My name is Peighton Young. I am a public historian specializing in the history of African American life and culture in the South. I began working with Red Hill in April 2020 as a historian and genealogist for the Quarter Place Project. The primary goals of my work are to research the history of slavery and post-slavery Black life at Red Hill, provide genealogical services to families seeking to learn more about their ancestry, and to help Black families navigate their ancestral ties to Red Hill and other related Henry-family plantations. Although I am based in Richmond, I travel across Virginia and beyond; doing research and connecting with descendants. I have met some of the most wonderful people throughout this journey!
In my home city, I currently serve as the public representative for the Descendants Council of Greater Richmond, Virginia, an organization that works to protect historic Black cemeteries and other community spaces relevant to our history in the Richmond metro area. Since 2019, I have also worked as an education program and research project consultant for Preservation Virginia’s Bacon’s Castle and Scotchtown plantations, which are located in Surry and Hanover County, respectively.
I received my B.A. in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2017, my M.A. in History from VCU in 2020, my second M.A. in History from the College of William & Mary in 2021, and I am currently a PhD student at the College of William & Mary, aiming to finish in 2026.
Outside of work, I enjoy music, collecting vinyls, nature photography, and drawing landscapes from the places I travel to.
