A central leader in Colonial Williamsburg’s commitment to history and interpretation has secured a new job in Richmond.
Ted Maris-Wolf, Colonial Williamsburg’s vice president of education, research, and historical interpretation, will join the staff of the nonprofit Enrichmond Foundation as Caretaker of Historic Evergreen Cemetery, according to an Enrichmond Foundation news release.
With the Enrichmond Foundation, Maris-Wolf will work to restore and honor a traditional African American cemetery in Richmond, Evergreen Cemetery.
“Welcoming Ted to the Enrichmond team as caretaker for the amazing cultural and historic resources of Evergreen will solidify our Foundation’s commitment to not only the rebuilding of the cemetery, but to the families and loved ones of those interred.” John Sydnor, executive director of the Enrichmond Foundation, said in the release.
Maris-Wolf’s departure comes just three months after the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation announced a “fundamental restructuring,” sparking layoffs and outsourced operations.
In a June 29 letter, President Mitchell Reiss said the move will help the Foundation “rededicate” itself to “our core educational mission.”
Maris-Wolf has been involved in several of Colonial Williamsburg’s historical projects, including documenting the history of slavery during the development of Williamsburg through interpreters, creating a tavern musical troupe, opening Colonial Williamsburg Education Resource Library’s digital resources to the public, and more, according to WYDaily archives.
Maris-Wolf has also served as director of the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
According to the Enrichmond news release, Maris-Wolf has published several articles on Early American and Civil War-era slavery and African American history, including “Family Bonds: Free Blacks and Re-enslavement Law in Antebellum Virginia.”
Maris-Wolf will partner with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps for the Evergreen Cemetery project, the release said.
Maris-Wolf was quoted in the Enrichmond Foundation’s release: “Having a role in helping to honor and restore a national treasure like Evergreen cemetery is a dream come true. Being able to learn from and collaborate with community members to honor the past to create meaningful moments in the present is what drew me to archaeology and history long ago. As Caretaker of Evergreen Cemetery, I look forward to working alongside families, community partners, and passionate, talented colleagues at Enrichmond to honor a sacred space and the remarkable lives of those who are remembered here. As Caretaker, my role will be one of continuous learning and sharing, as I join a vibrant community that has been working for years to honor Evergreen Cemeteries and its families. I am thrilled to be joining Enrichmond — a mission-driven team that works tirelessly to make Richmond a better place for all its residents.”
A Colonial Williamsburg spokesman declined to comment on Maris-Wolf’s departure Wednesday. The same spokesman also declined to comment Thursday afternoon after the Enrichmond Foundation announced their hiring of Maris-Wolf.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
