July 17th’s panel discussion about diversity and inclusivity in preservation features Audrey P. Davis, director of the Alexandria Black History Museum, and several representatives from sites listed in the 2020 Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places program. A video of their discussion will be saved under the Videos and Online Programs section of our website:
Audrey P. Davis is Director of the Alexandria Black History Museum in Alexandria, Virginia.
Ms. Davis is a past President of the Virginia Association of Museums (VAM) and is one of the founders and the Director of Virginia Africana Associates Inc.: The Network of Museum, History and Preservation Professionals. Ms. Davis is currently Vice President of the Alexandria Historical Society, a board member for: Living Legends of Alexandria, Preservation Virginia and for the National Women’s History Museum. In 2016, The Washington Business Journal listed Ms. Davis as number 2, on their top 100 list of Washington Power players.
On January 5, 2018, Ms. Davis was appointed by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to the Task Force for the Identification of the History of Formerly Enslaved African Americans in Virginia. On November 30, 2018, Ms. Davis was reappointed by Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam, to the State Historical Records Advisory Board for a term of three years beginning November 1, 2018 and ending October 31, 2021. It is her fifth gubernatorial appointment.
Muriel Miller Branch grew up in the rural Pine Grove community in Cumberland County, Virginia. Ms. Branch attended Pine Grove Elementary School, as did her dad and siblings. Muriel’s mission is to protect and preserve Pine Grove School, and the beloved Black community that sustained the school and nurtured her.
Rufus Elliott is a Monacan Tribal Citizen and serves on the NAGPRA Committee for the Monacan Indian Nation. Mr. Elliott currently works as the Housing Director for the Chickahominy Indian Tribe.
Ellen Chapman Dr. Ellen Chapman is an archaeologist and cultural resources specialist at Cultural Heritage Partners- a global law, government affairs and consulting firm. She provides recommendations for clients about how to advocate for historic places are important to them.
Harold S. Hughes is the Exalted Ruler of Alexandria Lodge # 48, of the IBPOEW, located in Alexandria, VA. Mr. Hughes has been a member of the Lodge since 1990, where he has held various positions. He is the Virginia State Association of the IBPOEW State Financial Secretary and the Virginia State Training Officer for the Antler Guard, where he holds the rank of Colonel. Mr. Hughes served 15 years in the United States Marine Corps. He is the Father of 4 girls and the GrandFather of 18.
Carol Black is originally from South Carolina and California, but she now calls Alexandria, VA home. Ms. Black is an attorney by trade, but has also been involved with the restoration of several historic buildings. Currently job-hunting, she is happy to be able to have the time to work with the Alexandria Elks Lodge members with the plans to restore their lodge.
Gail C. Rothrock, is a retired historic preservation planner. Ms. Rothrock serves on the Board of Trustees of the Historic Alexandria Foundation and is a member of the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission.
Genevieve Keller is the current chair of the Board of Preservation Virginia. She is an architectural historian and preservation planner from Charlottesville, VA, and is a Founding Principal of the preservation practice firm of Land and Community Associates. Ms. Keller is an award-winning author of several publications related to cultural landscape preservation, she teaches Preservation Planning in the School of Architecture at UVA, and she has concentrated in recent years on public service in Charlottesville and Central Virginia.
