CELEBRATE RICHMOND

For three quarters of our 20th century, members of Richmond's Dementi family have been recording images of this city and its people. From an archive of over one million negatives, the editors of this publication have selected a collection of photographs which serve to Celebrate Richmond as one of America's great cities. Photographs reflecting a "then and now" perspective of Richmond are combined with a treasure of images which bring back great memories in the life and times of Richmonders. Readers will be left with a sense of warmth and justifiable pride for having shared in Richmond's 20th century.

Elisabeth "Betty" Ekstrom married Robert A. Dementi in 1958, and found herself becoming increasingly invested in Richmond's history as revealed through the eyes of her family of photographers. Following her education at St. Catherine's School, Vassar College and Oxford University, Betty became a schoolteacher in Chesterfield County. In the meantime, her involvement in the family business was gradually becoming more extensive. It was in the mid 1980's, following the death of her husband, that Betty ran demento Studio for a time. In the early 1990's Betty was ale to pursue a long-time personal dream by becoming a member of the Peace Corps, and served in Bostwana, Africa.

Wayne Dementi joined Dementi Studio in 1998 following a 31-year career with Bell Atlantic Corporation. A native of Richmond's Lakeside neighborhood, Wayne was educated at Hermitage High School, earning his BS degree from the University of Richmond in 1966, and his MBA from Old Dominion University in 1972. He assumed the responsibilities of President of Dementi Studio in 1997, following his retirement from Bell Atlantic.

Corrine "Cory" Pellegrin Hudgins began consulting with Dementi Studio in 1997 on a number of projects relating to the studio's archives. A graduate of Hermitage High School, Cory received her BA in Art History from the College of William & Mary in 1974. Cory has served as the Registrar of the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission (now the Department of Historic resources) from 1974-1983 and as the Curator of Photographs of the Museum of the Confederacy from 1993-1997.