and message. On campaign trails, on television, over the Internet and via radio and other outlets, each candidate tries to sway voters that they are the best choice. Signs are posted, buttons are worn, and bumper stickers on cars proclaim our candidate of choice. Presidential campaign memorabilia is as old as the office it promotes, but did not become widespread until the first half of the nineteenth century. The Museum’s exhibit explores Presidential politicking from a campaign perspective – from an early McKinely button to modern campaign paraphernalia, observe the diverse ways in which politicians have fought for America’s votes!

The campaign button has proven to be one of the most consistently used items in Presidential campaigns. The highly recognized political button may have gotten its start as coat buttons like the ones made to commemorate George Washington’s inauguration in 1789. Brass buttons engraved with “G.W. – Long Live the President”, adorned the coats of Washington’s supporters. Over time, campaign buttons have changed in style to reflect the culture and new technology of the period.

After the emergence of the popular vote selecting the Electoral College in the 1820s, the period through the 1840s saw the rapid development of slogans, images, flags, buttons, and other items like snuff boxes, ceramic plates, and sheet music, as presidential candidates began to gear their campaigns to capturing the interest of individual voters. This trend of influencing voters and showing support with eye-catching items and gimmicks continues through the modern era, with paraphernalia such as stuffed animals, bobble-heads, and of course, more buttons!
But it was not until the middle of the 19th century when all white men gained the right vote (extended to non-land owners), that political parties began to use memorabilia to “market” their candidates to the masses. William Henry Harrison, elected in 1840, is said to be the first candidate to actively campaign for president. Additionally, Harrison’s campaign created memorabilia designed for women, such as sewing boxes, in spite of the fact that females would not be given the right to vote for another eight decades!

Post World War II was the heyday of presidential memorabilia with the branding of “I like Ike” for President Dwight Eisenhower. Several items from “Ike’s” campaigns are on display at the Museum’s exhibit and make obvious the trend politics began to take halfway into the twentieth century – smart, witty, and repeated messages truly made presidential elections not just a political, but also social issue.

The social, yet political, trend continues with modern media today. Regardless if you wear a John McCain button or adorn your yard with Barack Obama signs, the purpose of campaigns remains the same – to be a part of it all.

Campaigning for the Presidency is open at the Augusta Museum of History now through February 1, 2009.

Artifacts on loan from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. and Mary Gail Nesbit.

Here come the preschoolers! Story Time next week at the Museum

In celebration of the 20th annual Children’s Week, the East Central Georgia Regional Library, in conjunction with the Augusta Museum of History, will host local public figures, politicians, and media personalities as storytellers during Children’s Week Story Time, to be held Tuesday, October 7 through Thursday, October 9, 2008, at the Museum.

On Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 11:00 am, Story Time will be offered to the general public, marking the first time Story Time has been expanded to include area families with young children. Families with young children still at home are invited to reserve a space by calling the Museum at 706-722-8454. Space is Limited and reservations are required by October 7, 2008.
Each year the Augusta Partnership for Children, Inc. and several of its community partners join together to coordinate Children’s Week. Now in its 20th consecutive year, Children’s Week features a variety of events for children of all ages and their families. Children’s Week provides opportunities for parents and families to experience various resources in the community and, in addition, participate in fun and enriching activities for children.

Children’s Week Story Time, attended by local preschools and area families, will take place in the Augusta Museum of History’s exhibit, Augusta’s Story, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon each day. Each group will hear four stories during their story time hour.

Each child participating in Story Time will receive a book. Special thanks to Georgia Public Broadcasting for donating the books!

Bring your child to experience the art of storytelling and the joys of reading at Children's Story Time!