What is the Victorian Society in America?
The Victorian Society in America is the only national non-profit organization committed to historic preservation, protection, understanding, education, and enjoyment of our nineteenth century heritage.
The Victorian Society in America was founded in 1966 as a sister organization to the Victorian Society in the U.K., by such legends of historic preservation as Brendan Gill, Henry-Russell Hitchcock, and Margot Gayle. So outraged were they by the 1964 destruction of New York’s magnificent Pennsylvania Station [McKim, Mead, & White, 1910] that they formed the Society to ensure that other important structures did not fall to the wrecker’s ball.
Since then, the Victorian Society in America has fulfilled its mission through publications, symposia, architectural tours, and its famous Summer Schools in Newport, Rhode Island, Chicago, Illinois, and London, England, and has made tremendous contributions to the preservation of many historic buildings. Indeed, Old House Journal included the founding of the Victorian Society as one of the 25 most significant milestones in American preservation.
There are 10 registered Chapters of the Society around the country hosting a wide range of local events and lectures. There is also an active Summer Schools Alumni Association that sponsors exceptional architectural tours all over the world.
Staff and Board
NATIONAL OFFICE STAFF
Sue Verzella
Business Manager
SUMMER SCHOOLS
Anne Mallek
Summer Schools Administrator
Richard Guy Wilson
Director
Newport Summer School
Edward R. Bosley
Assistant Director
Newport Summer School
Kit Wedd
Director
London Summer School
Tina Strauss
Director
Chicago Summer School
Andrew Elders
Assistant Director
Chicago Summer School
ADVISORY COUNCIL
William Ayres
New York, New York
Patricia Eldredge
Hudson, Ohio
Bruce Davies
Victoria, British Columbia
Christopher Forbes
New York, New Y
Richard Guy Wilson
Charlottesville, Virginia
OFFICERS
Cindy Casey
President
San Francisco, California
John J. Simonelli
Executive Vice President
Paterson, New Jersey
Jaclyn Spainhour
Vice President
Washington, D.C.
Robert Chapman
Treasurer
Montclair, New Jersey
Florence Sinofsky
Secretary
Montclair, New Jersey
EMERITI
William Ayers
New York, New York
Patrice K. Beam
Davenport, Iowa
Bruce Davies
Victoria, British Columbia
Patricia Eldredge
Hudson, Ohio
Sylvia Johnson
New Franklin, Ohio
Sally Kinsey
De Witt, New York
Pauline Metcalf
New York, New York
Marilyn Tuchow
Birmingham, Michigan
DIRECTORS
Dennis Andersen
Richmond, Virginia
Warren Ashworth
New York, New York
Anne-Taylor Cahill
Norfolk, Virginia
Sunni Goodson
Henderson, North Carolina
Travis Kennedy
New York, New York
David Lamdin
Arlington, Virginia
Michael Lewis
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Charles Robertson
Washington, District of Columbia
Kevin Rose
Springfield, Ohio
Carolyn Sale
Norfolk, Virginia
Matthew Sandretto
Lake forest, IL
Frampton Tolbert
New York, New York
Brett Waters
Voorhees, New Jersey
The VSA Purpose Today
- To foster public appreciation and understanding of the artistic expression of the Victorian Era in the United States.
- To engage in and encourage the preservation and the publication of material culture of the Victorian Era, including but not limited to architecture, fine and decorative art, design, planning and technology.
- To offer educational opportunities for the study of the Victorian heritage through schools, symposia, tours, lectures and other media.
- To serve as a reservoir of expertise on matters pertaining to Victorian culture, including but not limited to the maintenance of archives, records and reference works concerning Victorian material culture.
From the bylaws of The Victorian Society in America, Inc.
Past National Presidents
2017-2022
Kevin Rose
Springfield, Ohio
2014-2016
John J. Simonelli
Paterson, New Jersey
2010-2014
Tina Strauss
Deerfield, Illinois
2005-2010
Bruce Davies
Victoria, British Columbia
2001-2005
Patricia Pixley
Omaha, Nebraska
1994-2001
John J. Simonelli
Paterson, New Jersey
1990-1994
Billie S. Britz
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
1984-1990
Guy Lacy Schless, M.D.,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1980-1984
Richard Hubbard Howland
Washington, District of Columbia
1974-1980
William J. Murtagh
Alexandria, Virginia
1969-1974
Henry-Russell Hitchcock
New York, New York
1967-1969
J. Stewart Johnson
New York, New York
Nominate Someone for the Board
The Victorian Society in America is governed by a Board of Directors comprising twenty members from across the United States. We seek board representation from professionals, academics, and interested citizens in the fields that we serve and represent, including history, art, architecture, decorative arts, and museum studies, as well as qualified individuals in related and supporting areas. The board conducts its work through committees, and directors are expected to have the time, interest, and experience to join committees. The Victorian Society values diversity and supports the nomination of diverse candidates to the board.
To nominate someone for the Victorian Society’s Board of Directors, please open and complete the form below.
