Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Missing Gravestones and Markers.

Fort Ward & Seminary 

African American Descendants Society

3413 Woods Avenue, Alexandria,Va.22302

January 29, 2015

Pamela J. Cressey Ph.D., RPA
City of Alexandria, Virginia
Office of Historic Alexandria/Alexandria Archaeology
Torpedo Factory Art Center #327
105 N. Union Street
Alexandria VA 22314

Dear Pam/ Ms. Cressey,

Thank you for your note of July 17, 2012 regarding Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Missing Gravestones and Markers.  As indicated earlier we had to discuss your request with the members of the Ft. Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc. before being able to respond further.

On July 25, 2012 the members of the Steering Committee met to discuss this and other business.  They remain interested in cooperating with the Office of Historic Alexandria to collect factual information on the location of graves, gravestones and other African American artifacts.  As you may recall in an earlier communications the Society is conducting oral history interviews of former Fort Ward residents.

The members  continue to wonder if Mr. Mallamo will ever get back to us about the idea of working together to collect information on the African American community.  Lance's last note to the Society was in February 2011 and at that time he indicated that he would get back to the group.  Delays in this cooperation ultimately are costing all of us time, money, the ability to speak with some of the Fort's elders, and historic accuracy

The Society has compiled a list of twenty-five people that have information about graves, gravestones and other artifacts related to the African American community at the Fort.
We believe that these individuals should be interviewed before any further decisions are made about Fort Ward Park. The members of the Society continue to believe that the City will be more effective in collecting information if we work together.  We would be happy to meet with you and Mr. Mallamo to discuss the list and how we can work together.

The members also developed a list of current and former City of Alexandria employees who we believe have information about the graves and gravestones of Fort Ward Park. We request that these individuals be interviewed as soon as possible.  Where employees work in the Office of Historic Alexandria we suggest that an objective third-party conduct the interview.  We would like to be allowed to have a representative from the Society attend each of the interviews.  Those with information about Fort Ward include:

Rebecca Beverly
Laverne Coleman
Robert Clark
Wanda Dowell
Jean Frederico
Ralph Hall
John Healy
Herman Lewis
Lance Mallamo
Wally Owen
Moses Simmons
Steve Tompkins

We appreciate your continued efforts to include first-hand information about the African American community at Fort Ward.  We look forward to hearing from you and Mr. Mallamo.

Sincerely yours,

Adrienne Terrell Washington

Frances Colbert Terrell   

J. Glenn Eugster

Fort Ward & Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc.