[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 128 (Tuesday, November 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF DR. WILLIAM M. KELSO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JO ANN DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 14, 2006

  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
and recognize Dr. William M. Kelso for his distinguished career in 
historical archaeology and for his contributions to the historical 
record of the United States of America.
  From his early professional beginnings as Assistant Field 
Archaeologist, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in 1964 to his current 
position as Director of Archaeology, Association for the Preservation 
of Virginia Antiquities (APVA), Jamestown Rediscovery Archaeology 
Project, he has consistently demonstrated his earnest desire to further 
advance the research and support of archaeology in the Commonwealth of 
Virginia and the United States of America. During the 1970s Dr. Kelso 
served as Virginia's first state archaeologist and established programs 
and innovative methods and techniques that are currently in use. The 
broad range of his achievements include his role as Resident 
Archaeologist, Monticello home of Thomas Jefferson located in Albemarle 
County, Virginia, and later Director of Archaeology, Monticello, Thomas 
Jefferson Memorial Foundation, Inc. Further credentials include his 
role as Lecturer at the University of Virginia and later Adjunct 
Professor of the College of William and Mary.
  Perhaps his most notable contribution was when he served, as Director 
of Archaeology for the APVA Jamestown Rediscovery project, where his 
leadership was instrumental in discovering the remains of the English 
1607 James Fort. This historic site is the first permanent English 
settlement in British North America and led to the establishment of 
English Common law and the first form of representative government in 
the New World. The archaeological evidence includes structural remains 
as well as accompanying artifacts representing seventeenth century 
material culture that documented the location of the fort.
  Additionally, he served as Historical Archaeologist for the Virginia 
Historic Landmarks Commission and has extensive scholarly publications 
to his credit as well, that are widely circulated in academia both 
nationally and internationally.
  Dr. Kelso has promoted the knowledge and awareness of history and 
archaeology among the general public. He deserves national recognition 
for his monumental contributions to our nation's history as the 400th 
anniversary of the founding of Jamestown approaches in 2007.
  Thanks to Dr. Kelso, a more accurate story can now be told regarding 
the arrival and ultimate survival of the first English settlers to land 
on the soil of Jamestown, Virginia, including the roles of Native 
Americans and the later arrival of African Americans. This 
extraordinary effort is largely a gift from Dr. William M. Kelso, who 
through his dedication, diligence, skill and grit, has illuminated the 
truth.

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