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1998 SESSION

985656260
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 121
Offered January 22, 1998
On the death of Malcolm Jamieson.
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Patron-- Hall
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WHEREAS, Malcolm Jamieson, who devoted 60 years of his life to restoring and preserving Berkeley Plantation, building it into one of Virginia's prime historical attractions, died on November 12, 1997; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm Jamieson arrived at the Charles City plantation, which had been purchased by his father in 1907, in the late 1930s, and initially approached Berkeley as a working farm; and

WHEREAS, shortly thereafter, Malcolm Jamieson, aware of the incredibly rich history of the site, began his lifelong task of restoring Berkeley Plantation for the enjoyment of visitors from Virginia, the nation, and the world; and

WHEREAS, Berkeley Plantation was the home of Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, former governor of Virginia, and father of a president; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm Jamieson worked to restore Harrison's home and to recognize his contributions to American history, leading the successful effort to have the bridge between Charles City and Hopewell named the Benjamin Harrison Bridge; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm Jamieson also successfully campaigned to have Berkeley Plantation recognized as the site of the first Thanksgiving in 1619, an event now celebrated annually as Virginia's First Thanksgiving Festival; and

WHEREAS, working constantly to improve Berkeley Plantation, Malcolm Jamieson shared his home with as many people as possible, especially children, who were often given free tours of the historical site; and

WHEREAS, Malcolm Jamieson's success with Berkeley Plantation spawned interest in other plantations along Route 5, and his work on Berkeley was the forerunner of the restoration of the Route 5 historical corridor; and

WHEREAS, for his exceptional efforts to restore Berkeley Plantation, Malcolm Jamieson was given the 1988 Gabriella Page Award by the Association for the Preservation of American Antiquities; and

WHEREAS, throughout his long life, Malcolm Jamieson's dedication and affection for Berkeley Plantation was evident to the many thousands of visitors with whom he shared his home; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly note with sadness the death of a fine Virginian, Malcolm Jamieson; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Malcolm Jamieson as an expression of the General Assembly's great respect for his lifelong devotion to Berkeley Plantation and the preservation of Virginia's history.