John N. Pearce, former director of the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library and former professor of historic preservation at the University of Mary Washington, has been honored with the prestigious History Award from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The distinction, given for lifetime contribution to American history, is awarded to only seven Americans each year.
Diana Wallace Perrussel, regent of the Overwharton Parish Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, presented the gold medal to Pearce on Saturday, November 12 at the residence of UMW alumna Judy Barton who nominated her former professor.
Pearce was recognized for his leadership of the James Monroe Museum and his long-standing devotion to preserving history in Fredericksburg and other parts of the nation. Among his vast accomplishments, Pearce worked to restore the 1849 building that houses St. George’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, raised money to preserve the 18th century Masonic cemetery, established the only Welsh festival on the East Coast to honor the heritage of the fifth president of the United States, helped create the James Monroe Presidential Center and served as liaison for the Enchanted Castle site established by Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood in the early1800s.
