This morning (January 18), the Stewart Bell, Jr. Archives received a wonderful gift – an original Lord Fairfax Land Grant document! We would like to give a huge thank you to Mike Robinson, Winchester Tales, and everyone involved! This is an example of a community coming together to preserve a piece of its heritage.
“We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, 1963
To us at the Stewart Bell, Jr. Archives, these are words to live by. We do not seek to manipulate the historical data entrusted to us, but rather to present an accurate picture of the people and events of our community. We members of the community are a multi-faceted bunch, each shaped by the past in ways unique to the individual; this is the legacy preserved in the archives.
September 2 marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. On that day in 1945, known as V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day), the Japanese boarded the USS Missouri and signed formal surrender documents, finally bringing peace to a world that had seen far too much suffering. The American General MacArthur, serving as Master of Ceremonies, spoke these powerful words before the signing:
The Handley Library first opened its doors in a formal ceremony 107 years ago on August 21, 1913. The invitation sent out for the event states that “the exercises will be held in the lecture hall of the Library at eight o’clock p.m. and immediately thereafter the reading rooms and books will be open to inspection.”
In August, we remember the Suffragette movement. Our display this month shows elements of the local fight for women’s right to vote. In particular, the display highlights Fannie Baker Dunlap, who registered for the vote on October 2, 1920 at 56 years of age, and Mary Elizabeth Pidgeon, a member of the Equal Suffrage League of Virginia.
This month marks the 150th anniversary of the dedication of Winchester’s Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Winchester’s original Catholic Church, known as “the old stone church,” was destroyed during the Civil War, leaving Winchester without a Catholic Church building from 1864 until 1870.
John Bruce (1793-1855) was a man who spent over twenty years of his life finding ways to make an impact on his community. He was born in Scotland, but emigrated to the United States and settled in Winchester. Some people make impacts through teaching and preaching, some through caring for people’s well-being, but others find that they are best suited to improving the community through other means, as John Bruce did by overseeing various constructions.
Winchester has certainly been home to many remarkable people, including many women over the decades who owned and operated their own businesses. Several in particular stand out for the unique ways they showed strength in their careers as businesswomen.
The next Genealogy Lunch Bunch is at Handley Library on January 24th at 12PM. Sponsored by the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, the Genealogy Lunch Bunch is an easy and friendly way to discuss with like-minded people genealogy success, frustrations, and tips for researchers of all levels. Researchers need to bring their own lunch.
The Stewart Bell Jr. Archives announces a unique book talk focused on connecting with your biological family through genealogy. Shannon Bennett & Brianne Kirkpatrick, authors and genetic genealogists, will present their new book, The DNA Guide for Adoptees: How to use Genealogy and Genetics to Uncover Your Roots, on July 10th at 6:30PM at Handley Library.
In preparation for the 40th anniversary of the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives this Saturday, the City of Winchester has released an official proclamation!
Download and read the official proclamation here.
View the event on our calendar: https://www.handleyregional.org/node/1521
Handley Regional Library System announces the 40th Anniversary of the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives! There will be a celebration on June 29th at 2PM where patrons can enjoy an open house and meet with current and former staff, volunteers and researchers. Special exhibits of collections and photographs of key events will also be on showcase. The event is co-sponsored by the Winchester Frederick County Historical Society and is free and open to the public.
We are excited to announce a new photo project led by the Stewart Bell Jr. Archives at the Handley Library. The Untold Stories Project is designed to help preserve the untold stories of African-American life in Winchester and surrounding counties. Patrons can bring cherished photos to the Stewart Bell Jr.