Today I have the pleasure of speaking at the Woman’s Club as part of their long-standing speaking series in Richmond, Virginia. I will be speaking in the afternoon on current cases and controversies facing the United States Supreme Court from affirmative action to free speech to election laws.
As the son of an architect, it is a particular thrill to speak at the Bolling Haxall House, built in 1858 for industrialist, Bolling Walker Haxall. It is a lovely structure that evokes the grandeur of Richmond’s past.
The Club has one of the oldest speaking series in the country. It was established in 1894 by fourteen Richmond women who met in the parlor of Jane Crawford Looney Lewis’s nearby home. These women wanted a literary and cultural association designed for “the delightful friction of well-trained minds.”
Past speakers have include John F. Kennedy, George W. Bush, Robert Frost, Frank Lloyd Wright, Martha Graham, Barbara Bush, and Amelia Earhart.
The founding women of this Club achieved their goal and so much more over the course of the 128 years that followed their meeting.
George, I am not sure what you want from me or the policies you are trying to promote other than a strict interpretation of the Constitution.
Richmond is also very interesting as a historical and constitutional catalyst.
The landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling “Loving v. Virginia” started in a Richmond courthouse, within walking distance of the Bolling Haxall House. The ACLU’s top attorneys were in Richmond and legalized interracial marriage for the entire United States. This ruling was the foundation for LGBT equal marriage rights for the entire United States.
Rulings like “Loving” overturned constitutionally-subversive Jim Crow laws. Following the American Civil War, Virginia police and Virginia government officials swore an Oath of Office (supreme loyalty oath) to the then newly amended U.S. Constitution (which included the new 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments (amendments granting equal rights to African-Americans).
Following the Civil War, when Virginia officials reneged on their constitutional Oath of Office, the ACLU (organization that helped win women’s rights in 1920) came to the rescue forcing Virginia officials to honor their Oath of Office.
All of this happened within walking distance of the Bolling Haxall House.
Beautiful architecture, but I would have liked a shot of the exterior as well? In any event, the woodwork moulding/molding in the arches/around doorways is exquisite. Sooo different from Frank Lloyd Wright–wonder what he thought of it. And how did people in these great houses stay warm in winter with all the heat sucked out of the room and going up the flues?
I might have attended had it been open to the public. It was open only to members and their registered guests.
https://twcrichmond.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TWC-BHHF-FAQ-Master.pdf
What types of programs do you offer?
Every Monday from October through April, we host an array of lecturers and personalities who bring our members new perspectives on the arts, science, current events, and more. We also conduct special events throughout the year that include trips and tours.
Do I have to be a member to attend? Can I bring a guest?
Guests are invited to attend many of our programs with a current member. Some of our programs are reserved for members only. For Monday Programs, members must register guests in the guest book before a program begins and should encourage their female guests to wear business dress attire and their male guests to wear a coat and tie.
Estovir:
Just heard about this. Shoulda told me. Suzanne’s a member, I believe.
would have been great meeting him, identifying myself and shaking his hand. Thanks for the offer tho’
Since this post is also about real estate, then check out baseball hall of famer Yankee Derek Jeter’s Tiedemann Castle which is up for auction. Starting bid is $6.5 million.
The property is 119 years old. Check it out.
Good luck, You have obviously remembered that “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle….”. Women are an essential component of our republic. No republic or democracy can be entirely free or truly mature without equal contributions from the women.
I love the motto of “The Delightful Friction of Well Trained Minds”. Might be a good subheading under your motto and cry it out from the rooftops.
“These women wanted a literary and cultural association designed for “the delightful friction of well-trained minds.””
I love this motto, too!
What a lovely place to speak, Professor! So much beauty and grace–the light, the curves, the carvings… May our future architects and interior designers be so inspired!
Women are grrrrreat!
Can we get rid of affirmative action now?
Oh, and “breaking the glass ceiling” is criminal breaking and entering, and criminal trespass.
Just as abortion has been illegal and unconstitutional for 50 years, as decided by the Supreme Court, affirmative action has been and remains unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court of 1973 irrefutably made a corrupt, illegal, unconstitutional and actionable decision as a crime of high office.
The Constitution functions in equity – equity is the absence of bias and favoritism.
Hiring is absolutely and irrefutably decided by the owners of private property, or by absolute and demonstrable merit in public organizations.
The right to private property is absolute; private property is distinctly not public property, only the owners of private property may “claim and exercise” dominion over their private property.
Damages and reparations are going to cost women trillions and trillions of dollars when women are compelled to accept responsibility for their illegal and unconstitutional actions, and the illegal and unconstitutional entitlements and benefits women have illegally seized and absconded with.
Women could not endeavor and succeed on their own; they decided to steal success from another party.
Women could not build a nation or an economy; they decided to steal a nation and an economy from another party.
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“If it were to be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of security in a Republic? the answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws.”
– Alexander Hamilton, August 28, 1794
“Good luck, You have obviously remembered that “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle….”. Women are an essential component of our republic. “
In my marriage, I am boss but I do whatever my wife says. 🙂
When American women factitiously become men, there won’t be any Americans.
Not to worry. American women were allowed to stop making Americans. Soon there won’t be any. Problems solved in one fell swoop.
George my wife is a lady, but that doesn’t mean she is second class .Do you think women are second class?
Americans are down to 76% of the population.
The American fertility rate is in a “death spiral.”
More Americans die than are born; where’s the future in that?
Who is gonna make Americans, sufficient to grow and defend the country?
That may not even be an issue for you who would simply allow America to vanish.
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“…We the People of the United States,…secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,….”
– Preamble to the Constitution