Jack Chellman, JS '18, takes the lead in preserving the history and archives of the oldest student group on Grounds

Founded on July 14, 1825, the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society has a rich history as the oldest student organization at the University of Virginia. When Jack Chellman, the Holbert L. Harris Foundation Jefferson Scholar, joined the Society nearly 200 years after its founding, he immediately recognized the need to organize and digitize the organization’s extensive archives. He took the initiative to apply for a grant from the Jefferson Trust and, over the last year, has led the charge to preserve the organization’s records in perpetuity. Read about Jack’s efforts in a recent article published in Virginia Magazine.