Education

The City of Hampton: Through the Lens of Reuben V. Burrell and James Van Der Zee

Reuben V. Burrell has documented through photographs a half of a century of Hampton University events – both big and small. Not only is Mr. Burrell the Griot (historian) of the University but his lens goes beyond the campus into the surrounding community. Coming to Hampton as a student in 1938 Burrell finished his course requirements in 1940, after which, World War II was pending.  He received a B.S. degree in Industrial Arts from Hampton in 1947, and then enrolled at New York University where he earned his M.A. degree in Industrial Arts Education in 1949.  Hired at Hampton in December 1949, Mr. Burrell began his career as the school photographer. For more than sixty years, he has provided an invaluable service to the university documenting its history as well as reprinting historic photographs. He has also documented landmarks, businesses, social and civic activities in the city of Hampton.  His photographs include well known individuals in the city as well.  

James Van Der Zee is recognized as the dean of African American photographers based on his large body of photographs taken in Harlem, New York during more than half of the 19^th century.  In 1906 Van Der Zee left his hometown of Lenox, MA here he met and married Kate L. Brown, a seamstress from Newport News, Virginia.  The couple’s first child, Rachel, was born in 1907 and shortly afterward they traveled to Virginia.  The Van Der Zee’s decided to remain in Tidewater, VA where Van Der Zee found employment as a waiter at the Hotel Chamberlin.  The photographs will share images of two categories: the everyday activities of Slabtown residents and the academic community at Whittier Preparatory School.

Partial funding for this exhibition provided by the City of Hampton, 400^th Anniversary Celebration Fund.

January 29-August 30

Hampton University Museum

757-727-5508

"South King:  Hampton's Waterfront Through the Ages"    400th Anniversary Feature Event

This special exhibit features the waterfront of Hampton along South King Street as it has changed over the past 400 years.  Many drawings and photographs portray the different moods and looks of this area, while artifacts from archaeological excavations and from the still-existing ship chandlery and seafood businesses there, will provide multiple foci of information and stories about the oldest continuous English settlement in North America.

March 1, 2010-August 15, 2010

Hampton History Museum

Admission fee, memberships are available at the door

For further information, please call (757)727-1610.

Wynne Ford Storytelling in the Park

Rain Site: West Hampton Community Center (1636 Briarfield Road)

Experience the art of storytelling through magic, music, puppetry and prose.  Come early and bring your picnic basket or stay after to greet the animals and enjoy the playground.  Children 'rock' at Bluebird Gap Farm! 

June 25-July 30

Fridays, 11am-Noon

Bluebird Gap Farm 

60 Pine Chapel Road

www.hampton.gov/parks

(757) 727-8311