
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 1, 1990                   TAG: 9007010088
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

MUSEUM EXHIBIT PURSUES TRIVIA

Inquiring minds at the Virginia Historical Society want to know what famous Virginian's diary recorded that a billiard table played a memorable part in one of many sexual escapades.

Another question seeks the identity of the Virginian who did so many extensive scientific experiments that unkind critics said stray dogs and cats, even butterflies, feared to pass by his laboratory.

The answer to these and other questions - easy and obscure - can be found at the society's Famous Virginians exhibit, which begins Monday.

Clues about 24 Virginians, from George Washington to Pocahontas, are presented on flip cards and placed among their portraits and personal belongings. Visitors can test their knowledge of trivia, keeping score with tally sheets provided at the exhibit.

The exhibit, which can be described as a sort of historical Trivial Pursuit, will also feature such articles as George Washington's eyeglasses, Patrick Henry's walking stick and Robert E. Lee's uniform.

Jim Kelly, assistant director for museum programs, said the items are priceless for their historical value. "Monetary values are really arbitrary," Kelly said. "The items are irreplaceable."

"The exhibit is more broad-based, less academic than the usual exhibits," society spokeswoman Pam Seay said. "We're targeting the scholar, the curious, the tourist and the family."

Kelly came up with the quiz format for the exhibit.

"It's the idea of different ways of making things more interesting," he said. "It gives us the chance to include some amusing anecdotes about people they might not know." The historical society's staff generated questions for the exhibit, and staff members said they had a good time coming up with questions.

"Some of the scandalous questions didn't make it, though," said staff member Sara Bearss.

History buffs, however, will know the man who had sex on the billiard table was William Byrd II, father of Richmond, and the mad scientist was Thomas Jefferson.

Bearss said she and her colleagues designed the questions to show the characters of the people, rather than just their achievements. "The general public likes to know trivia," Bearss said.

The exhibit runs until Aug. 15.

by CNB