MEMBERSHIP
Members
Thanks to the generous support of its members, the Alumni Association of The Victorian Society Summer Schools contributed $24,000 in Summer School scholarships in 2024 for appreciative and deserving students of architecture, decorative arts, design, and museum studies.
Renew your membership and continue our partnership in sharing the appreciation and understanding of Victorian heritage and design with the new class of Summer School participants. Please help repeat this successful effort for this year with your membership contribution.
Enroll By Mail
Please download and print the Membership Enrollment Form and follow the instructions to enroll.
Renew Online
You will be directed to PayPal where you may use your credit card, debit card, or PayPal account. Please write your membership level when prompted; if your contribution exceeds your membership dues, please indicate a Scholarship Fund of your choice.
Benefits
Your Alumni Association membership includes:
- Opportunites to participate in the Alumni Association’s national and international Study Tour Programs that include exclusive access to historic sites, private homes, and private collections.
- Invitations to special events nationwide.
- An invitation to attend the Annual Meeting & Dinner often held in a private home in connection with the VSA’s Annual Meeting
- Publications keeping members informed of activities—only current Alumni Members may submit essays for possible publication.
See the current Newsletter for details.
Housekeeping
Please help the Alumni Association maximize its funding for Summer Schools scholarships while saving trees and postage. The Alumni Association will communicate with members by email as much as possible to reduce the cost of mailings. Also, please be sure the Membership Secretary has your current email address.
Contact
Membership Secretary James Russiello membership@vsaalumni.org
In Memoriam
The Alumni Association regrets to inform members of the sad passing of notable Alumni Bill Dane, Bill Murtagh, Dudley Brown, Carole Chapman, John Freed, Gwen Koch, Gavin Stamp, Paul Duchscherer, Richard Reutlinger, and Sally Wadsworth.
Missing Alumni
We are eager to find all our Alumni but unfortunately we’ve lost touch with some.
Please contact Membership Secretary: James Russiello membership@vsaalumni.org if you know the whereabouts of former graduates address.
Alan Brainerd, Holly Burrow, Elise Ciregna, John Engstrom, Elaine Flint, Edith Forman, Jennifer Markas, Leah Moebs, Sarah Nichols, Christine O’Malley, Kelly Schantz, Marissa Stokes, and Mical Tawney.
Publications
The Alumni Association attempts to keep members informed by email and other means of digital communications to reduce the costs of printing and mailing.
The Alumni Association attempts to keep members without email access informed of some activities given the constraints of an all-volunteer organization.
Members without access to email should request a paper copy of these communications.
Students attending the Summer Schools are encouraged to submit articles and news for publication to the editor.
To learn more, please contact: David Lamdin: president@vsaalumni.org.
Schools
Our Signature Summer Schools
Now in their fourth decade, the Victorian Society in America’s Summer Schools are located in Newport, Rhode Island; London, England; and Chicago, Illinois.
These schools provide in-depth study of the multi-faceted architecture and culture of the nineteenth century. The courses include site visits, guided tours, and lectures by leading experts.
Related
Alumni Blog: Angela Voulanges’ experiences at the Newport Summer School
EVENTS
State Staircase, Burgtheater, Ringstraße, Vienna, 1874-88
{Gottfried Semper and Karl Freiherr von Hasenauer, architects.}
Photo credit: www.burgtheater.at/
Study Tours
Since the first Study Tour to Glasgow, Scotland in 1991, the Alumni Association has been running Study Tours biannually to cities with rich architectural histories all over the world.
John Martine, board member, past president and practicing architect, runs the tours with the help of local architects and architectural historians. Alumni are often so grateful for their experiences that they eagerly volunteer to show off their cities and provide access to public and private buildings not generally available to tourists – as well as to some of the best restaurants.
History of Events/Tours
- 2024 (April 23-29) Bologna, Ravenna, and Forli, Italy
- 2023: (March) Lisbon, Portugal
- 2018: (October 2-10) Northern Ireland
- 2016: (September) Vienna and Budapest
- 2014 (September 15-20): North of England/London School 40th Anniversary
- 2013 (November 8-16): Havana/Trinidad/Cuba
- 2012 (December 6-9): Pittsburgh, PA (weekend)
- 2011 (June 10-20): Rome/Como/Milan, Italy
- 2009 (October 31-November 8): Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 2007 (October 24-31): Barcelona, Spain
- 2005 (September 13-22): Slovenia & Trieste, Italy
- 2004 (July 25-29): London, England
- 2003 (October 2-12): Warsaw/Krakow, Poland
- 2002 (September 22-28): The Netherlands
- 2002 (December 7-8): New York, NY (Holiday Weekend)
- 2001 (August 16-20): Montreal, Canada (Long Weekend)
- 2000 (October 16-23): Prague/Brno, Czech Republic
- 1999 (June 17-21): Pittsburgh, PA [long weekend]
- 1998 (September 22-29): Budapest, Hungary
- 1997 (September 18-25): Ireland
- 1996 (July 7-13): Decorative Arts/London, England
- 1994 (September 8-19): Northumberland, England
- 1992 (August 22-29): Glasgow, Scotland
- 1991 (June 23-30): Glasgow, Scotland
Receptions and Fundraisers
The Alumni Association holds events, meetings, receptions and fund-raisers year-round, and also co-sponsors events with other organizations to recruit future Summer School participants.
For these events we provide financial assistance, contact information of alumni in the area, and assistance with invitations and brochures, etc.
Co-hosting organizations who are interested will be asked to secure the venue, provide refreshments, nametags, etc., and should invite its members and contacts at local graduate degree programs in historic preservation or those involved with historic house museums and preservation. For further Information contact: David A. Lamdin: president@vsaalumni.org
about us
The VSA Alumni Association
The Alumni Association of The Victorian Society in America Summer Schools is a Chapter of the Victorian Society in America (VSA) for graduates of The Victorian Society Summer Schools in Newport, Rhode Island; London, England; and Chicago, Illinois
The Alumni Association was founded in 1975 following the first Summer School held in London.
Officers and Directors
A Chapter of the Victorian Society in America
The Alumni Association is run by volunteer officers and directors, who are elected to serve for three-year terms. The Annual Meeting and Dinner are held every Spring in connection with the Victorian Society in America’s Annual Meeting, often in a private home.
- OFFICERS
- President: David Lamdin | Arlington, VA
- Vice President: Bob Chapman | Montclair, NJ
- Treasurer: James Russiello | New York, NY
- Corresponding Secretary: Jeanne Solensky | Greenfield, MA
- Membership Secretary: James Russiello | New York, NY
- DIRECTORS
- Richard Brandi | San Francisco, CA
- William Cullum | New York, NY
- Elizabeth Ann Milnarik-Taylor | Washington, DC
- John A. Martine | Pittsburgh, PA
- Travis Brock Kennedy | New York, NY.
- COMMITTEES
- Chair of Social Media: James Russiello | New York City, NY
- Chair of Member Relations: Sibyl Groff | New York City, NY
- Chair of Finance and Fundraising: Jim Buttrick | Boston, MA
- Chair of Nominating: Charles J. Robertson | Washington, DC
- Study Tour Director Emeritus: John Martine | Pittsburgh PA
If you are interested in serving on the VSA Alumni Association board or getting involved with a committee, or to send news and articles, please contact: David Lamdin: president@vsaalumni.org
Mission of the VSA Alumni Association
- Support and encourage the national organization of the VSA.
- Promote the programs of The Victorian Society Summer Schools.
- Provide opportunities for professional, educational and social interaction of the Summer Schools alumni through study tours, seminars, and other activities.
- To provide consistent scholarship funds for The Victorian Society Summer Schools.
- To encourage participation in and a high level of scholarship through attendance at The Victorian Society Summer Schools.
The National VSA
Contact