James Solomon Russell/Saint Paul's College Museum and Archives

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! Thank you for your contributions that keep our community thriving! Enjoy the day off — you've earned it!

09/02/2026

As we posted last week, the museum is the Brunswick County affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to children from birth to age 5. Since Dolly’s passing on August 25, the museum has had a record number of new children enrolled in Brunswick. This has also been the case across Virginia and the country. It is a testament to the powerful legacy Dolly leaves behind, her commitment to making a difference in this world, and her belief that every child should be surrounded by books, stories, and a love for reading, regardless of their background. She started the Imagination Library as a tribute to her father, who never had a chance to learn to read. She always believed it was one of her most important accomplishments. While losing Dolly has been hard, rest assured that books will continue to be provided through the Imagination Library.

We have received several messages asking how people can honor Dolly's memory locally. Dolly’s family and the Dollywood Foundation have suggested the following two ways people can keep her memory alive in communities across the country.
The first is to encourage your family, friends, and neighbors, who have children between birth and 5 years old, to sign up for free books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The link is below.

The second way is to donate in Dolly’s memory to local affiliates. While the books are free, the museum pays for half of the shipping for all books in Brunswick each month. A donation in Dolly's memory will help us continue her mission of inspiring children to read, learn, and dream big. The museum maintains a separate account just for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. If you would like to donate, please make checks payable to the JSR-SPC Dolly Parton Account and mail them to P.O. Box 551, Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868. Your support is greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate online, please go to jsrussell.org and hit the donate button.

For more information, please contact James Grimstead, Chairman, 434-848-3800.

https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliate/VABRUNSWICK/

08/26/2026

For the past several years, the museum, continuing the legacy of James Solomon Russell, has had the privilege and honor of serving as the Brunswick County affiliate for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which provides free books every month to children from birth to age 5.

Every month, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has provided over 300 books to children here in Brunswick through the Dollywood Foundation. We are so grateful to all the partners and sponsors who help us pay for the books' monthly shipping.

While our hearts are incredibly sad after Dolly's passing on August 25, we are more inspired than ever to continue her important mission of providing free books to the children of our community and inspiring their dreams.

Dolly believed books would encourage children to love to read, dream more, and believe that their own possibilities were bigger than they might imagine.

Jeff Conyers, Vice Chair and President of the Dollywood Foundation, said it best: "Dolly's legacy will certainly live on through the songs she wrote, the characters she created and the joy she brought to millions of people. But I believe some of her most important legacy will live quietly in homes around the world — in the moments when a parent reads to a child, when a little hand turns a page, when a favorite story is requested one more time before bed, or when a child begins to believe that there is a bigger world waiting for them.”

Thank you, Dolly. We will always love you

08/25/2026

Thank you, Dolly! You will be missed!

January 19, 1946 - August 25, 2026

08/11/2026

We had a fantastic time at the 13th Annual Freeman Community Empowerment Day on Saturday, August 1. We signed up new kids for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and gave away many free books. It’s one of our favorite events, and we were proud to be a part of this important day, continuing the legacy of James Solomon Russell and our community engagement. We even had time to hang out with our partners at Dominion’s Brunswick Power Station. Always good to see Justin Pope, Dave Wahl, and Captain Joey Lopresti with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. We look forward to being back next year.

08/05/2026

The museum is always happy to help our schools where there is a need and continuing the legacy of James Solomon Russell as part of our community outreach. With schools getting ready to open we hope this is will be the best school year ever. Stay tuned for information soon about our friend Malcolm Mitchell’s return with his Read with Malcolm program in October.

A heartfelt thank you to the James Solomon Russell–Saint Paul’s College Museum and Archives for their generous donation of 40 nap mats for the Pre-K students in the Cub’s Den at Brunswick Education Center!

Your kindness and commitment to supporting our youngest learners will help create a safe, comfortable, and nurturing environment where our children can rest, grow, and thrive each day.

Pictured with Ms. Darlene Brown, Administrator of Early Childhood and Community Engagement are Mrs. Nastelle Graves and Mr. and Mrs. James Grimstead, whose generosity and support made this wonderful donation possible.

We are truly grateful for community partners who believe in investing in the future of our children. Together, we are making a difference, one child at a time!

07/28/2026

We are excited for the big day this Saturday. Hope everyone will come out and join us, as we will be there signing up kids for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and giving away free books to elementary students while supplies last. This is a great event. Don’t miss it.

07/23/2026

We are excited about some new additions, updates and new items we are working on this summer at the museum. Hope to have it finished by early fall. We will keep you updated. For tours of the museum please contact Mr. James Grimstead, 434-848-3800. Thanks to you all for your continued support.

07/20/2026

Happy Birthday to our friend Malcolm Mitchell! We are so grateful for our partnership and thankful for your dedication to helping inspire a love of reading in our children. We hope you have a wonderful day!

07/13/2026

If you are in Richmond, we hope you will be able to stop by the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia to check out their new exhibit, “A Compromised Freedom: 250 Years of Black Life in Virginia.” The museum is open Wednesday - Saturday from 10-5. They do take donations. We are proud to be a part of this new exhibit. We loaned some photographs and artifacts which are now on display. This is the third time we have participated in special exhibits with them. A part of Brunswick County history is now on display in Richmond. Thanks BHMVA for asking us to participate in this historic exhibit. We are honored.

Today is Community Access Day at , which means you can experience A Compromised Freedom: 250 Years of Black Life in Virginia with free admission.

As part of the Virginia250 Commemoration, this powerful new exhibition invites you to explore 250 years of Black life in Virginia through stories of resilience, leadership, sacrifice, and the ongoing pursuit of freedom.

While admission is free, donations are always appreciated. Your support helps make Community Access Days like this possible and allows us to continue preserving, sharing, and celebrating Virginia’s Black history for everyone. To make a donation, click the link in the bio.

Bring your family, invite a friend, and spend the day exploring the museum, our newest exhibition, and the stories that continue to shape our community!