Historian Thomas D. “Tom” Perry is presently doing the following programs 2009-2011.

These are PowerPoint presentations where Perry supplies the computer and projector.

Brothers in Arms: J. E. B. Stuart and his brothers in the Civil War

Ordinary Man, Extraordinary Times: The Life, Times, and Images of Everett M. Bennett

Makers of History: African-Americans in the Civil War.

Brig. General William J. Palmer, The Man Who Didn’t Burn Martinsville.

From Laurel Hill To Yellow Tavern, The Life of J. E. B. Stuart.

Frank Stringfellow, Confederate Spy, Martinsville Minister.

Images of Patrick and Henry Counties.

Contact Tom Perry

Email freestateofpatrick@yahoo.com

Phone 276-692-5300

Mail: P. O. Box 11 Ararat VA 24053

  Tom Perry at the house site at J. E. B. Stuart's Birthplace.

Tom Perry has spoke at the following groups and locations

Augusta GA Civil War Round Table

Bassett Historical Center

Carroll County Historical Society

Campaigning With Lee, James I. Robertson's Summer Civil War Tour

Charlottesville Virginia Civil War Round Table

Floyd County Historical Society

Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society

North Carolina Civil War Table

Patrick County Genealogical Society

Patrick County Historical Society

Reynolds Homestead

Rockford, North Carolina, Preservation Society

Rocky Mount North Carolina Civil War Round Table

Stokes County North Carolina Historical Society

Stokes-Rockingham Genealogical Society

Surry County Civil War Round Table

Surry County Genealogical Society

West Pennsylvania Civil War Round Table

Wilmington Delaware Civil War Round Table

DAR, SAR, SCV and UDCs all over Virginia and North Carolina

About Thomas D. Perry

            J. E. B. Stuart’s biographer, Emory Thomas, describes Tom Perry as "a fine and generous gentleman who grew up near Laurel Hill, where Stuart grew up, has founded J. E. B. Stuart Birthplace, and attracted considerable interest in the preservation of Laurel Hill. He has started a symposium series about aspects of Stuart’s life to sustain interest in Stuart beyond Ararat, Virginia" that is now held annually at the Bassett Historical Center in Henry County. Perry received a BA in History from Virginia Tech in 1983, where he studied under Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr. Recognized nationally as an authority on Stuart, Perry recently assisted Jeffrey Wert with his new biography Cavalryman of the Lost Cause A Life of J. E. B. Stuart.

            Tom started the J. E. B. Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust, Inc. in 1990. The non-profit organization preserved 75 acres of the Stuart property including the house site where James Ewell Brown Stuart was born on February 6, 1833. Perry wrote the eight interpretive signs about Laurel Hill’s history along with the Virginia Civil War Trails sign and the new Virginia Historical Highway Marker in 2002. Perry served as President of the organization when it raised over $250,000. As Emeritus Board Member and President of the National Advisory Board until recently, Perry guided the direction of the organization and when you visit the site today there is not a single thing at the site that was not Perry’s idea. This is documented in his papers at Virginia Tech along with oral interviews and writings. Perry believes it is time for the site to become and state or national park. He continues his work to preserve Stuart’s Birthplace producing the Laurel Hill Teacher’s Guide for educators and the Laurel Hill Reference Guide for groups. He continues to share his lifetime of research on the only preserved site in the nation relating to the birthplace and boyhood home of James Ewell Brown Stuart.

            Tom Perry is the only child of Erie Meredith and Betty Hobbs Perry of Ararat, Virginia. He grew up in the same community as did J. E. B. Stuart and attended Blue Ridge Elementary School, where he had his father, a 28 year teacher and administrator in the Patrick County School System, as principal for one glorious year 1973-74. Tom graduated from Patrick County High School in 1979. He attended Surry Community College in Dobson, North Carolina for two years before transferring to Virginia Tech. Perry credits his mother with his love of history. She lived in Augusta, Georgia, before marrying his father stationed nearby at Fort Gordon in the U. S. Army. They came to Ararat, Virginia, in the late 1950s. Betty Perry worked at Cross Creek Apparel for 38 years.

            Tom Perry is chairman of the Henry County Heritage Book. Proceeds of the book go to the Bassett Historical Center as did the proceeds from his Images of America Henry County Virginia. Both books generated nearly $50,000 for the expansion of the Bassett Historical Center.

            Perry is the author of Ascent To Glory: The Genealogy of J. E. B. Stuart, The Free State Of Patrick: Patrick County Virginia in the Civil War, J. E. B. Stuart’s Birthplace: The History of the Laurel Hill Farm. The Patrick County Oral History Project: A Guide, J. E. B. Stuart’s Birthplace: A Guide for Educators and Visitors, Images of America: Patrick County Virginia, Images of America: Henry County Virginia, Then and Now: Patrick County Virginia, Images of Patrick County Virginia: Postcards, Images of Martinsville Virginia, Images of Mount Airy, North Carolina, A River Called Ararat: History and Memory Along A Mountain Stream, “North Carolina Has Done Nobly:” J. E. B. Stuart’s North Carolina Connections, Notes From the Free State Of Patrick: Patrick County, Virginia, and Regional History,  Ararat, Virginia: A Guide From Willis Gap to Kibler Valley, and “God’s Will Be Done:” The Christian Life of J. E. B. Stuart.

            Perry received several awards for his writing and work in preserving history including the Hester Jackson Award from the Surry County North Carolina Civil War Round Table, John Divine Award from the Civil War Education Association, along with awards from the North Carolina Society of Historians, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of the Confederacy and in 2009 the Bassett Historical Center honored him during a visit from his mentor James I. Robertson, Jr. of Virginia Tech.

            In 2010, Perry reached the one million dollar mark in funds raised for the J. E. B. Stuart Birthplace, Bassett Historical Center and other organizations he supported over the years. He started Laurel Hill Publishing to print and distribute his books and other local authors. His website www.freestateofpatrick.com continues to be hub he works from on the internet and his efforts to preserve, interpret, and promote the history of the region he calls home.

Also By Thomas D. Perry

Ascent To Glory: The Genealogy of J. E. B. Stuart

The Free State Of Patrick: Patrick County Virginia In The Civil War

J. E. B. Stuart’s Birthplace: The History of the Laurel Hill Farm

God’s Will Be Done: The Christian Life of J. E. B. Stuart

Images of America: Patrick County Virginia

Images of America: Henry County Virginia

Images of Patrick County Virginia: Postcards

Images of Martinsville, Virginia

Images of Mount Airy, North Carolina

Patrick County Virginia: Then and Now

“North Carolina Has Done Nobly:” J. E. B. Stuart’s North Carolina Connections

Patrick County Oral History Project: A Guide

J. E. B. Stuart’s Birthplace: A Guide                   

Visit www.freestateofpatrick.com for more information.