The annual Deyerle Program Series on Local History returns to MRL's Central Library with four in-person events during this year. This popular annual lecture series features local historians, scholars and area experts who explore a broad range of subjects surrounding the history of the Shenandoah Valley. This year’s series focuses on topics related to Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail and will take place weekly on Thursday evenings at 7PM from October 3-24, 2024. Advance registration is requested through MRL’s website. Topics and speakers for the 2024 Deyerle Program Series are as follows:
October 3 @ 7 PM: “Virginia’s Lost Appalachian Trail” Mills Kelly, Professor of History at George Mason University and author of Virginia's Lost Appalachian Trail, will tell the story of a 300-mile section of the Appalachian Trail that is all but forgotten by hikers. This section was in use until 1952, when the Appalachian Trail Conference moved the AT more than 50 miles to the west.
October 10 @ 7 PM: “The Natural History of Shenandoah National Park” Learn with Shenandoah National Park Ranger Margo Roseum about the wonders of the neighboring Blue Ridge Mountains! Have you ever wondered why some rocks are so hard and others are like sand below your feet on the trail? What kinds of animals are living on this land? How is it managed and protected? What is its history? What else is there to be discovered? This overview of natural and cultural history will guide you on a journey through Shenandoah National Park and give you an idea of the fun and adventure that awaits you on your next visit!
October 17 @ 7 PM: “The Lewis Mountain Story” Shenandoah National Park was established in 1935. At the time, Virginia was a "Jim Crow" state with laws that legalized racial segregation. By 1940, a segregated area that included a campground, picnic area, lodge, and cabins was developed at Lewis Mountain. Learn about Shenandoah National Park in the Jim Crow Era from Park Rangers Allysah Fox and Karl Rand.
October 24 @ 7 PM: “The Anguish of Displacement” Katrina M. Powell, Ph.D., is the author of The Anguish of Displacement: The Politics of Literacy in the Letters of Mountain Families in Shenandoah National Park and the editor of Answer at Once: Letters of Mountain Families in Shenandoah National Park, 1934-1938. Dr. Powell is the founding director of the Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies and a professor of rhetoric and writing at Virginia Tech. In this final session, Dr. Powell will discuss the displacement of families that occurred to create the Shenandoah National Park.
Now in its 20th year at MRL, the Deyerle Program Series on Local History is made possible through the generosity of the Deyerle family, in honor of their parents, Dr. Henry P. and Mary Elizabeth Deyerle. In addition to being respected medical professionals in the local community, the Deyerles were widely known for their passion for collecting American antiques. Their interest in 18th and 19th century domestic artifacts made in the eastern United States was instrumental in raising awareness for the work of the Shenandoah Valley artisans who were active during these centuries. The Deyerles’ collection preserved and highlighted the cultural traditions and artistic achievements from the Shenandoah Valley’s past, and it is this insight into local history that the annual Deyerle Program Series seeks to foster and encourage.
All events hosted by Massanutten Regional Library, including the Deyerle Program Series on Local History, are free and open to the public, and you do not need a library card to participate.
