VAF-Chesapeake Chapter
Papers day/annual meeting
Field tours
Chapter leadership and bylaws
We’re official! The VAF Chesapeake Chapter was formally accepted as a chapter affiliate of the national Vernacular Architecture Forum by a vote of the board at its meeting on May 14, 2025. The Chapter will be taking steps in the coming year to adopt by-laws, and elect officers and board members. Founding organizers include Heather Barrett, Lisa Davidson, Jeff Klee, Catherine Lavoie, Marcia Miller, and Tom Reinhart.
Chapter Membership:
While our membership automatically draws on VAF members in Maryland, Virginia, DC, and Delaware, anyone who has a current national membership is eligible to also join the chapter. There are no additional chapter dues or fees beyond event costs. Currently VAFers outside our region need to reach out to request membership. We are exploring adding a checkbox to VAF online membership renewal similar to the New England Chapter. Questions? Please email chesapeakechapter@vafweb.org.
Right: VAF members from the Chesapeake region at Schifferstadt, Frederick, Maryland. Photo courtesy of Willie Graham.
Over the last four years, chapter organizers have arranged tours at various sites in Maryland and Virginia, usually in the spring and fall.
Papers Day:
The Chesapeake Chapter will host its next Papers Day on December 6, 2025. Full information is available here.
In December 2024, we hosted our first papers day at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon, which included presentations from six VAFers. Topics ranged from early log buildings in the Mid-Atlantic to the vernacular residential and commercial buildings on Main Street in Ellicott City, MD (1830-1850) to the construction crews who built UVA.
Chapter Meetings:
Over the past several years, we’ve held informal meetings at the annual conference, following the papers sessions on Saturday. In Delaware, 45 VAFers attended our chapter meeting and heard updates regarding past activities and future plans. We also solicited ideas for future tours and other events like field days or emergency documentation.
Chesapeake Chapter members pose in front of a huge block of Aquia stone in the former quarries.
Contact information: