Northern Virginia Oral History Project collection, 1958/1996

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research although some interviews may have restrictions.

Terms of access:

There may be use restrictions on some of the interviews.

Preferred citation:

Northern Virginia Oral History Project collection, Collection #C0030, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Summary

Extent:
2.5 linear feet
Creator:
Northern Virginia Oral History Project
Abstract:
The collection contains 96 taped interviews of Northern Virginia residents. Transcripts or abstracts accompany most of the recordings. Topics such as agriculture, development, education, health, politics, transportation, and religion, with respect to Northern Virginia in the 19th and 20th centuries, are discussed.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Northern Virginia Oral History Project collection, Collection #C0030, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains 96 taped interviews of Northern Virginia residents. Transcripts or abstracts accompany most of the recordings. Topics such as agriculture, development, education, health, politics, transportation, and religion, with respect to Northern Virginia in the 19th and 20th centuries, are discussed.

The eighty interviews in Series 1, taped between 1958 and 1983, document community and family life, careers, etc. in the Northern Virginia Area. The sixteen interviews in Series 2, conducted in 1982-1983, deal primarily with changes in Northern Virginia since World War II. The transcripts are in Series 3. Series 4 contains the Northern Virginia Leadership Project interviews. Roy Rosenzweig, a professor in Mason's History Department, supervised the final phase of the project. The Northern Virginia Leadership Project is a collection of interviews with prominent figures from the Northern Virginia area. The collection includes 9 interviews conducted between the years 1990 and 1996.

Note that these box numbers are not the same as the box numbers for Series 3.

Biographical / historical:

The Northern Virginia Oral History Project Collection is comprised of interviews conducted between 1962 and 1983. The interviews document community and family life, and careers in the Northern Virginia Area as well as changes in Northern Virginia since World War II.

Acquisition information:
Collection donated by the Fairfax City Regional Library in 1992. Additional interviews added in 1996.
Custodial history:

The collection was previously housed in the Fairfax County Library from 1962-1983. It was transferred to George Mason University Libraries in 1984.

Processing information:

Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty.

Arrangement:

Organized into four series.

  • Series 1: Northern Virginia Community, 1958-1983
  • Series 2: Northern Virginia Changes, 1982-1986
  • Series 3: Transcripts, 1962-1983
  • Series 4: Northern Virginia Leadership Project, 1990-1996