VCU history alum honored for museum curation and more

By Konrad Solberg

William Strollo was a long way from archives and artifacts when the email arrived. As he and his family waited in line for a ride at the Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, he received notification from Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of History that his contributions to historic museum curation hadn't gone unnoticed.

"I had to read it twice to make sure I wasn't making something up," Strollo laughed. "I'm not used to getting emails from history professors saying something specific to me. It's been very affirming."

Strollo, who earned his bachelor's (2008) and master's (2015) degrees in history from the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, is the recipient this year of the sixth annual History Graduate Alumni Achievement Award. His career has spanned from the streets of historic Williamsburg to the halls of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the VCU honor is a full-circle moment for a journey that began with a childhood fascination with the past.

Growing up in Williamsburg, Strollo was surrounded by living history. The experience shaped his passions, and he came to VCU planning to pursue history education. But while he worked as an interpreter for Colonial Williamsburg during his undergraduate years, he landed a life-changing internship at the Wilton House Museum in Richmond's West End.

What started as a part-time job grew into a nine-year tenure at the 18th-century home, where he eventually became Wilton's director of education while completing his master's degree. That hands-on experience shifted his focus to the museum track.

"The internship is what hooked me," Strollo said. "The folks there were so supportive, and it gave me a real feel for the museum career."

Strollo's journey then reached a larger stage, as he served as the first curator of exhibitions at the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum in Washington, where he managed more than 4,000 objects. After eight years there, he transitioned last year to his current role as curator of Old Salem and Historic Building Interiors, part of Old Salem Museums & Gardens in North Carolina.

But Strollo's work extends beyond museum archives. His recent project, "Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence," was featured at MoMA and was accompanied by a printed volume published last year by the University of North Carolina Press. These works have garnered national acclaim for highlighting the often-overlooked contributions and skill of Black artisans.

"We take historic narratives and connect them to the present - how people use objects for resistance, or how people portrayed themselves in historic photos," Strollo said of his work. "Sticking to the facts and the research we were trained to do at VCU is what helps us make connections and keep the past relevant."

In that spirit, Strollo has posted next to his desk in Winston-Salem a quote that Bill Martin, the longtime director of The Valentine, had heard from a predecessor and shared with Strollo: "A finished museum is a dead museum."

"Bill was inspiring," Strollo said of Martin, who died this past December after being struck by a car. "His mentality around engaging the public is something I've always kept with me."

In returning to Richmond for the award presentation on April 9, Strollo also planned to take his family to some of his old local haunts, including Proper Pie Co. and Joe's Inn. The visit intensifies his commitment to building on everything he learned in VCU's Department of History.

"I'm just very honored the department thought so highly of me," Strollo said. "I hope to keep making them proud."