A seasonably-warm day in May 2023 was the setting as a group of donors, friends and board members gathered on the patio overlooking the James River at the Walter L. Rice Education Building, part of Rice Rivers Center. The event was to unveil the educational sign that was created by then Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School senior Amelia Johnson, as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project for Troop 5184.

A year and a half later, the project caught the attention of Jane Dowrick, a member of the Friends of VCU Library Board. Dowrick thought Johnson’s project and story would be a good fit for the VCU James Branch Cabell Library Community Zoom series.

Johnson is now a sophomore at William and Mary currently pursuing a B.A. in Government, and was soon connected with Dowry. The meetings led to Johnson’s January 9 presentation, “The Historical Ownership and Land Use of the VCU Rice Rivers Center: A Girl Scout Gold Award Project," and was met with an enthusiastic audience. “It was such an honor to be able to share my work with the Friends of VCU Libraries,” said Johnson. “I was grateful for the chance to continue telling the story of the Rice Rivers Center property and all my findings.”

The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. Throughout 2022, Johnson worked with the Richard M. Bowman Center for Local History in Charles City County to research published records, historical documents, deeds, wills and land patents. Johnson gained access to the private and public collections at local churches, universities and the Virginia Department of Historical Resources. She interviewed experts in local history and archeology to compile a comprehensive and surprising view of the site on which the center sits.

Johnson's journey brought her to the census records of the Emmaus Baptist Church in Providence Ford, Virginia, as well as deeds and wills of land owners. Records show enslaved people lived and worked on or near the property, including 94 who are traced directly to the site. “One member of the audience asked about the enslaved names that I compiled, and said she had enslaved ancestors who were owned by previous owners of the property,” Johnson remarked. “It was so rewarding to see how my research is valuable to others, and I hope it continues to reach new audiences.”

Learn more about Johnson’s educational sign at Rice Rivers Center.