An Iron Catalyst: Virginia’s Roadside Historical Markers and the Shaping of a Historical Consciousness

Abstract

..2 Introduction...3 Chapter I: A Historiographical Examination of Virginia’s Historical Marker Program...9 1) A Beckoning Subject: The Inadequacies of Existing Studies on Historical Markers 9 2) Markers in Virginia History 15 3) Historical Markers and their Relation to Memory 19 4) Skeptics of Memory 21 5) Historiographical Interpretations of Collective Memory 24 Chapter II: The Formation and Implementation of Virginia’s Historical Marker Program...31 1) Markers in the Context of 1920s America 31 2) The Commission on Conservation and Development 33 3) The Genesis of Virginia’s Historical Marker Program 37 4) An Idea Put into Action: The Formation of the Division of History and Archeology 39 5) Bringing History to the Public: The Praxis of Eckenrode’s Plan 46 6) From Luddite to Public Historian: The Peregrinations of Col. Bryan Conrad 49 Chapter III: The Dotted Landscape: Formulating a Lasting Definition of Virginia’s Historical Topography...58 1) The Confederate Ghosts and “Unreconstructed Rebels” of Upperville, Virginia 60 2) Vandalism, Disrespect, and the Creation of Permissible Behavior Toward Historical Markers.........64 3) Winning the Methodological Conflicts: How Eckenrode and the Division Reigned Supreme 67 4) Defining New Duties for Owners of Historic Properties 72 5) The Surging Popularity and the Acceptance of the Division’s Marker Program and its Methods 76 Chapter IV: A Model for Success: The Division of Archeology and History’s Lasting Impact on Public Commemoration and Historical Memory...82 1) Promotion, Popularity, Emulation: The Significance of Virginia’s 1929 Advertising Campaign......82 2) Inquiries and Emulation Outside of the Commonwealth: The Exportation of Virginia’s Historical Marker Program 93 3) Selling History to Virginians: Historical Markers as a Local Advertising Platform 96 4) A Key to the Commission’s Success: The Establishment of the Division of Archeology and History as an Independent State Bureau 103 Conclusion: Eckenrode’s Enduring Legacy and His Deserved Place on the Pantheon of Public Historians...113 1) Future Studies 117