The Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society

Collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history of our community!

Staff

On September 24, 1917 Charlottesville enjoyed a celebratory parade downtown, as the official send-off to the members of the Monticello Guard, Company D of the 1st Virginia, who then left for training at Camp McClellan in Alabama. The Monticello Guard, which had first been formed in 1857, served in France during World War I. Renowned photographer Rufus Holsinger took this photograph from the foot of Vinegar Hill, looking east down Main Street — which has been the site of a pedestrian mall since 1976. (photo courtesy of the Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia).

Olivia Brown, Executive Director

Olivia Brown is a longtime lover of history from the time she was a young girl. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in History and American Studies from the University of Virginia, and a Master’s Degree in Public History from the University of South Carolina where her thesis research focused on the intersections of Jewish and Southern foodways. She has worked previously as a Tour Guide at James Monroe’s Highland and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, and as Community Programs Manager for the Bucks County Historical Society. Her public history work includes volunteering for Historic Columbia and the Columbia Jewish Heritage Initiative, where her research was published in the 2023 book, “Kugels and Collards: Stories of Food, Family, and Tradition in Jewish South Carolina.”

In addition to spending her days at the McIntire building with ACHS, Olivia runs a public and private events company in Charlottesville called Trivia with Olivia, and functions informally as her own family’s genealogist and photo archivist. Though not a Charlottesville or Albemarle County native, she has called this area home on-and-off for almost 10 years and is ready for many more!

[email protected]

Rachel Jackson, Membership & Office Coordinator

Rachel holds a BA in Studio Art from Hollins University and a MS in Museums & Digital Culture alongside an Advanced Certificate in User Experience (UX) from Pratt Institute. She has previously worked as a UX Research Consultant for cultural heritage institutions across the US, specializing in visitor experience research related to museum exhibitions, educational programs, and multimedia experiences.

For questions related to ACHS memberships, you can email Rachel at [email protected].

Keri Matthews, Collections Manager

 

Keri holds an MA in Art and Architectural History from the University of Virginia and a certificate in Editing from the University of Chicago’s Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies. She has worked at the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society since 2008.

Perry Raymond, Collections & Exhibit Assistant

A native of Charlottesville, Perry returned home in 2024 after spending a year abroad in London for graduate school. In addition to her work at ACHS, Perry is an Operations Manager for John Banister’s Battersea, an 18th-century historic house museum in Petersburg, Virginia.

Within the museum world, Perry is interested in co-curation with local communities and historical research that inspires inclusive, community-driven exhibitions and programming. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the National Emerging Museum Professionals Network (NEMPN) where she supports and advocates for others making their way in the field. She holds a BA in International Relations from Virginia Tech and an MA in Museum Studies from University College London (UCL). In her free time, Perry enjoys going to a local run club at Decipher Brewing, watching baseball, and thrifting.

For questions about our collections or exhibitions, you can email Perry at [email protected].