Programs for December 7 2025
Stafford Historical Society – Annual Christmas Party
The Christmas party will be held at the Rowser Building, Room A. The SCHS provides napkins, plates, cutlery, and beverages. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share.
Programs for January 24 2026
Stafford Historical Society – Crossroads of Conflict: Civil War in Culpeper County and Creation of Culpeper National Cemetery
With Jeff Joyce.
The first part of Jeff’s presentation is an overview of how the Civil War impacted Culpeper County, including major battles like Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station and the Army of the Potomac winter encampment (1863-64). The second part discusses the establishment of Culpeper National Cemetery after the war and the stories of several Civil War soldiers buried there.
Jeff Joyce is an Air Force veteran and retired Defense contractor who lives in Manassas. He is a a volunteer historian at Culpeper National Cemetery, supporting the Wreaths Across America program. In addition, Jeff is a Docent at the National Air and Space Museum, a volunteer with the Honor Flight Program, a battlefield guide at Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park in Prince William County and a member of the living history team at Manassas National Battlefield.
Programs for February 7 2026
Stafford Historical Society – Bringing Eliza Home
Author, Barbara Vorndick, will present the project to return the remains of Eliza Monroe Hay from the American section of Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France, to the Monroe family plot in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia. Elizabeth “Eliza” Kortright Monroe Hay was an American socialite who acted as unofficial First Lady during her father James Monroe’s presidency, as her mother’s health kept her away from many White House duties.
What started as a project to find out more information about Eliza turned into five years of digging through primary sources on both sides of the Atlanta to discover the truth about Eliza’s life and the tragic circumstances of her death. Barbara’s groundbreaking research turned up newly discovered documents that changed the standard historical narrative of this American daughter and led to a campaign to repatriate Eliza’s remains from Paris to Virginia.
As the coordinator of the Bringing Eliza Home Project, Barbara is honored to represent the living descendants of Eliza Monroe, and has been actively planning and facilitating the repatriation process since August 2023. Her biography of Eliza Monroe was published with Barnes and Noble Press in July 2024.
Barbara was born and raised in Virginia. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education, and worked for three decades in private and public schools in Virginia, as well as Germanna Community College as an adjunct professor. After she retired to the Charlottesville area, she started working part-time as an Interpreter of History at James Monroe’s Highland, the Monroe family plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia. After initial training for the position, Barbara was encouraged to continue her own independent research, and she became interested in the Monroe women, particularly Eliza.
Please note that the program will not be 5 hours long. The extended time period is because the event will include a book signing after her program. Barbara will have copies of her book, “Eliza’s True Story: The First Biography of President Monroe’s Eldest Daughter” available for purchase and signing.
Stafford Historical Society – Annual Christmas Party
The Christmas party will be held at the Rowser Building, Room A. The SCHS provides napkins, plates, cutlery, and beverages. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share.
The Stafford County Historical Society live history programs is in its fifth decade. The dates of upcoming events are listed below along with archived recordings for the series at the bottom of the page.
Our society is proud to support the many other groups in the region with a historical focus.
We look forward to seeing you!
All Stafford County presentations are open to the public and are free of charge!
Featured Event
December 2025
January 2026
Stafford Historical Society – Crossroads of Conflict: Civil War in Culpeper County and Creation of Culpeper National Cemetery
Saturday January 24th 2026 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Porter Branch
2001 Parkway Boulevard, Stafford, VA, USA
With Jeff Joyce.
The first part of Jeff’s presentation is an overview of how the Civil War impacted Culpeper County, including major battles like Cedar Mountain and Brandy Station and the Army of the Potomac winter encampment (1863-64). The second part discusses the establishment of Culpeper National Cemetery after the war and the stories of several Civil War soldiers buried there.
Jeff Joyce is an Air Force veteran and retired Defense contractor who lives in Manassas. He is a a volunteer historian at Culpeper National Cemetery, supporting the Wreaths Across America program. In addition, Jeff is a Docent at the National Air and Space Museum, a volunteer with the Honor Flight Program, a battlefield guide at Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park in Prince William County and a member of the living history team at Manassas National Battlefield.
February 2026
Stafford Historical Society – Bringing Eliza Home
Saturday February 7th 2026 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Porter Branch
2001 Parkway Boulevard, Stafford, VA, USA
Author, Barbara Vorndick, will present the project to return the remains of Eliza Monroe Hay from the American section of Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France, to the Monroe family plot in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia. Elizabeth “Eliza” Kortright Monroe Hay was an American socialite who acted as unofficial First Lady during her father James Monroe’s presidency, as her mother’s health kept her away from many White House duties.
What started as a project to find out more information about Eliza turned into five years of digging through primary sources on both sides of the Atlanta to discover the truth about Eliza’s life and the tragic circumstances of her death. Barbara’s groundbreaking research turned up newly discovered documents that changed the standard historical narrative of this American daughter and led to a campaign to repatriate Eliza’s remains from Paris to Virginia.
As the coordinator of the Bringing Eliza Home Project, Barbara is honored to represent the living descendants of Eliza Monroe, and has been actively planning and facilitating the repatriation process since August 2023. Her biography of Eliza Monroe was published with Barnes and Noble Press in July 2024.
Barbara was born and raised in Virginia. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education, and worked for three decades in private and public schools in Virginia, as well as Germanna Community College as an adjunct professor. After she retired to the Charlottesville area, she started working part-time as an Interpreter of History at James Monroe’s Highland, the Monroe family plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia. After initial training for the position, Barbara was encouraged to continue her own independent research, and she became interested in the Monroe women, particularly Eliza.
Please note that the program will not be 5 hours long. The extended time period is because the event will include a book signing after her program. Barbara will have copies of her book, “Eliza’s True Story: The First Biography of President Monroe’s Eldest Daughter” available for purchase and signing.
Past Presentations
P.O. Box 1664
Stafford, VA 22555
