Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Salem Museum will explore the life and legacy of Roanoke Valley colonial figure Col. William Fleming during a free speaker series talk Thursday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m.
Titled “Surgeon, Soldier, Patriot: The Life of William Fleming,” the program will be presented by Salem Museum Executive Director Garrett Channell and livestreamed exclusively on Zoom. A link to the presentation will be available at SalemMuseum.org.
Channell will examine Fleming’s role in the early history of Virginia and the founding of the nation. Born and educated as a surgeon in Scotland, Fleming immigrated to colonial Virginia, where he became a prominent physician and public servant. He fought alongside George Washington and Andrew Lewis during the French and Indian War, served as a surgeon throughout the commonwealth, and briefly served as Virginia’s third governor during the Revolutionary War.
The talk will trace Fleming’s career in medicine, military service and politics, and consider his lasting legacy in the region and the commonwealth.
Channell is a graduate of Roanoke College, where he studied history with a focus on public history, and also studied history and literature at Oxford University. He recently completed a master’s degree in museum studies at Harvard University. While at Roanoke College, he worked with preservation-focused institutions including the Roanoke College Archives and the Library of Congress’ preservation division.
Before joining the museum’s staff, Channell volunteered in the Salem Museum archives and at museum events. He later served three years as director of education and archives. As executive director, he develops programs and content for all ages, curates the museum’s collection and oversees daily operations.
The Salem Museum is located in the historic 1845 Williams-Brown House at 801 E. Main St. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free, with donations accepted. The entrance is located at the Oakey Field Complex sign across Main Street from the Berglund Ford service entrance.
For more information, call 540-389-6760 or visit SalemMuseum.org.