Celebrating African American Excellence & History in Westmoreland County, VA
Preserving the Legacy.
Honoring the Journey. Inspiring the Future.
Fifteen Years of Preserving, Celebrating, and Sharing Our Story
After months of closure due to a mold issue in the entire A T Johnson Complex, we are preparing for our much-anticipated reopening of the A T Johnson Museum (ATJM)!
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This closure gave me time to reflect upon my fifteen years as Executive Director of this historic African American Museum, I am overwhelmed with gratitude, humility, and a profound sense of purpose. As a former A. T. Johnson High School student, it has been an extraordinary privilege to be the steward of a project that was founded on a bold vision: to establish the first and only museum in the Northern Neck of Virginia dedicated exclusively to preserving, documenting, and celebrating the contributions of African Americans to these lands we call home.
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When this museum was established in 2000, it filled a void in our community. The stories of African Americans who helped build our communities, strengthen our institutions, defended our nation, fought since 1870 for public educational opportunities for youth of African descent, cultivate the land, enriched our culture was history that deserved a permanent home. This former high school became that home.
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I now realize that the mission of this Museum is about much more than a historic building preserving artifacts and records. It is about giving voice to generations whose contributions were often overlooked or underappreciated. It is about creating a place where history can be explored honestly, proudly, and openly. It is about granting ourselves and future generations permission to speak boldly and unapologetically about the countless ways African Americans have shaped our region, our Commonwealth, our nation, and the world.
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The stories we preserve do not belong to one community alone. They belong to all of us. They are part of the shared history of every person who has called this area home. Our Museum welcomes everyone because the African American experiences is woven into the fabric of our collective story. By understanding these contributions, we gain a fuller understanding of who we are as a people and as a community. The men and women whose stories fill our spaces crossed local, state, national, and international boundaries. They speak of those who served as pavers of an uncharted landscape; engaged in conflicts and wars; founded businesses; educated generations of children; broke barriers in government, science, industry, agriculture, the arts; and contributed to causes far greater than themselves. Their lives remind us that true greatness is measured not by what we accumulate for ourselves, but by what we contribute to others.
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I see a common thread throughout these stories; they left every place better than they found it. Whether on a plantation, in their home, regardless of the role assigned to them, professions they earned, in military service, in their churches, or in communities around the world. They dedicated themselves to a greater good. Their legacy challenges each of us to do the same.
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Over these years, I have had the privilege of witnessing visitors discover family history, students gain a new appreciation for their ancestors, and community members find inspiration in the stories of those who came before them. Those moments reaffirm the importance of this Museum and the responsibility we all share in protecting it.
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There are still stories waiting to be retold, photographs waiting to be identified, paths needing to be rediscovered, records waiting to be preserved, and still voices waiting to be heard. As we move forward, I remain committed to shining a light on our collective history and journey, enhancing exhibits, preserving fragile artifacts, digitizing historical materials, and providing a thirst for walking the paths broken generations ago that will lead to insightful questions, whose answers will come from those inspired future generations.
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To accomplish this important work, I need your support.
If you, as I believe that these stories matter, if you believe that future generations deserve to know the full history of the building of our communities, and if you believe that the contributions of African Americans should be celebrated and preserved for all people to learn and benefit from, please support this, your MUSEUM!
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Your contribution is more than a donation. It is an investment in preserving history, honoring achievements, and ensuring that these stories continue to educate and inspire. Whether through financial support, volunteer service, artifact donations, or advocacy, your partnership helps strengthen this Museum's ability to fulfill its mission.
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Together, we can ensure that this ATJM remains a place where history is preserved, where community is strengthened, and where every visitor is reminded that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when they dedicate themselves to a purpose greater than themselves.
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I am deeply grateful to our founders, supporters, members, volunteers, community partners, and visitors for believing in this vision. Thank you for your trust, your encouragement, and your commitment during my years as steward of this historic place.
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May we continue to honor those who came before us by preserving their stories, celebrating their accomplishments, and carrying forward their enduring example of making every place they touched better than they found it.
With sincere gratitude,
Marian,
Marian Veney Ashton
ATJHS Class of 1968
Executive Director
"Preserving the past. Celebrating the present. Inspiring the future because the story of African Americans is not separate from American history, it is essential to it."