About the Madison County African American Historical Association

Our Mission

The MCAAHA’s mission is to honor and preserve the rich history and stories of African Americans in Madison County, Virginia. We believe that a deeper understanding will be achieved through education, research, and community engagement; and that an appreciation for our collective American history is essential to building a more inclusive and equitable community for all.

Our Vision

The MCAAHA will foster greater understanding and appreciation of African American contributions to our community while supporting diversity and promoting cultural inclusivity. We believe that everyone should be empowered to engage in their history and culture and fully recognize and celebrate African American achievements.

Our Values

We are dedicated to the belief that sharing the true history of our Madison community enlightens and enriches us all. We believe that understanding this important history, reflecting both adversity and achievement, can serve to inspire and unite us, and strengthen our community ties.

The History of the MCAAHA

Madison County was founded in 1792, with people of African descent contributing greatly to the region throughout its history as enslaved workers, laborers, farmers, educators, professionals, and entrepreneurs. The MCAAHA was founded in 2006, after years of deep research by Madison native Nancy Garnett Williams. Interns from James Madison University, Smith College, and Virginia Commonwealth University assisted the staff of the Madison County Circuit Court and the Madison County Library, providing invaluable research, data collection, and documentation regarding wills, marriage licenses, deeds, chancery filings, and other historical material. A collection of family files was established to assist families in their genealogical searches.

In 2018, MCAAHA partnered with the University of Virginia’s Small Special Collections Library to house a collection of memorabilia of the 1880 Grand United Order of Odd Fellows of Madison County. The MCAAHA has also expanded its curated collections in the Lodge Hall Museum on Main Street, and welcomes visitors by appointment.

In 2023, MCAAHA established a new board of directors and welcomed a new president, Dr. Mesha Jones. MCAAHA is honored to collaborate with esteemed historians, scholars, genealogists, mapping specialists, digital curators, librarians, educators, landowners, and families to research and share the rich history of African Americans in Madison County. Currently, we are planning a major exhibition to be unveiled in 2o26: Striving for Excellence: A Century of African American Schools in Madison County.

Our Work

We seek to honor local African American history through:

Dedicated research and documentation
The presentation of programs and exhibits
The identification and preservation of local African American landmarks and memory sites
The creation of knowledge-sharing opportunities, including curriculum development, lectures, panel discussions, articles, displays, walking tours, historical markers, public art, special events, and other initiatives
Collaboration with community partners such as the Madison County Historical Society, the Madison County Public Library, Right the Record, History Quest, and other organizations
Seeking grants and other funds to aid in educational initiatives and the stewardship of African American historical collections and sites

Board of Directors

Dr. Mesha Jones – President

Nancy Garnett Williams – Founder

Dorothy Arrington – Treasurer

Dorren Brown

Dr. Patricia Frye

Tina Gordon

Charles Landgraf

Rev. Frank D. Lewis

Zann Nelson

Cindy Taylor

Paul Williams, Jr.

How You Can Help

Join Us!

Interested in the collective history of Madison County? Want to learn more or share information about African American achievements in our community? There are many ways you can help:

Join our organization! The membership application is available here.
Have a story to share? Contact us!
Help with events, and spread the word about the MCAAHA.
Donate or loan photos, documents, and artifacts.
Help with research or documentation.
Contribute ideas for exhibits, discussions, and lectures.

become a Member

We are pleased to share our fourth Hometown Histories profile! See our Hometown Histories page for our spotlight on Skip Gordon!