News

Researchers to share findings on Alexandria’s Civil War history, LGBTQ+ community

By James Cullum
Alexandria during the Civil War (image via Visit Alexandria)

Three grant recipients will unveil their findings on Alexandria’s history during the Civil War, records at Douglas Cemetery and more.

The grants were awarded as part of the Alexandria Historical Society‘s 50th anniversary celebration. The “golden grantees” will present their findings at the free event at the Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) on Wednesday, Oct. 22, starting at 6:30 p.m.

“Projects funded through the Golden Grants ranged from indexing 18th-century documents to uncovering stories from Alexandria’s LGBTQ+ community—illustrating the wide scope and continuing richness of the city’s history,” AHS said in a release. “This program offers an exciting opportunity to hear from historians and researchers working on the front lines of discovery and to learn something new about Alexandria’s ever-evolving story.”

The presenters include:

  • Hannah Lecomte, Out and About in Northern Virginia Project
  • Dr. Benjamin Skolnik (Office of Historic Alexandria), Douglas Cemetery Records Project
  • Madeline Feierstein, Historian and Author, Confine & Fortify: The Military Government of Civil War Alexandria

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.