Foundation History

Founded in 2005, the Edith Bolling Wilson Birthplace Foundation seeks to raise awareness and increase community appreciation of the birthplace and childhood home of First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson. Born and raised in Wytheville, Virginia, Edith Bolling Wilson traces her ancestry to Pocahontas and is the only southern Appalachian-born First Lady. As one of only eight historic sites across the country dedicated to the interpretation of a First Lady, the museum tells the story of the overlooked, yet vitally important role Edith Bolling Wilson played in the White House at a pivotal moment during World War I.

​The museum is one of two Presidential Historic Sites located on an American Main Street. The property is a contributing structure of the downtown Wytheville Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

Museum Staff

Adam Manuel, Ph.D.
Administrative Assistant
​
Adam Manuel graduated from Liberty University in 2022 with a Ph.D. in European history with a specialization in US/Spanish diplomatic relations during World War II. A native of Wytheville, Adam is honored to have grown up in the same town as the First Lady.  Adam assists in the creation of new programs and developing new technologies to make the museum more accommodating and accessible to the museum’s visitors.
​
EMAIL:  [email protected]
​
​

---

Board of Trustees

---

Executive Committee

Anne Powell
​Chair

Carolyn Ward
​Vice-Chair

Anita Wagner
​Treasurer

Reeves Shulstad
​Secretary

General Board Members

Cameron B. Burton

Zach Cooley

Scot Farthing

Sarah Neighbors Keeble

Shane Terry

Joey Wilkerson

Founders

*Bill and Farron Smith

Emeritus Trustees

David Davis

John Bowling

Cary Fuller

Strategic Advisory Committee

Dr. Grace Toney Edwards

Dr. John Nemeth

Cary Fuller

Heath Lee

*Bill and Farron Smith are also Emeritus Trustees and Strategic Advisory Comittee members.