PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT


     Volunteers of all ages are invited to participate this summer
in the continuing University of Virginia historical research and
archaeological excavations related to the Venable Lane homesite of
19th century Charlottesville resident Catherine Foster and her
descendants.  The first two generations of the Foster family who
lived on the property were among an estimated 80 free black
families living in the city during the early 19th century.
     Two U.Va. anthropology department courses and three high
school-level groups also will be involved June 13 through Aug.10 in
the excavations of an 1820 house foundation and the surrounding
landscape at the Venable Lane site, located off Jefferson Park
Avenue across from Cabell Hall.
     Volunteers can work with excavating, artifact-preservation and
identification, or helping conduct documentary or oral-narrative
research.  The community-history project offers an excellent
opportunity to provide new information about the Foster family and
about issues related to class, gender and race locally and in the
19th century South.
     Members of the public are invited to visit the project
Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Aug.10.
     For additional information or to volunteer contact summer-
project director Drake Patton at (804) 982-2611.
                               ###

                                                     June 8, 1995
Start Date:  Immediate
Kill Date:  June 30

REPORTERS:  News media are invited to visit and cover the summer
project.  Please contact Drake Patton to make arrangements.