Mary Newton Stanard

Born in 1865, Mary Newton Stanard became known for writing warmly accessible history centered on Richmond and colonial Virginia. Contemporary accounts described her as a well-known historical writer, and her best-known books include Richmond: Its People and Its Story and Colonial Virginia, Its People and Customs.

She moved in Virginia’s historical and preservation circles and was associated with the world of the Virginia Historical Society and other heritage organizations in Richmond. Her work reflected a deep interest in Virginia’s people, places, and traditions, and it reached readers beyond academic history by telling the past in a lively, readable way.

Stanard died on June 5, 1929, after a long illness. Even now, her books remain part of the long tradition of writing that helped preserve and popularize Virginia history for later generations.