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 Creator Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Historic manuscript collection, 1601/1933

approx. 60 Linear Feet

This collection of historic manuscripts dates from 1607-1933, with the bulk of materials dating from 1738-1868. The correspondence, journals and diaries, legal and financial records, estate documents, and printed ephemera in the collection primarily relate to the Washington and Custis families, the Revolutionary War, and society life in antebellum Washington D.C. and Virginia.

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Broadside, entrance placard to Mount Vernon, 1893 Box 89 OVERSIZE, Folder 1893.00.00

"Mount Vernon home and tomb of Washington. Grounds opened at 11 o'clock A.M. Closed and cleared promptly at 4 o'clock P.M. Entrance fee, 25 cents. Positively no admittance on Sunday. Picnics not allowed on Mt. Vernon grounds. Special arrangement for June, July, Aug., Sept., '93: To accommodate Columbian Excursionists, the open hours will be extended to 6 o'clock P.M., on Wednesdays only. Mt. Vernon Ladies' Association"

  1. Series 3. Oversized Documents and Manuscripts
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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The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Robert Waldsmith Collection of stereographs and cabinet cards, 1856/1981

236 stereographs and 61 cabinet cards Photographic Prints

Views of Mount Vernon spanning more than 100 years. The Robert Waldsmith Collection consists of approximately 300 stereographs and cabinet cards by Alexander Gardner, N. G. Johnson, Luke D. Dillon, and others. Highlights of the collection include: several west front views of the Mansion, including the earlist known one by Frederick Langenheim, circa 1856; an early view of the tomb, circa 1857, and a collection of Washington statues and buildings honoring the first President.

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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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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

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union

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.

The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Early Records of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, 1853/1951, bulk 1853/1875

25 Linear Feet 117 legal-size clamshell flat storage boxes, 1 oversize clamshell flat storage box

The nucleus of this collection was created from papers given to the Association by Ann Pamela Cunningham around the time of her retirement as Regent. Several other Vice Regents followed her example and later donated their papers as well. These records were referred to as the "Early Records" since the time they were first established as an archival collection. A large portion of this collection is correspondence concerning the founding of the MVLA and the operation of Mount Vernon as a historic site. Other important resources are the appeals written by Ann Pamela Cunningham and the Vice Regents, governing documents, subscription or donation lists, printed material or publications, and bound volumes such as ledgers or scrapbooks. Individual items were added to the collection as they were acquired. The Early Records includes items dated 1852-1951, however the bulk of the material dates from 1858 to around 1880.

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Early Records of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, 1853/1951, bulk 1853/1875 25 Linear Feet 117 legal-size clamshell flat storage boxes, 1 oversize clamshell flat storage box

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union

The nucleus of this collection was created from papers given to the Association by Ann Pamela Cunningham around the time of her retirement as Regent. Several other Vice Regents followed her example and later donated their papers as well. These records were referred to as the "Early Records" since the time they were first established as an archival collection. A large portion of this collection is correspondence concerning the founding of the MVLA and the operation of Mount Vernon as a historic site. Other important resources are the appeals written by Ann Pamela Cunningham and the Vice Regents, governing documents, subscription or donation lists, printed material or publications, and bound volumes such as ledgers or scrapbooks. Individual items were added to the collection as they were acquired. The Early Records includes items dated 1852-1951, however the bulk of the material dates from 1858 to around 1880.

The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Financial Records of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, 1858/2015

approx. 33 Linear Feet 20 paige cartons; 4 Hollinger document boxes, 2 manuscript 11x14 boxes, binders and oversize material flat on shelves

This collection holds the historic financial records of the MVLA including accounting ledgers, tax documents, insurance papers, receipts, invoices, payroll lists, annual and quarterly budgets, financial statements and reports, policies, contracts, correspondence, and other miscellaneous items. Records in this collection contain information on the Association's financial accounting, revenue, expenditures, employees and employee benefits, investments, taxes, and other financial concerns. There is a very limited amount pertaining to fundraising efforts and/or private donations, which can be found in the files of Mount Vernon's development department (currently unprocessed). Bulk date 1870s-2000s.

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Financial Records of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, 1858/2015 approx. 33 Linear Feet 20 paige cartons; 4 Hollinger document boxes, 2 manuscript 11x14 boxes, binders and oversize material flat on shelves

Hollingsworth, John McHenry, 1823-1889

This collection holds the historic financial records of the MVLA including accounting ledgers, tax documents, insurance papers, receipts, invoices, payroll lists, annual and quarterly budgets, financial statements and reports, policies, contracts, correspondence, and other miscellaneous items. Records in this collection contain information on the Association's financial accounting, revenue, expenditures, employees and employee benefits, investments, taxes, and other financial concerns. There is a very limited amount pertaining to fundraising efforts and/or private donations, which can be found in the files of Mount Vernon's development department (currently unprocessed). Bulk date 1870s-2000s.

The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Kellogg Foundation Files, Farm Project, 1984/1999

4.6 Linear Feet 4 paige cartons, two Hollinger boxes
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The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Inn Complex Construction Project Files, 1995/2001

3 Linear Feet 3 cubic feet boxes

The bulk of this collection are the reports on construction progress done by the contracted company, and the meeting minutes, agendas, and reports of the Oversight Committee who handled the process on behalf of Mount Vernon. Other types of records include correspondence, contracts, permits, memos, and photographs. The inclusive date range is 1995-2001.

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Mount Vernon Inn Complex Construction Project Files, 1995/2001 3 Linear Feet 3 cubic feet boxes

Rees, James C., 1952-2014

The bulk of this collection are the reports on construction progress done by the contracted company, and the meeting minutes, agendas, and reports of the Oversight Committee who handled the process on behalf of Mount Vernon. Other types of records include correspondence, contracts, permits, memos, and photographs. The inclusive date range is 1995-2001.

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Finding aids may contain historical terms and phrases, reflecting the shared attitudes and values of the community from which they were collected, but are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical or mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

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