About

Chapter History: The chapter honors American History through preservation and education. As the oldest colony in the New World Virginia embraces a cornucopia of opportunity to contribute to the public understanding of history and that of our members with visits and various projects at historic homes and archaeological sites, which the chapter has since 1986. Several of these projects have been at Jefferson’s Poplar Forest; Chief Powhatan’s sacred Werowocomoco along with an archeological scholarship for a Pamunkey Indian female; College of William and Mary and University of Virginia for docent training; Stratford Hall, home of the Lee Family; Menokin, the home of Francis Lightfoot Lee; Jamestown Settlement where the chapter donated funds for the bronze scale model of the 1609 fort at Jamestown; and many others.

Historic Preservation & Education: Historically, the chapter has supported scholarships for the education of Virginia women. In 2014 Chapter XXIII joined with the National Park Service and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to educate the public about the discovery of Werowocomoco, the capital of the Powhatan chiefdom and the home of Pocahontas, to produce a colorful well-illustrated paperback distributed nationwide in the NPS Handbook Series. There was a two-sided poster to promote awareness, funded in part by the chapter. The chapter’s financial support allowed the participation of a Virginia student intern to work on this project. Over the years the chapter has supported various philanthropic projects around the state. Currently the chapter is working on projects with Rosewell Plantation in Gloucester County and the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace and Museum in Wytheville, Virginia, one of only a few First Ladies Museums in the country. Mrs. Wilson is a descendant of Pocahontas and is the only southern Appalachian-born First Lady and we are happy supporters of this growing museum.