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The collection contains the combined research papers of Charles L. Sampson and William F. Hellmuth. Sampson compiled and rewrote much of Hellmuth's research, producing short histories on the individual engine companies of the Alexandria Fire Department. Sampson also typescripted many articles from the Alexandria Gazette as well as primary documents like the Auditor's Annual Statement (1893) and correspondence. In addition to the research papers, the collection also contains correspondence from the Columbia Engine Co. #4 and the Alexandria Fire Department, meeting minutes, certificates, articles, and a few pictures. Sampson's research primarily covers the history of the Alexandria Fire Department from its beginning in 1774 with the organization of the Friendship Company to the 1960's. It also bound volumes of minutes, accounts, and other records from various fire companies and scrapbooks of news clippings about the department. The collection also includes Sampson's photographs covering not only fire related subjects but also Alexandria in general.

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.