He exposed myth of the South’s ‘Lost Cause.’ His death shook Richmond. William “Bill” Martin, 71, died Sunday, Dec. 28, a day after being struck by a car near the Valentine local history museum where he had served as director more than 30 years.

It’s been years since I was in #RichmondVA, and never to #TheValentine. I wish I’d met #BillMartin who worked to tell the South’s story correctly. Gifted article for us too to be part of a truth awakening. His memory lives on in the legacy he created. wapo.st/49k4ha6 #CivilWar #JimCrow

This richly textured portrait by American artist Edmund Minor “Ned” Archer of an African American woman depicts her from the chest up, turned to her left. Her hair is dark, pulled back away from her face. Her skin glows warmly with subtle highlights and shadowed contours. She wears a vibrant red dress with a deep V-neck and a faint floral pattern, and a delicate silver chain with a small dark pendant rests against her collarbone. Her expression conveys quiet dignity and introspection; her lips are softly colored, and her eyes gaze into the distance. Behind her is an abstract, draped backdrop in moody blue-green tones. Archer (1904–1986), born in Richmond, Virginia to a civically active family, showed early artistic promise under teachers Nora Houston and Adèle Clark. After study in New York and Europe, he returned to Richmond in the 1920s, balancing a realist’s eye with a deep respect for his subjects. By the 1930s, when he painted “Woman in Red,” Archer was working as Associate Curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art and gaining critical acclaim. In a period dominated by caricatured depictions of African Americans, his portraits stood apart. Archer painted his sitters with dignity, individuality, and poise, quietly defying the Jim Crow conventions of his Southern context. “Woman in Red” exemplifies this radical humanism: the sitter’s vibrant presence resists stereotype and commands respect. Archer’s work was widely exhibited at the Whitney, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and New York galleries, earning him praise as one of the best young American painters of his generation. His legacy lies not only in technical skill but in the social weight of his vision as an artist who, through realism and humility, portrayed Black Virginians as equals, offering enduring counterpoints to a culture that too often sought to diminish them. Today, his portraits resonate as acts of quiet defiance and artistic integrity, preserving the humanity of those he painted.

“Woman in Red” by Edmund Archer (American) - Oil on canvas / c. 1930s - The Valentine Museum (Richmond, Virginia) #WomenInArt #art #artwork #TheValentine #TheValentineMuseum #EdmundArcher #Archer #NedArcher #artText #PortraitofaWoman #AmericanArtist #BlueskyArt #AmericanArt #FineArt #portrait #1930s

Just two weeks before I’ll be adding my next release to my ever-growing bookstack. 😆

I can’t wait to share The Valentine with you! ❤️

#thevalentine #psychologicalthriller #mariafrankland #thrillerbooks #thrillerbooksaddict #thrillerreads #thrillerbook #amreadingthrillers

Gig alert!

Playing in #Brewhemia in the fine city of Edinburgh tonight. If you are near, come get some!

#TheValentine

What do you think of the cover of my forthcoming psychological thriller? 🤔

I’m excited to hear your thoughts & to share news of The Valentine, due 28th Jan.

To find out more, visit the Amazon pre-order page mybook.to/vcpn

#thevalentine #mariafrankland #psychologicalthriller #thrillerbooks