MEET OUR STAFF
Jean McGann
Jean McGann (since 1997) came to Virginia to be near her grandchildren. She answered an ad in the local newspaper for a staff person at the Historical Society. That was in 1997. She’s been there ever since, although her workload has been reduced from three days a week to one (Thursdays).
She remembers interviewing for the job with then President, Joe Rowe.
Concerned about her New York accent, which she still has, she told Rowe, “Don’t count me out. You don’t know what I can do.”
Ruth Long
Ruth Long (since 2016) came to Orange County from New York in 1957 when she was a three year-old. She’s been here ever since. Here’s a little known fact about Ruth: she holds a dual citizenship with the Caribbean island of Nevis, from which her grandparents emigrated in 1915.
Married to the legendary George Long (plumber, electrician, roofer, small engine repairman extraordinaire) she noticed that he kept the obituary from every funeral he attended.
She has expanded and indexed that collection of 800 obituaries to 1600 and as a result has helped numerous folks connect to their long lost relatives.
Jayne Blair
Jayne Blair (since 2009) came to us from Texas here she served in the Navy and later had a 30-year career with the Dallas police department. She worked as a jailor, housing project peace officer, city hall security guard, and finally Dallas Airport police officer, where she got to know such luminaries as George Bush (father and son) and Lady Bird Johnson.
In fact, she handled roof top security when Air Force Two landed!
Author of two books about the Civil War among many other historical publications, Jayne also helped organize the re-enactment of the August 2nd, 1862 Battle of Orange Courthouse, as well as an encampment and demonstration at Montpelier. She calls the Historical Society Research Center “my playpen.”
Ann L. Miller, Research Historian
