The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library was founded in 1927 by Rose de Chine Gouverneur Hoes and Lawrence Gouverneur Hoes, James Monroe descendants. The Museum was placed in a building on the site of Monroes law office in Fredericksburg, Virginia, although the original Monroe building no longer stands. The large collection in the museum consists of the Monroe familys personal objects and papers which have been donated by the descendants or acquired later. In 1964, the museum and its collections were given to the Commonwealth of Virginia and are now administered by the University of Mary Washington.
When the James Monroe Museum was given to the University of Mary Washington, a Board of Regents was formed to help administer activities relating to the Museum. The Board was created in 1964 through an act of the Virginia General Assembly.
From the guide to the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library Collection, 1963-ongoing, (Special Collections, Simpson Library, University of Mary Washington)
