OCAAHS
OCAAHS Presentation at Bethel Baptist Church
OCAAHS recently visited the historic Bethel Baptist Church to give a presentation on the history of this important church. The...
top of page
OCAAHS LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES
OCAAHS
- Mar 30
- 1 min
OCAAHS TalkSacred Sites in Orange: Church and Home Place Burial Sites
with James Bruce Monroe, III and Matthew Reeves Images from left to right, Westview Cemetery, Orange, Blue Run Baptist Church Cemetery...
OCAAHS
- Feb 10
- 1 min
OCAAHS Board Member Jo-Ann Brock reads to 4th graders about Chef Edna Lewis
OCAAHS Board Member Jo-Ann Brock reads to 4th graders about Chef Edna Lewis at Grelen Nursery in Somerset. The field trip was devoted to...
OCAAHS
- Dec 15, 2023
- 4 min
Capitalism Takes Root: Former Slaves Adapt To The Free Market
Donna Tyler Hollie Brett M. Tyler This article has a dual purpose: (1) to share two interesting sources which enabled us to flesh out...
OCAAHS
- Dec 1, 2023
- 1 min
A Tribute to Mr. George Long
It is with heavy hearts that we, the Orange County African American Historical Society, extend our deepest condolences on the passing of...
OCAAHS
- Oct 29, 2023
- 1 min
2023 Eclipse Awards
What an incredible evening on October 28th, 2023. Amazing conversations, amazing ambiance, amazing presentation of awards, amazing food...
OCAAHS
- Oct 9, 2023
- 2 min
Introducing 2023 Eclipse Award Honoree Gloria Johnson Gilmore
Gloria Johnson Gilmore grew up in Orange County and is a graduate of George Washington Carver Regional High School and West Virginia...
OCAAHS
- Oct 8, 2023
- 1 min
Introducing 2023 Eclipse Award Honoree Sakhile “Solo” Mthethwa
At 14 years old, Sakhile "Solo" Mthethwa fell in love with wrestling. He aimed to be Orange County's first Black Valedictorian and State...
OCAAHS
- Oct 8, 2023
- 1 min
Introducing 2023 Eclipse Award Honoree Jesse Magruder
Jesse Magruder's remarkable journey in education is a testament to the profound impact teachers can have on their students. Born during...
OCAAHS
- Oct 8, 2023
- 1 min
Introducing 2023 Eclipse Award Honoree Ernestine Reid
Ernestine Reid graduated in 1969 from Wyatt High School, Emporia, VA. In 1973, she received her B.S. in Education from St. Paul's...
OCAAHS
- Oct 5, 2023
- 1 min
Introducing 2023 Eclipse Award Honoree Juliet Daniel
One of our two remarkable YOUTH category recipients this year, Juliet Daniel is a dedicated advocate for justice and equality with a...
OCAAHS
- Oct 2, 2023
- 1 min
Introducing 2023 Eclipse Award Honoree Mary F. Minkoff
Mary Minkoff grew up in the states of Florida and Maryland. She graduated from the University of Maryland and shortly after joined the...
OCAAHS
- Jul 20, 2023
- 1 min
OCAAHS Board Goes on Field Trip to Historic Germanna
OCAAHS Board members Bruce Monroe, JoAnn Brock, Mary Freeman, Rev. Robert Anthony, Rev. Darryle Crump, Lewis Johnson, Judy Peterson and...
OCAAHS
- Jul 13, 2023
- 2 min
June 29 - Stories in Our Art: A Discussion About the Importance of Arts for Sharing Ideas of Freedom
Virtual Panel Discussion “Stories From Our Arts” Thursday, June 29th at 7pm EST We’re completing our 2023 celebration of Juneteenth ...
OCAAHS
- Jun 29, 2023
- 2 min
June 22 - Stories From Our Congregation
Virtual Panel Discussion “Stories From Our Congregation” Thursday, June 22nd at 7pm EST We’re continuing our celebration of Juneteenth!...
OCAAHS
- Jun 23, 2023
- 1 min
Juneteenth 2023 in Photos
If you missed Juneteenth here are some photos we would like to share. Photos Below Courtesy of Catherine Brandon
OCAAHS
- Jun 21, 2023
- 4 min
June 15 - Stories from Our Community
June 15 - Stories from Our Community: A Discussion with Local Historians and Keepers of Community History about How Black Communities...
Deborah Newman
- Jun 15, 2023
- 4 min
June 8 - Stories from Our Grandmothers
June 8 - Stories from Our Grandmothers: An Exploration of the Role Family Stories in Sharing the Journey to Freedom Our second virtual...
OCAAHS
- Jun 5, 2023
- 2 min
June 1 - Stories from Our Land, Juneteenth Virtual Event
June 1 - Stories from Our Land: A Discussion About the Role of the Natural Environment and Landscape in People’s Journeys to Freedom...
OCAAHS
- May 10, 2023
- 1 min
Portraying Bravery Portrait Contest
Deadline for Receipt of Entries: Thursday, June 1, 2023 | 5PM (Must be delivered to The Arts Center in Orange: 129 E. Main Street,...
OCAAHS
- Mar 1, 2023
- 1 min
Orange County Public Schools Collaboration
In celebration of Black History Month, we honor the journey of African American students, teachers and staff members in Orange County....
OCAAHS
- Feb 23, 2023
- 3 min
2022 Eclipse Award Recipients
Rebecca Gilmore Coleman sparked James Madison’s Montpelier’s deep engagement with Orange’s African American community in 1999 when she...
OCAAHS
- Feb 22, 2023
- 1 min
2022 Eclipse Award Recipients Videos
Here are our amazing recipients
OCAAHS
- Feb 13, 2023
- 1 min
OCAAHS Annual Meeting, February 12, 2023, at The Arts Center in Orange
OCAAHS held its annual membership meeting and public program on Sunday, February 12, hosted by OCAAHS President James Bruce Monroe, III....
OCAAHS
- Feb 6, 2023
- 3 min
Edward S. Washington - August 21, 1891 – February 21, 1969
This article was submitted by James “Bruce” Monroe, the son of Sara Washington Monroe, the sixth child of Mr. Washington and grandson of...
OCAAHS
- Dec 23, 2022
- 8 min
Annual Newsletter 2022
Fifth Annual OCAAHS Eclipse Awards OCAAHS launched the Eclipse Award program five years ago to honor those who have consistently gone...
OCAAHS
- Jul 29, 2022
- 2 min
New OCAAHS Logo Unveiled
ORANGE COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY UNVEILS NEW LOGO INSPIRED BY WINNING ENTRY IN OCPS STUDENT DESIGN CONTEST The tree...
OCAAHS
- Jun 19, 2022
- 2 min
Juneteeth 2022 Virtual Programs
June 1 “Juneteenth: A Homecoming Celebration” This panel will focus on the meaning of Juneteenth, its role as an Independence day, how...
OCAAHS
- Jun 19, 2022
- 0 min
OCAAHS
- Jun 1, 2022
- 1 min
History Quest Meets Right the Record Interview with Mary T Freeman, Lois Goodall and Judy Peterson
These women plus Charlotte Cole who could not be present for the interview constitute the dynamic team putting together the LIVE 2022...
OCAAHS
- Jun 1, 2022
- 1 min
Commemorative Park Taking Shape!
Super exciting to share the construction photos of the park underway.
OCAAHS
- Jun 1, 2022
- 1 min
History Quest Meets Right the Record Zann Nelson Interview with Rev. James McIntosh and Bethany Sull
Jim McIntosh shares a portion of his personal and ancestral stories and discusses with Bethany Sullivan, director of the James Madison...
OCAAHS
- May 25, 2022
- 0 min
OCAAHS
- May 23, 2022
- 1 min
History Quest Meets Right the Record with Zann Nelson, What is OCAAHS?
History Quest Meets Right the Record with Zann Nelson What is OCAAHS? Interview with Rebecca Coleman, Darryle Crump and Bruce Monroe...
OCAAHS
- Mar 30, 2022
- 4 min
1842 Orange County, VA: Four women on divergent paths
written by Zann Nelson Part One First was Lucy Quarles, born to freedom as a white woman in Louisa County and by 1836 had become a widow...
OCAAHS
- Mar 25, 2022
- 1 min
Edna Lewis and the Lewis Family of Orange
In Honor of Women's History Month 2022, OCAAHS wanted to pay tribute to Edna Lewis and the Lewis family. Below is an amazing obit...
OCAAHS
- Mar 18, 2022
- 2 min
Nannie Helen Burroughs: A Woman Far Ahead of her Time
Who knew that one of the very first nationally acclaimed advocates for the advancement of women’s rights and the improvement for all...
OCAAHS
- Mar 1, 2022
- 4 min
Honoring the Memory of Captain Andrew Maples, Jr., Orange County’s Tuskegee Airman
Article adopted from February 2022 Orange County newsletter INSIGHT.” | Jayson Woods, Communications Specialist for County of Orange,...
OCAAHS
- Feb 17, 2022
- 1 min
Groundbreaking Church Street Project February 14, 2022
Town of Orange breaks ground on new park WVIR, Isabel Cleary ORANGE, Va. (WVIR) - The Town of Orange is getting a new park. A crowd...
OCAAHS
- Feb 14, 2022
- 1 min
THE 2022 OCAAHS ANNUAL MEETING
Rebecca Gilmore Coleman was named Director Emeritus of the Orange County African American Historical Society at its annual membership...
OCAAHS
- Dec 13, 2021
- 7 min
OCAAH Society Newsletter Fall 2021
FOURTH ANNUAL OCAAHS ECLIPSE AWARDS By Ellen Wessel OCAAHS launched the Eclipse Award program four years ago to honor those who have...
OCAAHS
- Oct 31, 2021
- 1 min
2021 Eclipse Award Recipients
Our five distinguished honorees, in case you haven’t already heard, are: Mrs. Barbara Ann Johnson Pastor Frank Lewis, Sr. Mrs. Emily...
OCAAHS
- Oct 17, 2021
- 3 min
The Lewis Family of Freetown
My name is Ruth Lewis Smith and my grandfather was Chester Lewis. He was born into slavery around 1830 at Morton Plantation in Lahore....
OCAAHS
- Oct 17, 2021
- 2 min
The Jackson Family of Jacksontown
My name is Madlynn Anglin and my great grandfather was Allan Jackson. Allan Jackson was born in 1838 to Mary Golden, a house slave at...
OCAAHS
- Oct 17, 2021
- 2 min
The Monroe Family of Petersburg
My name is William R. Monroe and my father was James Harris Monroe, Sr and my mother and his family were from Madison County, Virginia....
OCAAHS
- Oct 17, 2021
- 2 min
The Jones Family of Tibbstown
My name is Deacon Prince Jones and my grandfather was Gilliard Jones. My grandfather came up from North Carolina with his brother while...
OCAAHS
- Oct 17, 2021
- 2 min
The Mickey, White, and Long Families of Shady Grove
My name is George Long and my great grandfather was John Mickey. My great grandfather lived in a log cabin just on the other side of...
OCAAHS
- Oct 17, 2021
- 2 min
The Thurston Family of Rhoadesville
My name is Joan Gaither Graves and my great, great grandfather was Ruben Brooks. From family history, Rhoadesville was their home and...
OCAAHS
- Oct 17, 2021
- 3 min
The East Family of Orange
My name is Margaret East Ware and my grandfather was Thomas East. My grandfather lived in Gordonsville. I do not know very much about him...
OCAAHS
- Oct 16, 2021
- 2 min
Eclipse Award Recipient 2021, Nia Robinson
Nia Robinson, Youth Eclipse Awardee 2021 Nia Robinson is the daughter of Christopher and Larissa Robinson and the sister of a younger...
bottom of page