Notable Guests at 50th Anniversary Dinner

Photograph

-

Patrick Henry's Red Hill

Name/Title

Notable Guests at 50th Anniversary Dinner

Entry/Object ID

2021.6.62

Description

Color photograph. Rectangular. Shot landscape orientation. Several distinguished guests are pictured standing at the head table, to the left of the speaker's podium (from the viewer's POV). George Allen, second from right, is leaning down with his right hand slightly extended. Carolyn M. Lusardi, far right, is looking at something to her right. The state seal of Virginia is displayed at the front of the wooden podium. With the exception of Michael Owen Wells, who is dressed in colonial period clothing, everyone is wearing formal clothing. On the reverse, "5504" is written in blue ink in the bottom right corner.

Made/Created

Notes

Original

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Label

Location

Reverse center

Transcription

l-r, Michael Owen Wells, Mrs. Graves, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Graves, Mrs. Godwin, Gov. Allen, Mrs. Lusardi

Language

English

Material/Technique

Label

Provenance

Notes

The PHMF Golden Anniversary Celebration was held on Thursday, October 27, 1994, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Foundation's establishment. The PHMF was incorporated on October 27, 1944. The event was held at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. Michael Owen Wells gave a speech as Governor Patrick Henry as part of the evening's events ("Governor Patrick Henry Speaks," see 2024.6.11), which explains why he is dressed in colonial period clothing in this photograph. Theodore "Ted" W. Graves (1919–2014), who served as president of the PHMF from 1977 to 1991, gave the invocation. Dorothy "Dot" Graves (1920–2006) was his wife. Edwin Lynch was also a former PHMF President. Carolyn Lusardi (1919–2009) was the current President of PHMF at the time of the event. She gave a "Recognition of Distinguished Guests" and shared "Remembrances of Fifty Years" (see 2024.6.64). Mrs. Katherine Godwin (1917–2015) was the wife of former Virginia Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr. (1914–1999). Mills E. Godwin, Jr. received the Patrick Henry Award that evening. The PHMF awarded Godwin, Jr. the Patrick Henry Award for "distinguished service to the Commonwealth of Virginia." Godwin Jr. served as Governor of Virginia for two non-consecutive terms, from 1966 to 1970 and 1974 to 1978. Staff found this photograph in the existing files of Red Hill's collection and accessioned it on May 30, 2024, due to its importance to PHMF's institutional history.