278th Annual Meeting
January 20, 2026 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Free
As the ONE evening restricted exclusively for our members each and every year, we hope you will join us for the 278th Annual Meeting of The Charleston Library Society. The meeting commences with a review of the year and business agenda hosted by the Board of Trustees, followed by an update with the Executive Director and a special keynote address.
For this year’s keynote, we welcome Michael Quinn, Emeritus President & CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, for an enlightened discussion on “The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence” – a fitting reflection as we kick off 2026, and 250 years of America.
Looking back on an incredible and reflective 277th year, we remain in awe of the inspired founders, the dedicated Board of Trustees, and the returning members who have kept the oldest cultural institution in the South, continuously operating through so many generations.
This event is open only to our membership. Please fill out the form below to RSVP.
About Michael Quinn
Michael Quinn joined the Museum of the American Revolution as President and CEO in April 2012, taking the helm of an ambitious initiative to create a new national museum dedicated to the dynamic story of the American Revolution. During his six-year tenure, the Museum raised $175 million ($25 million over its campaign goal), constructed a new 120,000 square foot facility, and opened on schedule, under budget, and with a $50+ million endowment. In its first year after opening on April 19, 2017, in the heart of historic Philadelphia, the Museum welcomed more than 350,000 visitors and was recognized as one of the top new museums in the world by travel sites including Fodor’s Travel, Lonely Planet, and Smithsonian.com. Mr. Quinn stepped down from his position as of November 2018 and was elected President Emeritus by the Museum’s Board of Directors. Prior to this position, Mr. Quinn served as President and CEO of James Madison’s Montpelier in central Virginia. During the twelve years of his tenure, he led a transformative change, raising over $90 million to restore the home of James Madison and its surrounding environment and transitioning Montpelier from a private estate into a premier national historic destination. He also established a vibrant educational center at Montpelier that provided over 4,000 teachers, legislators, and others with in-depth study programs on American constitutional theory.
Previously, Mr. Quinn served as deputy director at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, led a historic building advocacy organization, and worked in preservation planning at the state and federal levels. Mr. Quinn has been recognized by the Garden Club of America, the Sons of the American Revolution, and other history and civic organizations. He has served on the board of the Virginia Tourism Corporation and on the oversight committee of the Virginia Executive Mansion. He is currently on the boards of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, the Satell Institute, and Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. Mr. Quinn received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, an M.A. from Yale University, and an M.B.A. from George Mason University. He comes from a Virginia family, whose father was a career officer in the U.S. Navy before joining the faculty of the School of Engineering at the University of Virginia.
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