At times, being in a place that held so much untold history felt heavy, especially as the book developed. J: With the exception of a few plantations such as Montpellier, Mount Vernon, etc., photographing each plantation was therapeutic. Can you tell us how you approached that part of the assignment? To make sure that the information was correct as some reports were written in the 60s, 70s, and 80s on the aforementioned sites we provided each plantation with a copy of the text before we submitted it to the publisher for a final fact check. J: Sites like the National Register of Historic Places as well as the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Historic Register were researched alongside information provided by each plantation’s docent, website and text. The amount of research involved in these restorations is amazing and those who work on these projects are truly design detectives. We also focused on the architecture and, if the structure was being restored how that work was being done. We learned not only about the specific plantation, but about how the home and its inhabitants – both the family and the slaves – were affected by the Civil War. We took the tours, some provided by volunteer docents others by historians with extensive knowledge. Because of this, a list was compiled and we reached out to each plantation individually to ask their permission to come and tour, photograph, and write about their history.Ĭan you tell us how you gathered your information?Ĭ: Before each visit, we read all the information that was available in print and online. Others listed in text were either no longer standing or unavailable to contact, although the information stated as such. J: Virginia is thriving with plantations both publicly and/or privately owned. After that, we broadened our search to every corner of the state and were rewarded with some amazing finds, including some plantations that are now mere shells but being renovated in order to preserve their history. Andrea Erda and her family still live in this magnificent home and she was very gracious showing us around and talking about Westover’s history. We also knew we wanted to visit the plantations along the James River, including Westover where the HBO miniseries John Adams starring Paul Giamatti was filmed. How did you select the plantations you visited?Ĭ: Of course we had to include the crown jewels – Mount Vernon, Monticello, and Montpelier – the homes of our Founding Fathers. I felt that those stories needed to be told, even if briefly to include all persons involved in plantation life. After visiting various plantations with my mother over the years, I began to realize that the tours were often glorified to be ones of “happier times” for all and additionally some narratives were specifically left out. Jai: I’ve lived in Virginia for quite awhile now and you are subconsciously immersed in history wherever you go. Our country continues to grapple with slavery’s legacy and that issue certainly played out in the state’s plantations. So we began to explore Virginia’s history and a great deal of that history, particularly about the Civil War, can be discovered by visiting plantations. in the 70s, we hadn’t spent much time in Virginia. Although we had lived in Washington, D.C. How did the two of you come together to write this book?Ĭharlene: About five years ago, my husband and I began dividing our time between New York City and Alexandria, Virginia. Jai and Charlene talk about what became for them a transformative journey, researching and writing Plantations of Virginia. These “works in progress” have fascinating stories to tell. Like so many other areas of the country, Virginia has become focused on preserving its history, which, in many cases, involves saving and restoring these homes and surrounding grounds. Their homes, Mount Vernon, Monticello, and Montpelier, remain the crown jewels and should be experienced by every American for their historic value.īut there are many other plantations worth a visit, including the grand mansions located along the James River. Virginia has produced eight presidents and three of those – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison – were Founding Fathers whose leadership and inspiration were critical to the birth and success of the new country. Their new book, Plantations of Virginia, has just been published by Globe Pequot Press. Jai Williams and Charlene Giannetti spent six months visiting 40 plantations in Virginia, taking tours and talking with the families and the professionals tasked with caring for these historic properties.
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