In Memoriam: D. P. Newton
- Chief Historian Chris Kolakowski (left) presents ECW’s Award for Service in Civil War Public History to D.P. Newton
This morning the ECW community learned of the passing of D.P. Newton, a lifelong resident of Stafford County, Virginia. D.P. was a modest man, so many people don’t know him, but people know (and knew) of what he has done through the White Oak Museum and his research into Army of the Potomac camps and Potomac defenses in his home county.
In 2018, ECW gave him the Emerging Civil War Award for Service in Public History. This blog post explains who he was and why he richly deserved such recognition for his life’s work. In 2018, the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust honored D.P. for his work, as well.
D.P. was unassuming and helpful. All who dealt with him came away impressed by his manners, his thoroughness of research, and his willingness to share his findings with anyone who wanted to know. He made critical and lasting contributions to our understanding of the Civil War, and will be missed.
So sad! I really enjoyed my visits to his museum.
Please Rest In Peace, Mr. Newton.
Wonderful lifelong friend, historian, and relic hunter for over 60 years of friendship will be missed by the entire Fredericksburg community.
I am so glad to have met him and toured the museum. I hope the museum continues. Sympathy to his family and friends.
My husband and I had the honor of visiting Mr. Newton’s museum twice…around 2006 and again in 2017. We were struck by what a gentleman he was but also was very adept at putting you at ease and having great conversations with us just like an old friend. We returned to Fredericksburg this week for a 12 day camping visit and planned a day to visit Mr. Newton’s museum. We were very saddened to see that he had passed and the museum has been closed. However we still felt a pull to see this place again and remember the kindness of this man. We still drove out there today even though we could only see the building from the road. We respected the no trespassing signs but it was difficult not to give in and walk up to the door hoping to see someone in the old school. We will never forget our visits to this museum. Thank you Mr. Newton and rest in peace.
Don & Pat Trefethen
Hampton, NH
September 25, 2024