Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, interviewed John Douglas Hall, a historical performer who portrays “Father of the Constitution” James Madison, about the changes at the museum at the former president’s home, Montpelier.
In 2010, Carlyle Group billionaire David Rubenstein gave $10 million to the museum to refurbish the main house and build a representative slave quarters with an exhibit called “The Mere Distinction of Colour.” The exhibit teaches about slavery in Madison’s time and its legacy today.
In April and May, the foundation selected a new chairman, a man who was the chairman of the Montpelier Descendants Committee, as well as adding 11 new directors to its board from the MDC and other advocates of parity at Montpelier.
Hall said he prefers more information to less, and that the museum is still focused on Madison and his contributions to founding the country.
TRANSCRIPT:
McCabe: Historical performer John Douglas Hall began portraying the Father of the Constitution, James Madison, before Madison’s home at Montpellier opened as a museum in 1987.
Hall told The Virginia Star and The Star News Network his perspective on how the museum now interprets Madison and his community of slaves.
Hall: Montpelier doesn’t seem so much to talk about slavery. In honesty, Montpelier is unique because it addresses the history of people at the house.
McCabe: Montpelier has been a work in progress. Carlyle Group billionaire David Rubenstein gave the Montpelier Foundation a $10 million grant in 2010 to refurbish the main house, build a representative slave quarters, and the “Mere Distinction of Color” exhibit, which teaches about slavery in Madison’s time and its legacy today.
In April and May, the Montpelier Foundation Board accepted the resignation of its chairman and selected as his replacement the chairman of the Montpelier Descendants Committee, made up of descendants of the slaves at Montpelier and other local plantations.
The board also appointed 11 new directors from both the MDC and other Montpelier advocates for how Madison’s home is operated and presented.
Hall: It’s experimenting a little bit with ideas of how to portray a historic home, and frankly, I think the more information, the better, rather than less.
But it is important for people to realize we’re not losing sight of Madison and the Constitution, the origins of the country, merely by including other kinds of information at the home.
McCabe: Hall said Madison does not have the notoriety of other founders, but those who dig deeper into America’s beginnings find Madison and appreciate him.
Hall: When people decide to take that extra step to pursue a subject dealing with America, with its Constitution, with a Bill of Rights, or just with American history in general, they find quite a thinking and inquisitive man in the form of James Madison.
McCabe: Reporting for The Virginia Star and The Star News Network, Neil W. McCabe, Washington.
