BPW Women of Virginia Historic Trail

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P.O. Box 4842
McLean, Virginia
22103-4842

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BPW Women of Virginia

The Women of Virginia Historic Trail honors women, who are deceased, who have made a significant contribution to Virginia history. The trail was established in 1992 by the Virginia BPW Foundation&#x2120, with an initial list of 30 honorees. The Virginia Trail is patterned after ones established in Michigan and Boston. The Trail serves as a tangible, material representation of ongoing scholarly work in Virginia’s cultural and social history. It—

·	broadens the appeal of the humanities among the general audience of Virginians,

·	attracts tourists to the state, exposing them to the state’s rich historical legacy, and

·	provides a resource for humanities programs in women’s studies, American history and related fields.

Early work on the Trail was supported by a grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy in 1991, which funded research and advisory committee meetings.

The Virginia BPW Foundation&#x2120 committee that worked so diligently on establishing the trail consisted of BPW/VA members Karen Keesling, Carolyn Boxley, Diane Trobaugh, and Dr. Vicki Johnson. Initial research was accomplished by Dr. Liz Varon.

The advisory committee consisted of several distinguished women: Drew Faust, Professor of History, Univ. of Pennsylvania; Suzanne Lebsock, Professor of History, Rutgers Univ.; Priscilla Little, Washington, D.C.; Sue Ann Messmer, Associate Dean, School of Fine Arts, VCU; Frances Pollard, Archivist, Virginia Historical Society; Lynda Robb, former Virginia First Lady, McLean, VA; Helen Roundtree, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Old Dominion Univ.; and Sandra Gioia Treadway, Editor, The Dictionary of Virginia Biography.

Selection criteria for the honorees included: nature of contribution, ethnic diversity, regional diversity, occupational diversity, time frame, and Virginia identity. Dedication ceremonies have been held and plaques placed throughout the state for 19 of the honorees. BPW/VA received a national program award at the 1992 BPW/USA convention for the Women of Virginia Historic Trail. The honorees and their locations are as follows:

Pocahontas
Churchyard, Jamestown Island

Sally Louisa Tompkins
Christ Church Kingston Parish, Mathews County

Cockacoeske
Pamukey Reservation, King William County

Marion Harland
Dennisville, Amelia County

Catherine Blaikley
Bruton Parish Church Cemetery,

Rosa Dixon Bowser
Museum of Black History, 00 Clay St., Richmond

Ann Makemie Holden
Jenkins Bridge, Onancock, Accomack County

Kate Waller Barrett
Kate Waller Barrett Memorial Bldg. (Alexandria Library), 717 Queen St., Alexandria

Mary Draper Ingles (Inglis)
Long Way Home Ampi-theatre, Radford

Lila Meade Valentine
House of Delegates Marble Memorial, Richmond

Clementina Rind
Ludwell-Paradise House, Williamsburg

Mary Cook Branch
Munford Munford Bldg.,
Univ. of Virginia, Richmond

Martha Washington
Mount Vernon

Janie Porter Barrett
Janie Porter Barrett School for Girls, Hanover

Dolley Madison
Montpelier,

Maggie Lena Walker
Maggie Walker House, 110A E. Leigh St., Richmond

Mary Blackford
Frederiscksburg

Sissieretta Jones
Portsmouth

Elizabeth Van Lew
Shockoe Hill Cemetery, Richmond

Mary Johnston
Three Hills, Warm Springs

Mary Elizabeth Bowser
Van Lew House Site, Richmond

Nora Houston
St. Paul’s School & Roman Catholic Church, Richmond

Ellen Glasgow
Ellen Glasgow House, 1 W. Main St., Richmond

Queena Stovall
Dillard Fine Arts Bldg., Lynchburg College

Virginia Estelle Randolph
Virginia Randolph Cottage, 2200 Mountain Road, Henrico County

Naomi Cohn
Beth Ahabah Congregation, Richmond

Lucy Randolph Mason
YWCA, Richmond

Geline MacDonald Bowman
Westover Hills,

Ann Spencer
Ann Spencer House, Lynchburg

Maybelle Carter
Maybelle and Ezra Carter Home
Maces Spring Vicinity, Scott

The Trail depicts history, but it also affords the opportunity to learn of the tireless efforts spent by these courageous women, which in some cases provided women the privilege of living longer, fuller and more purposeful lives.