I am a life-long resident of Chatham (Pittsylvania's county seat). While growing-up, and to this day, I have helped my parents with their various research projects on Food History and on Historic Architecture and Local History.
I was born at the Danville Regional Medical Center in Danville, Virginia on December 12, 1978, and came home to Chatham shortly thereafter. I, along with my two brothers, were home-schooled by my wonderful parents.
I collect vintage books (particularly on architecture, interior design, furniture, landscape design, and fashion), miniature houses, and clothing. I share my life with two adorable cats, Marshmellow and Dandylion.
Around 1997, I began to do historical research in the Pittsylvania County area. I also assisted in the mapping of the Pittsylvania County Clerk's Office, which is a valuable tool for all researchers who visit the courthouse.
I became editor for the Pittyslvania Historical Society quarterly, The Pittsylvania Packet, in the fall of 2002 and became a board member of the Pittyslvania Historical Society in 2003.
I became interested in architecture due to living in a historic home, and started a search over a dozen years ago for the source of the house plan of my family's home, the Sims-Mitchell house (I'm still searching). A few years ago, I decided to start writing about the architectural and interior designs topics that I have learned about, and to begin offering architectural and interior design research assistance to clients. In addition to writing for this website on architecture and interior design, I have co-written some of the articles on the historic homes and people of Chatham.
As before mentioned, I am the current editor of the Pittsylvania Packet. I prepared the 44-page 2000 Chatham Horse Show program, and have been involved with the editing and preparation of many volumes in Patricia B. Mitchell's Inkling Series on Foodhistory.
I provided research assistance for That Palace in Washington, Delicacies in Proportion, Plain Food and High Thinking, and the upcoming Southern Hospitality and Delectable Dishes (all by Patricia B. Mitchell).
My first book is titled Southern Ladies' Civil War and Antebellum Fashions 1855 – 1865. Published in May 2005, it contains 37 pages, 114 research notes, and 14 black-and-white illustrations. My second book is Ladies' Clothing in the 1830's, which was released in December 2005. Both books are now available from Mitchells' Publications (1-800-967-2867). I am working on several more books, and also write articles for publication in print and online.
I have worked on projects that involved:
Copyright © 2002-2007 Sarah E. Mitchell