The American Crystallographic Association is deeply grateful to Virginia Pett, who is concluding her service as ACA Historian. Virginia’s dedication, care, and steady leadership have played a vital role in preserving the history of our Association and ensuring that ACA’s legacy remains accessible to current and future generations.

Over her tenure, Virginia brought organization, clarity, and thoughtfulness to a role that is both archival and interpretive. She worked diligently to collect materials, document milestones, and maintain continuity across decades of scientific progress and community building. Thanks to her efforts, ACA’s history is not simply preserved—it is usable, discoverable, and meaningful.

We are especially appreciative of Virginia’s stewardship of the ACA History Portal. Under her guidance, the portal became a trusted resource for members seeking insight into ACA’s origins, past meetings, leadership, awards, and the evolution of crystallography as a discipline. Her commitment to accuracy and context ensured that our shared story was treated with the respect it deserves.

Looking Ahead: Updates to the ACA History Portal

As we thank Virginia for her service and wish her a very happy retirement, we also want to share that the ACA History Portal will be entering a new phase.

In the coming months, the History Portal will be undergoing updates to improve navigation, accessibility, and long-term sustainability. These changes are intended to:

• Make historical content easier to find and browse
• Better integrate archival materials with current ACA resources
• Ensure the portal remains a living record that can continue to grow with the Association

We see this next chapter as building directly on the strong foundation Virginia helped establish. Her work will continue to inform and support the evolution of the portal for years to come.

On behalf of the ACA Council, leadership, and membership, we extend our sincere thanks to Virginia Pett for her years of service as ACA Historian. Her contributions have strengthened our institutional memory and helped connect today’s community with those who shaped ACA before us.

We wish Virginia all the very best in her retirement and thank her for leaving ACA’s history in such capable shape for the future.

Share Your Thanks and Best Wishes

If you would like to join us in thanking Virginia Pett for her years of service as ACA Historian, we invite you to leave a comment below. Messages of appreciation, favorite memories, or best wishes for her retirement are warmly welcome and will help us collectively express our gratitude for her lasting contributions to the Association.