Alexandria? Which Alexandria

Join the Alexandria Historical Society for a lecture at the Lyceum by genealogist and family historian Stephen Hammond. Steve is a 7th generation member of the Syphax family who have a long history in northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. Mr. Hammond is a charter member of the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage and a member of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society in Washington, DC. He was named a Virginia Humanities Scholar for his work in exploring African American life and achievement in Virginia. He is a Trustee Emeritus at his Alma mater, Whitman College, where he gave the 2022 commencement speech and received an honorary doctorate.

In his talk, Steve will share stories about his family ties here in Alexandria, VA, as well as an interesting tie his great-grandfather has to Alexandria, LA. Mr. Hammond will also present information about current work he and others are doing to bring together descendant family members at both the Mount Vernon Plantation of George Washington and the Arlington House Plantation of George Washington Parke Custis. In addition, Steve will provide an update on the effort underway by descendants to change the name of the “Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial” to “Arlington House National Historic Site.”

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for non-members and free to members of the Alexandria Historical Society. Memberships can be purchased/renewed at the door. Capacity – 100.

To request a reasonable disability accommodation, email franwbromberg@gmail.com.