Virginia Memory, Library of Virginia
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THIS DAY IN VIRGINIA HISTORY

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January 22, 1917

Anderson, Henry W., <em>Virginia First and Lee: An Address By Henry W. Anderson Delivered At Richmond, Virginia, On Virginia Day, January 22, 1917</em>, (Richmond, 1917), F227 .A52, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Anderson, Henry W., <em>Virginia First and Lee: An Address By Henry W. Anderson Delivered At Richmond, Virginia, On Virginia Day, January 22, 1917</em>, (Richmond, 1917), F227 .A52, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

A "Virginia Day" Speech Was Made by Henry W. Anderson

In 1917 the Woman's Club of Richmond continued its tradition of celebrating "Virginia Day" on the Monday closest to the birthday of Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), the nineteenth of January. The chosen speaker, Henry Watkins Anderson (1870–1954), was a lawyer and politician in Richmond. In this bombastic speech, Anderson paid homage to General Lee and tried to draw the listeners' attention to the privileges and duties of American citizens. His audience of women did not have a citizen's right to vote until 1920.