SJ428: Commending Lynn A. Beebe.
WHEREAS, Lynn A. Beebe, the first executive director of the nonprofit Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, retired in 2012 after 26 years of distinguished service; and
WHEREAS, a native of New York City, Lynn Beebe developed a love of history at an early age and earned a bachelor’s degree in American colonial history at Vassar College before receiving a master’s degree in architectural history from the University of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Lynn Beebe began her career in historic preservation at the New York State Historic Preservation Office, eventually overseeing the Statewide Historic Resources Survey and the National Register of Historic Places program; and
WHEREAS, Lynn Beebe then joined the National Register of Historic Places headquarters staff in Washington, D.C., and also completed a master’s degree in business administration from The George Washington University; and
WHEREAS, in January 1986, Lynn Beebe became the first executive director of the nonprofit Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, directing the rescue and preservation of Thomas Jefferson’s personal retreat in Bedford County, which opened to the public for the first time in July 1986; and
WHEREAS, Lynn Beebe expertly guided the thorough, state-of-the-art restoration of the exterior of Poplar Forest and the beginnings of the interior restoration as well as the start of the meticulous, professional archaeological exploration of the grounds to learn more about Thomas Jefferson and life at Poplar Forest; and
WHEREAS, Lynn Beebe worked to acquire and preserve much of the original land associated with the National Historic Landmark and oversaw the beginning of the restoration of the landscape so that current and future visitors more fully experience the retreat as it was during Thomas Jefferson’s time; and
WHEREAS, under Lynn Beebe’s direction, Poplar Forest launched its first educational programming for the public, providing invaluable insight into the mind and work of one of the nation’s Founding Fathers; and
WHEREAS, Lynn Beebe was honored for her extraordinary career at Poplar Forest when the News and Advance named her its 2012 Person of the Year; and
WHEREAS, in her well-deserved retirement, Lynn Beebe looks forward to spending time with friends and family as current visitors and future generations benefit from her decades of labor to restore and preserve the retreat that embodies Thomas Jefferson’s architectural and creative genius; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Lynn A. Beebe on the occasion of her retirement for her work to preserve and restore one of the Commonwealth’s and nation’s great historic treasures, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Lynn A. Beebe as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration and gratitude for her visionary leadership of the Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 428
WHEREAS, Lynn A. Beebe, the first executive director of the nonprofit Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, retired in 2012 after 26 years of distinguished service; and
WHEREAS, a native of New York City, Lynn Beebe developed a love of history at an early age and earned a bachelor’s degree in American colonial history at Vassar College before receiving a master’s degree in architectural history from the University of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Lynn Beebe began her career in historic preservation at the New York State Historic Preservation Office, eventually overseeing the Statewide Historic Resources Survey and the National Register of Historic Places program; and
WHEREAS, Lynn Beebe then joined the National Register of Historic Places headquarters staff in Washington, D.C., and also completed a master’s degree in business administration from George Washington University; and
WHEREAS, in January 1986, Lynn Beebe became the first executive director of the nonprofit Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, directing the rescue and preservation of Thomas Jefferson’s personal retreat in Bedford County, which opened to the public for the first time in July 1986; and
WHEREAS, Lynn Beebe expertly guided the thorough, state-of-the-art restoration of the exterior of Poplar Forest and the beginnings of the interior restoration as well as the start of the meticulous, professional archaeological exploration of the grounds to learn more about Thomas Jefferson and life at Poplar Forest; and
WHEREAS, Lynn Beebe worked to acquire and preserve much of the original land associated with the National Historic Landmark and oversaw the beginning of the restoration of the landscape so that current and future visitors more fully experience the retreat as it was during Thomas Jefferson’s time; and
WHEREAS, under Lynn Beebe’s direction, Poplar Forest launched its first educational programming for the public, providing invaluable insight into the mind and work of one of the nation’s Founding Fathers; and
WHEREAS, Lynn Beebe was honored for her extraordinary career at Poplar Forest when the News and Advance named her its 2012 Person of the Year; and
WHEREAS, in her well-deserved retirement, Lynn Beebe looks forward to spending time with friends and family as current visitors and future generations benefit from her decades of labor to restore and preserve the retreat that embodies Thomas Jefferson’s architectural and creative genius; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Lynn A. Beebe on the occasion of her retirement for her work to preserve and restore one of the Commonwealth’s and nation’s great historic treasures, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Lynn A. Beebe as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration and gratitude for her visionary leadership of the Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest.