STAUNTON – Augusta County Clerk of Circuit Court R. Steven Landes was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia and the State Historical Records Advisory Board by Governor Glenn A. Youngkin. His appointments began July 1, 2022 and ends June 30, 2026.

     “It is an honor to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia once again, and to also be appointed to serve on the State Historical Records Advisory Board. I thank Governor Youngkin for his confidence and allowing me to serve,” Landes said. “As Clerk of the Augusta County Circuit Court I look forward to working for the preservation and promotion of the history of Augusta County, the Shenandoah Valley, and Virginia as a member of both boards, and look forward to pursing partnership opportunities between the Clerk’s Office, and both boards.”

     Landes previously served on the Board of Trustees for almost 25 years. He was first appointed by former Governor George Allen in 1994 as a citizen member, and then from 1996 to 2019 as a legislative member during his service in the Virginia House of Delegates. The Board of Trustees consists of no more than 25 members. The Governor appoints 17 citizen members. The Speaker of the House of Delegates appoints five members from the House, and the Senate Rules Committee appoints three members from the Senate. The Governor may also appoint up to eight citizen members who are not residents of Virginia.

     The mission of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia is to increase public knowledge of the formation of the distinctive American folk culture from a blending of European, African, and indigenous peoples. The museum tells the story of the people who migrated to colonial America, and of the life they created for themselves and their descendants. These first pioneers came to America during the 1600s and 1700s from communities in England, Germany, Ireland, and West Africa. More information about the Frontier Culture Museum can be found online at https://www.frontiermuseum.org.

     The State Historical Records Advisory Board is the central advisory body for historical records coordination in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Board works with the National Historical Publications and Records Commission to advise institutions, create plans for historical records, aid with grant reviews, and undertake statewide projects. The Board was established in the 1970s. The Board consists of 12 members appointed by the Governor.

     The Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is in downtown Staunton at the Augusta County Courthouse. The Clerk serves as the recorder of deeds and probate judge, issues marriage licenses and is the official court administrator for all civil and criminal cases. The Clerk creates and maintains all court files and records, prepares court orders and jury lists, contacts jurors and issues summons and court processes. More information about the services of the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office can be found online at https://www.co.augusta.va.us/government/circuit-court-clerk.