Ruth Kaye Collection (MS029), 1970/2010

Access and use

Location of collection:
Alexandria Library
Alexandria Library
Local History/Special Collections
717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Patricia Walker, Branch Manager
Phone: (703) 746-1719
Phone: (703) 838-4577
Fax: (703) 706-3912
Preferred citation:

[Item identification], Ruth Kaye Collection, MS029, Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
14.826 Cubic Feet 32 boxes
Creator:
Kaye, Ruth Lincoln, 1918-2014
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Item identification], Ruth Kaye Collection, MS029, Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of four series: house histories, genealogy, publications, and miscellaneous. The collection contains reports, bound volumes, photos, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, and correspondences. The first and largest series is the complete research on various house histories in the Alexandria, Virginia area, most notably in Old Town. The second series of the collection is genealogical research on various families who have roots in Northern Virginia and Alexandria. The two smaller series, publications and miscellaneous, contain various research subjects completed by Ruth Kaye, including other publications from other authors.

Biographical / historical:

Ruth Lincoln Kaye, native of New York, lived in Alexandria, Virginia from the early 1940s until her death in 2014. She was a graduate of Randolph-Macon Women's College (Lynchburg, Virginia) where she majored in English, History, and piano. Her love of history found her researching her own family resulting in several books not only about her direct line but collateral lines. Mrs. Kaye was well known for her concise and accurate house and property histories. Known as the local 'house historian,' she did private consulting for both businesses and individuals who have the need to know a property's history. This interest also led to the publication of a number of histories on Alexandria properties.

Physical description:
Staples and paper clips removed. Acidic folders removed. Photocopies of most newspaper articles made. Slight rehousing and organization of materials.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard