Media Alert
October 17, 2022
Taylor Fuqua, Manager of PR & Marketing; tfuqua@VirginiaHistory.org; 804.342.9661

Richmond, Va. – The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) announced today the endowing and naming of three critical museum positions. This exciting update was made possible by three major gifts generously given as part of the recently completed History Matters Campaign—the largest and most successful fundraising effort in VMHC’s history—which supported VMHC’s extensive renovation and funded related, long-term investments in its programmatic portfolio. Each of these full-time staff positions addresses a key area of focus for Virginia’s state history museum and supports the organization-wide mission to preserve and share the story of Virginia. Unlike neighboring museums for art and science, the history museum is a private non-profit organization and does not receive money from the state for its regular operational budget. The VMHC relies on the generosity of individual and corporate donors and foundations to support its mission.

Pamela K. Royall Director of Partnerships & Community Engagement

In 2021, and as a springboard for a new core initiative, VMHC established a staff position focused on partnerships and community engagement within the Office of the President. After an extensive search, Joseph Rogers was tapped as the inaugural holder of this important role. Born in Roanoke, Virginia, Joseph developed an appreciation for history at an early age. He served in the United States Navy before beginning his work in museums. His background in history and education is valuable, but it is his passion for outreach and community activism that set him apart as a candidate.

As Chair of the Board of Trustees, Pam helped inspire this important development. “The VMHC Board recognizes the power of partnerships and the need to prioritize building relationships across our local community, region, and state,” she said. “Dedicating a full-time staff member to this work will help us deliver on our commitment to be a place for all Virginians—a place of convening where people of all backgrounds see themselves and their experiences reflected and represented.” Now, through her incredible generosity, this role is fully endowed. Pam and her late husband, Bill Royall, also provided tremendous charitable support to the museum’s capital improvements project, helping create the new Royall Orientation Hall.

Melanie Trent De Schutter Library Director

Since its founding in 1831, the VMHC has fostered research and scholarship about Virginia and American history. This commitment to scholarly pursuits has connected the people of the Commonwealth to the VMHC collection through first-hand access to historical records and innumerable citations in reference materials on Virginia history. Now, through the recent renovation of the research library and the hiring of a new research library director, this core function is substantially reinforced. Just beginning his work at the VMHC, Dr. James Brookes will manage VMHC’s library services, publications, and scholar relations functions. A former Mellon Fellow at the VMHC, Dr. Brookes holds bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in American Studies from the University of Nottingham. Most recently, he was a Richard H. Brown/William Lloyd Barber Long-Term Research Fellow at the Newberry Research Library in Chicago. An expert on the visual culture of the Civil War, Dr. Brookes’ first book, tentatively titled The Soldier’s Gaze: Rank and File Visual Culture of the Civil War, is currently being published by the University of North Carolina Press.

A native of the Tidewater region of Virginia, Melanie Trent De Schutter’s passion for history and genealogy inspired her involvement in VMHC’s reimagination. Her generosity allowed for both the endowing of the museum’s library director position and the creation of the Melanie Trent Family Foundation gallery of the VMHC’s new Our Commonwealth regional showcase exhibition.

Lisa & Bill Moore Vice President for Collections & Exhibitions

The VMHC is home to one of the largest and finest history collections in the nation, including more than nine million items. Nearly a third of VMHC’s staff effort is dedicated to caring for this immense and growing collection and to thoughtfully displaying and interpreting collections through VMHC’s expanded exhibition program. This division, which includes teams for Collections Cataloging, Collections Management, and Curatorial Affairs in addition to VMHC’s research library, is led by the Vice President for Collections & Exhibitions. Since 2018, Adam Scher has filled this critical role. Scher’s impressive experience includes roles of increasing responsibility at institutions in Virginia as well as one of the largest state history museums in the nation, the Minnesota Historical Society.

Through the generosity of Lisa and Bill Moore of Staunton, Virginia, Scher’s position is now endowed. Since 2020, Lisa has served on the board of the historical society, including serving on the Collections & Exhibitions Committee. The Moore’s are longtime champions of history institutions across the Commonwealth—none more so than George Washington’s Mount Vernon where Lisa served for many years as the Vice Regent for Virginia on Mount Vernon’s governing body, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union.

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The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society — a private, non-profit organization established in 1831. The historical society is the oldest cultural organization in Virginia, and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the nation. For use in its state history museum and its renowned research library, the historical society cares for a collection of nearly nine million items representing the ever-evolving story of Virginia.

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