PUBLIC ADDRESSES & LECTURES
Linda Allen Hollis
Historian • Author
President, West Ford Legacy Foundation
Linda Allen Hollis has delivered invited lectures, commemorative addresses, documentary presentations, and gallery talks for national associations, historic sites, cultural institutions, and community organizations. Her work spans more than two decades and centers on West Ford, the founding of Gum Springs, African American military service, and the interpretation of complex historical narratives within public memory.
She has also contributed research, interviews, and historical commentary to documentary productions and media features in television and print.
2026
Major George W. Ford Exhibit— Gallery Talk
Temecula Valley Museum
February 2026
Standing-room-only public program presented in conjunction with the Major George W. Ford Exhibit. The talk focused on Major Ford’s service as a Buffalo Soldier, his later civic activism, and his work with the National Cemetery Service, detailing his life within broader military and social history.
Major George W. Ford Exhibit – Documentary/Video Presentation
Temecula Valley Museum
February 2026
He was one of the original Buffalo Soldiers of the legendary 10th Cavalry—and the last living witness to that historic regiment.
The Major George W. Ford Exhibit brings to life the story of a soldier whose long life preserved the memory of a remarkable chapter in American history. Through artifacts, photographs, and historical records, the exhibit reveals the courage, service, and legacy of Major George William Ford and the Buffalo Soldiers who helped shape the American frontier.
Produced by Julian Wells of Chasing Gainz Productions, using his footage along with video and photos commissioned, funded, and owned by the West Ford Legacy Foundation, and captured by Mike Herbach.
Your $5 donation helps preserve and share this important history while giving you access to the gallery talk.
2025
Burial Ground of West Ford & Mount Vernon's Enslaved Population
Slave Commemoration Program
Mount Vernon
2025
Address delivered during Mount Vernon’s annual Slave Commemoration, reflecting on West Ford’s life in bondage and the importance of historical recognition within national memory.
Each year the enslaved at Mount Vernon are recognized and remembered at this commemoration.
Celebration of Life: West Ford
Juneteenth Commemoration
Mount Vernon
June 2025
Juneteenth address reflecting on legacy, endurance, and the continuing stewardship of history by descendants.
2024
West Ford: Impact on Mount Vernon
Juneteenth Presentation
Mount Vernon
June 2024
Presentation examining West Ford’s historical and interpretive significance within the Mount Vernon narrative.
2023
The Last One Standing
Documentary Film
First Presented at the 157th Anniversary Reunion
9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association
2023
The Last One Standing is a documentary produced by the West Ford Legacy Foundation examining the life and service of Major George W. Ford — recognized as the last surviving original member of the historic 10th Cavalry Regiment.
The film explores Major Ford’s military career as a Buffalo Soldier, his lifelong civic engagement, and his enduring connection to the legacy of the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments. The documentary preserves the story of a soldier whose lifetime bridged the frontier Army and the modern era.
The film was first screened during the 157th Anniversary Reunion of the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association in 2023.
Executive Producers:
Linda Allen Hollis
Mark Hollis
Produced by the West Ford Legacy Foundation.
Who Is West Ford?
Juneteenth Presentation
Mount Vernon
June 2023
Introductory presentation exploring documentation, oral history, and historical interpretation surrounding West Ford.
Major George W. Ford: The Last One Standing
157th Anniversary Reunion
9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association
June 2023
This presentation explores the life of Major George W. Ford as a proud member of the 10th Cavalry, one of the original Buffalo Soldier regiments, while also honoring the lives of the fellow troopers who served alongside him. It traces his journey from enlistment through his years on the frontier, highlighting the courage and discipline that defined these soldiers. Through Ford’s experiences, the talk brings to life the broader story of the Buffalo Soldiers. It details their role in shaping the American West, their commitment to service despite adversity, and the enduring legacy of a regiment whose contributions have long deserved greater recognition.
Video and photos commissioned, funded, and owned by the West Ford Legacy Foundation, and captured by Bruce Dalton.
2022
Introduction: Elise Ford Allen
Elise Ford Allen Academy
2022
Commemorative introduction honoring the life and educational leadership of Elise Ford Allen.
The Founder of Gum Springs
Founders Day Address
June 2022
Lecture examining West Ford’s leadership in establishing Gum Springs, Virginia — the oldest African American community in Fairfax County.
2021
The Founder of Gum Springs
Founders Day Address
June 2021
Public lecture addressing the origins and civic legacy of Gum Springs.
West Ford Is Buried Here
Mount Vernon
2021
Address reflecting on burial, historical presence, and the significance of place within the Ford family narrative.
2002–2020
Tracing a Familiar Face
2002, 2004, 2009, 2020
West Ford: The Invisible Man
2000, 2005, 2008 • 2010 • 2012, 2018 • 2020
Lecture presented on multiple occasions examining the historical marginalization and reemergence of West Ford within American historical discourse.
Lecture Topics
Presentations may address:
• West Ford and Historical Memory
• The Founding of Gum Springs, Virginia
• African American Military Service and the Buffalo Soldiers
• Major George William Ford and Civic Leadership
• Genealogy, Oral Tradition, and Documentary Evidence
• Interpreting Difficult History in Public Institutions
• Slavery, Burial, and Historical Presence at Mount Vernon
• Juneteenth and the Evolution of Public Memory
Media & Documentary Participation
Linda Allen Hollis has participated in documentary productions and media programs in television and print, contributing historical research and commentary on African American genealogy, military heritage, and the Ford family legacy.
© Linda Allen Hollis. All lectures, documentary materials, and written works are protected by copyright.