Excerpted from The Cupola, spring 2004, published by the Mount Vernon Volunteer Department.

Betsy Alexander and her 2000 hour volunteer award.

She is versatile, flexible and resourceful; has donated more hours to the archaeological program than any other volunteer and worked on a variety of projects, many of them independent research, that makes us wonder where she gets the energy! Betsy Alexander has proven to be that dependable and multi-talented individual who gets things done, and is always ready to help with any task, no matter how small. Her tenure with Mount Vernon’s Archaeology program, more than 2000 hours of service, has spanned almost a decade.

Betsy is a lawyer by training and has spent many years behind the scenes in Virginia Democratic politics, working with Gerry Hyland, Joe Gartlan, and Kristen Amundsen.  She began volunteering with Mount Vernon’s archaeology program in 1989 helping with the excavations in the laundry yard. She has formal training in archaeology through American University and participated in a joint Mount Vernon / American University field school at the dung repository excavation. When this class ended, Betsy continued to volunteer researching a variety of topics. She looked into possible European origins for the dung repository, designed a database to organize Washington’s pre-1776 household purchases, transcribed one of Mount Vernon’s 18th-century account ledgers, and led tours of the ongoing gristmill renovation. She helped with excavations around the Mansion, in the Paddock, at the Distillery, and at the site of the new Education Center. She has even been on the archaeology department’s seasonal staff, working as a paid excavator and teacher during the summer.

Betsy spent two winters excavating in Egypt a few years ago, living in tents in desert camps with no running water. The team was looking at early Egyptian sites and Betsy found artifacts dating from 9,000 years ago. It is hard to believe she’d have any more time (or energy) but she is also active in a variety of other organizations.

She is on the Board of Directors for the Combined Prehistoric Expedition Foundation which raises money for archaeological research and education in North Africa; the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, a research and educational foundation in the Southwest; Soundwave, Inc., a recording studio, who recorded the sound you hear in the 16-sided barn at the Pioneer Farm; and she is on the Advisory Committee for the National Museum of the American Indian, which will open on the Mall in September.

And yes, she is still active in local Democratic politics, working the polls on Election Day. Perhaps Betsy stays so busy because she is a warm individual and loyal friend. She routinely opens her home for archaeological functions and her infectious laugh can be heard throughout the archaeology lab when she is working. If you haven’t met her yet, you should – if you can catch up with her.