A former Washington Post staff member, Paula Tarnapol Whitacre has maintained a full-time freelance business for almost 20 years. She writes and edit articles, books, website content, and other materials for organizations that include the National Institutes of Health and National Academy of Sciences. Paula holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, both of which had a strong history component, supplemented with graduate history courses at George Mason University.
Since moving to Alexandria in 1984, she has immersed herself in the city’s history and become involved in many local organizations. As a long-time volunteer and now board member of the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Paula has participated in excavations and conducted archival research. She has given presentations on Wilbur through the Alexandria Historical Society lecture series, Society for Women in the Civil War annual meeting, Virginia Archaeology Month, and other auspices.