History Matters

Edna Johnston, Principal and Senior Historian
With doctoral training at the University of Virginia and fifteen years of professional experience, Ms. Johnston directs History Matters' research and manages the firm. Her area of expertise is 19th- and 20th-century American history.

Kathryn Gettings Smith, Director, Architectural History and Preservation Planning
Ms. Smith has a Master's degree in Architectural History and a Historic Preservation Certificate from the University of Virginia. Before joining the firm in 2001, she worked as a historic preservation officer for the local governments of Charles County, Maryland and Alexandria, Virginia. With Ms. Johnston, Ms. Smith directs History Matters' research and documentation projects.

Evelyn D. Causey, Senior Historian
Ms. Causey holds a Doctorate in American History and a Certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Delaware. She directs historical research projects, leads architectural survey teams, and writes National Register and National Historic Landmark nominations. Prior to joining History Matters in 2004, Ms. Causey worked with the Center for Historic Architecture and Design at the University of Delaware, the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, and Gadsby’s Tavern and Fort Ward Museums in Alexandra, Virginia.

Gerald M. Maready, Jr., Architectural Historian
Mr. Maready is a 2002 graduate of the Master of Architectural History program at the University of Virginia, and has worked throughout the mid-Atlantic. He leads architectural survey teams, evaluates and documents historic properties and districts, conducts research, and prepares National Register of Historic Places documentation.

Julia B. Claypool, Research Associate
Ms. Claypool is a graduate of the Cooperstown Graduate Program at the State University of New York at Oneonta. In 2007, after a 26-year career with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, Ms. Claypool retired from the position of Superintendent of Cultural and Natural Resources. She conducts architectural survey, archival research, and National Register of Historic Places documentation.

Jeffrey Johnston
Mr. Johnston works with History Matters’ clients in North Carolina as they pursue preservation tax credits for adaptive reuse projects and is part of History Matters’ administrative and business development team. He is the founding president of the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA).