Historical Society announces “Orange County History Forum”

By Ray Ezell

The Historical Society is proud to announce that part of our 60th anniversary commemoration this year will be the inauguration of the “Orange County History Forum.” This local history symposium will be modeled, although on a smaller scale, on the statewide Virginia Forum that has been running successfully over the past few decades.

The Orange County History Forum (OCHF) is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Historical Society’s research center. The theme of this year’s Forum is: “Orange County’s

Place in History.” Presenters are encouraged to offer papers relating to this theme. Other

papers relating to topics for the immediate surrounding region may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Officially established in 1734, Orange County is a true crossroads of Virginia and national

history. It is the location of one of the Piedmont’s earliest European settlements (Lt. Gov.

Alexander Spotswood’s Germanna), the birthplace of two U.S. Presidents (James Madison

and Zachary Taylor), and the location of one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles (Wilderness).

The OCHF encourages presentations in anthropology, archaeology, education, historical geography, and/or history relating to the symposium theme. The deadline for proposals is

June 30, 2025. Paper proposals will be submitted electronically at the following registration

link: https://forms.gle/CbsJiacDkY7kz2Xn7. (A Google account is required.)

Submissions should include: a one half-page description of the proposed presentation and

a brief resume of the presenter, not to exceed one page in length. Presentations should not exceed 20 minutes in duration. Questions? Contact Ray Ezell, President, Orange County Historical Society, at rayezell_2000@yahoo.com.