In Memoriam: D. P. Newton

Newton Recieves Award
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.



4 Responses to In Memoriam: D. P. Newton

  1. Wonderful lifelong friend, historian, and relic hunter for over 60 years of friendship will be missed by the entire Fredericksburg community.

  2. I am so glad to have met him and toured the museum. I hope the museum continues. Sympathy to his family and friends.

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