[VAcourier] Virginia Division - Museum of the Confederacy Press Release

[Virginia Division SCV Communication List]

*VIRGINIA DIVISION SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS*


We, The Sons of Confederate Veterans, are extremely alarmed by the 
mismanagement of the Museum of the Confederacy by the current and most 
recent past administrations.

Conditions at the Museum have declined steadily for the past few years. 
The current administration has brought the situation to near crisis. 
Revenues are down due to decreased donations and decreases in the number 
of memberships and visitors. It is true that some of this is due to 
urban encroachment; however, most of the problems come from the 
misguided decisions of the current administration. Little has been done 
to increase revenues in the past 5 years. The City of Richmond must also 
share some of the blame. The City has not even provided signs directing 
visitors to the Museum. We the Sons of Confederate Veterans have done 
all we can to support the Museum. Recent statements have caused us great 
concern and make it difficult to continue our support. Among other 
things, this administration threatens to move the Museum from Richmond 
and to drop the words "Museum" and "Confederacy" from its name.

Recently the administration attempted to move the White House of the 
Confederacy from its original historic location. Only the objections of 
the Sons of Confederate Veterans, The Department of Historical 
Resources, and other concerned historians prevented this from happening.

The Museum of the Confederacy is unique in its solely Southern 
Perspective. It has been a Confederate Memorial since its conception in 
1896. The people who have donated most of the artifacts that make up the 
collection could have donated them to other museums. They chose to 
donate them to the Museum of the Confederacy because of this unique 
Southern Perspective. The changes proposed by the current administration 
are a betrayal to both those who have donated to the collection and to 
the very spirit of the Museum. this may even inspire contributors to 
request the return of these artifacts. We are extremely concerned about 
these artifacts that are valued at over 2 Hundred Million Dollars. There 
have even been statements made about the possible sale of these artifacts.

Tourists from all over the country and the world come to Virginia to 
visit sites related to our Confederate Heritage. If the current 
administration of the Museum of the Confederacy and the City of Richmond 
will not take the steps necessary, for the love of Heritage that we 
have, they should at least do it for the money. It will be a shame if 
the City of Richmond allows this treasure to leave the Capitol of the 
Confederacy.

In conclusion, the Sons of Confederate Veterans would be willing to 
enter into negotiations to obtain the Museum of the Confederacy and the 
White House of the Confederacy. We are an International Organization 
with multi millions in assets. We have the resources and a proven tract 
record. In Virginia alone we have nearly twice the membership as does 
the Museum of the Confederacy (4,000). Internationally, we number over 
35,000 members. We will take whatever steps necessary to maintain both 
the name and the integrity of the Museum of the Confederacy and to see 
that it remains in the City of Richmond, the Capitol of the Confederacy.


B. Frank Earnest
Virginia Division Commander
Sons of Confederate Veterans

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