Collections : [The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon]

The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
3600 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Mount Vernon, VA 22121
Primary Collecting Areas:
George and Martha Washington, Mount Vernon, Founding Era and Early Republic, Historic preservation, Decorative arts, Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
Description:

The Fred W. Smith National Library includes general collections, special collections and archives as a resource for scholars, students, and those interested in George Washington, colonial America and the Revolutionary and founding eras.

The library's general collections include secondary source materials on the Washington and Custis families, and the colonial and founding eras.

The Special Collections materials highlight the lives of George and Martha Washington as well as their descendants through correspondence, financial materials, and original books from George and Martha Washington's library.

The archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association holds the historic institutional records of the organization dating back to its founding in 1853.

POC: Reference services
Phone: (703) 780-3600
Start Over Repository The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon Subjects Furniture
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Peter family papers, 1722/1932

12 Linear Feet 46 boxes

This collection consists of papers collected by various members of the Peter families. It includes letters from George Washington, letters of condolence to Martha Washington after George Washington's death, estate documents, Major George Peter's military papers, land plats and surveys, photo albums, letterbooks, and notebooks that tell of the life of this prominent family in Virginia and the City of Washington.

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Accounts of Martha Washington with MacLeod & Lumsdon for sundries, 1800 1 pages Box 7, Folder 20

List of items purchased by Martha Washington from Macleod & Lumsdon, dated at the top 18 February 1800, Alexandria. The accounts, dated 8 July and 9 August, include entries for 47 panes of glass, oil, paint for 30 mahoghany chairs, paint for a wine cooler, varnishing, picture frame gilding, and glazing. Signed by Macleod & Lumdsdon at the bottom, noting that the above money was received in full 9 October 1800.

  1. Series 11. Papers of Thomas Peter, 1732/1852
  2. Subseries 11.1. Financial Documents
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Black and White Film Collection, 1933/2005

30 Linear Feet Variety of container sizes based on film negative sizes and types. 5 Linear Feet

The Historical Photograph Collection is largely comprised of materials created by or for the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Photographers primarily include staff members and contract photographers. The collection spans the 1930s to the 2000s and includes analog material made up of a variety of sizes of film negatives providing a visual history of the Mansion, outbuildings, tombs, grounds, events, visitors, collection objects, personnel, restoration, and changes throughout the estate.

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The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

George Washington collection, 1654/1799

approx. 25 Linear Feet

This collection contains letters to and from George Washington that have been aquired by the MVLA since 1858. For more information, see content note for individal items. The collection grows organically as new items are acquired.

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Document, Sales of Furniture, 1774 Box 33, Folder 1774.08.15

When George William and Sally Fairfax moved to England before the Revolutionary War, they asked their neighbor and friend George Washington to help them rent their Belvoir estate and sell the mansion's furnishings. On August 15, 1774, Washington administered an auction of their furniture, utensils, and books and docketed this inventory titled Sales of Furniture at Belvoir. This document includes items listed for sale, their selling prices, and purchaser's totals. Purchasers listed include Washington and his stepson John Parke Custis. George Washington was the high bidder of the event, spending a grand total of £169.12.6, over half the total receipts. Autograph document, one-page folio, docketed by George Washington on the verso.

  1. Series 4. Oversized
  2. From George Washington, 1753/1799
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Historical Photograph Collection, 1850/2010

89 Linear Feet Variety of container sizes based on photograph sizes and material types. Over-sized items are housed in drawers.

The Historical Photograph Collection is largely comprised of materials created by or for the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Some of the earliest photographs of the estate were created and sold to visitors by the Association as a means of income. Those efforts helped to establish an important collection of 19th century views. The collection spans the 1850s to 2000s and includes over 140 linear feet of analog material providing a visual history of the Mansion, outbuildings, tombs, grounds, events, visitors, collection objects, personnel, and changes throughout the estate.

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Content Warning

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