Library of Virginia Recognizes Pearl Fu

The Library of Virginia in Richmond will feature an exhibit on the immigrants of Virginia beginning Jan. 28 and 10 immigrants will be profiled in the display. Among them—and one of only two who are still alive—is Pearl Fu, founder of Local Colors, of Roanoke.

The exhibition will run through August. The Library of Virginia was founded in 1823 and is one of the state’s oldest agencies. Peal Fu has lived in Roanoke for many years and has specialized in creating a positive high profile for immigrants. Her Local Colors grew from a weekend curiosity a few years ago to a major weekend attraction with occasional other festivals scattered about. She is the daughter of a general in Chaing Kai-shek, ruler of Nationalist China during and after World War II.

Here are the people who will be featured: Pocahontas;

• Captain John Smith;
• David Ross (early colonist from Scotland;
• Sara Lucy Bagby (enslaved African-American woman who escaped to freedom in the north in 1861);
• Anthony Rosenstock (German immigrant, Jewish, who owned and ran a large department store in Petersburg, late 19th and early 20th centuries);
• Jozsef Estefan (born in Hungary, Estefan worked in the coal mines of southwest Virginia);
• Antonio Sansone (Sicilian immigrant who ran a large fruit stand and grocery store in Norfolk in the 1910-20s);
• Nick and Vasiliki (Bessie) Campas (Greek immigrants who ran a confectionery company in Norfolk, 1930s);
• Pablo Cuevas (Cuban immigrant who was elected to Harrisonburg’s City Council, owns a small engineering firm, still lives in Harrisonburg);
• Pearl Fu.