The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia will feature a gallery talk this Friday (9/5 6-8PM) in conjunction with the exhibition, Heirlooms by J. W. Robinson Horne, featuring original fashion designs of this native Richmonder. This exhibition features 35 selected designs from his collections: Fall Drama, Paris Inspired, University, Bridal, 1776, Couturier and Spring1950 Collections. Also featured are three designs from his “Carousel of Coats” Collection. These Heirloom Fashion Designs by J. W. Robinson Horne will be on display through September 30, 2008.

Known as the “birthplace of Black Capitalism,” Jackson Ward is rich in memories of African-American businesses, churches, and places of entertainment. As you tour this historic area, you will have the opportunity to view the Maggie Walker House, the A.D. Price Funeral Home, the Dill House, and other neighborhood businesses and residences that have been rehabilitated.

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In what would be great as the first in a series, this week’s Urban Views Weekly has a bio on Maggie Lena Walker in Early Black Entrepreneurs in Richmond:

After the Civil War, Virginia had the largest African slave population and the largest population of free blacks in the U.S., setting the stage for pioneering black entrepreneurs to prosper in “the Ward.” By the early 20th century, black-owned banks, insurance companies, newspapers and entertainment venues flourished in Jackson Ward alongside entrepreneurial African American merchants, barbers, beauticians, and restaurateurs.

A birthday celebration is set at the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site’s visitor center for tomorrow, and tours will be given for the rest of the evening. A commemorative program will begin at 1:30PM at Sharon Baptist Church. The program will feature presentations on the St. Luke Hall and on Mrs. Walker’s life and works as Right Worthy Grand Secretary of the Independent Order of St. Luke. In related news, historians have announced findings that Maggie L. Walker National was born in 1864, not 1867 as had been thought.

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On Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 6PM, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia will feature Dr. John Kneebone, who will lecture on the topic “An Aquatic Branch of the Underground Railroad: The James River and the Keziah Affair of 1858″.

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Found recently on AfriGeneas, the African Ancestored Genealogy: a portion of the Richmond City Directory from 1852 listing “Free Colored Housekeepers - Their Names, Occupations and Residences”.

The Valentine Richmond History Center will be leading a walking tour of Jackson Ward on June 1.

Known as the “birthplace of Black Capitalism,” Jackson Ward is rich in African American history and culture and boasts a large number of pre-Civil War homes. Tour includes the Maggie L. Walker Historic Site, the A.D. Price Funeral Home, the Dill House and rehabilitated businesses and town homes.

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From Robert P.Winthrop’s Cast and Wrought - The Architectural Metalwork of Richmond, Virginia:

Richmond’s architectural cast iron is second only to that of New Orleans, yet it is hardly recognized. Over 130 porches and balconies, hundreds of yards of elaborate fencing, as well as scores of cast iron front buildings remain in the city today and make up the bulk of the city’s architectural metalwork.

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I picked up a copy of Elvatrice Belsches’ 2002 book Richmond Virginia (Black America Series) this weekend at the East End library. While the 120-page book has photos from around Richmond, it seems as that a good half or more of the book is from Jackson Ward.

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There are more than a few great books covering specific facets of Richmond’s history. The recent Historic Photos of Richmond “captures this city’s journey through still photography selected from the finest archives” with a well-selected set of photos from the 1860s to the 1960s.

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The April 3-5 issue of the Richmond Free Press reports the passing of Rosa B.J. Brown who, with her husband, operated Brown’s Lunchroom in Jackson Ward in the 1940s and 1950s until “they were forced to close in the late 1950s when the new Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike was constructed through Jackson Ward, ripping up the community and displacing several thousand residents along with churches and businesses.”