Collections : [Alexandria Library]

Alexandria Library

Alexandria Library
Local History/Special Collections
717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Primary Collecting Areas:
Alexandria history, Virginia history, Genealogy, U.S. Civil War
Description:
As one of the core research institutions in Alexandria, the Local History and Special Collections Branch (LHSC) is focused on documenting Alexandria from its colonial era to its modern life as a vibrant community of immigrants and cultural attractions.
POC: Patricia Walker, Branch Manager
Phone: (703) 746-1719
Phone: (703) 838-4577
Fax: (703) 706-3912
Start Over Repository Alexandria Library Level Item
Alexandria Library

Alexandria Black Family Reunion Digital Collection, 1937/2005

55 Gigabytes

This collection contains digital donations collected from members of the Alexandria African American community during the 2023 Alexandria Black Family Reunion event. This is a completely digital collection consisting of digital surrogates of the materials; the original items have been retained by their owners. Included are photographs, documents, and ephemera.

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Alexandria Library

Potomac Yard Collection (MS050), 1927/2000

.85 Cubic Feet 12 boxes

Records, correspondences, authorizations for expenditure (AFEs), notebooks, ephemera, and blueprints, all documenting the Potomac Yard rail yard in Alexandria, Virginia.

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Alexandria Library

Armistead Boothe Papers (MS164), 1803/1990

10.2 Cubic Feet 14.5 boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 18 oversize folders, 3 oversize items, 2 items in map drawers, 1 rolled item

These are the collected papers of Alexandria politician Armistead Lloyd Boothe (1907-1990). Papers created or collected by Boothe in the course of his career include campaign materials, correspondence with colleagues, and extensive newspaper clippings in addition to other research on political issues such as segregation, education, and transportation.

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Alexandria Library

Thomas Worsley Collection (MS020), 1978/1994

2 Cubic Feet 7 boxes, 230 cassette tapes
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Alexandria Library

Robert Hume Bashaw Papers (MS320), 1833/1870

.03 Cubic Feet 3 folders

Bills of sale, letters, promissory notes, and receipts.

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Alexandria Library

Elrich W. Murphy Photograph Collection (MS415), 1940/1969

2.05 Cubic Feet 7 Intercept negative boxes, 1 document box, 1 oversize box, 1 oversize folder 17.5 Gigabytes (digital donation)

This collection documents the professional photography business of Elrich W. Murphy. Over 2,500 professional photographs taken by Murphy capture members of Alexandria's African American community and local events. Images of Murphy's family and friends were taken primarily by Murphy, but there are also family photographs taken by other people. Of interest is an oversized, hand-colored photographic print of the Tidal Basin and the Washington Monument. Included formats in this collection are film negatives, photographic prints, ephemera, and digital surrogates of receipt books and an accounting ledger.

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Adams, Addebell, photographic negative 1 Photographic Negatives

Black and white photographic negative, portrait of a young woman, possibly Addebell Adams. The young woman is posed sitting in a living room. She is dressed in a light-colored blouse with a dark tie bow collar, dark-colored skirt or pants, and pearl necklace and earrings. Original envelope housing the negative was labeled "Addebell Adams." Photograph is undated, c. 1940s

  1. Series 1. Photography, 1940/1969
  2. Professional photography clients, photographic negatives - A, 1946

Adams, Charles, photographic negative (1 of 6) 1 Photographic Negatives

Black and white photographic negative, portrait of a baby. The baby appears to be in someone's home, posed on her stomach on a table that is covered with a light-colored blanket. She is wearing a light-colored outfit and hat. There is a console radio in the background. Original envelope housing the negative was labeled "Charles Adams." Photograph is undated, c. 1940s

  1. Series 1. Photography, 1940/1969
  2. Professional photography clients, photographic negatives - A, 1946

Adams, Charles photographic negative (2 of 6) 1 Photographic Negatives

Black and white photographic negative, portrait of a baby. The baby appears to be in someone's home, posed sitting in a striped chair that is covered with a light-colored blanket with her head propped up on a pillow. She is wearing a light-colored party dress and socks. Original envelope housing the negative was labeled "Charlie Adams." Photograph is undated, c. 1940s

  1. Series 1. Photography, 1940/1969
  2. Professional photography clients, photographic negatives - A, 1946
Alexandria Library

Cazenove Family Papers (MS212), 1786/1970

8.06 Linear Feet 15 boxes

This collection covers the history of the Cazenove Family of Alexandria from the 1790s to the 1970s. The first part of the collection features records from James O'Hara Cazenove (1880-1971), consisting primarily of correspondence and records relating to his business interests and investments, as well as legal documents and business related litigation. Some of the correspondence and notebooks relate to his role as an inventor including a patent for an improved eggbeater from the 1920s. It also includes records from his brother, Louis A. deCazenove (1851-1925), primarily related to his education at Cornell University.

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Alexandria Library

Charles L. Sampson Collection (MS126), 1841/1986

6.94 Cubic Feet 11 boxes

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.

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Alexandria Library

Cazenove and Co. Ledger (MS293), 1857/1861

.88 Cubic Feet

The collection consists of a large ledger book containing account information from Cazenove and Co. for the years leading up to the Civil War. Accounts for partners William Gardner Cazenove and Cassius F. Lee are marked differently.

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Alexandria Library

William R. Adam Papers (MS279), 1920/1990

.235 Cubic Feet 2 box

Much of the collection consists of personal and professional correspondences of William Robert Adam. There are also a number of programs from events that Adam coordinated or was invited to attend in Alexandria and Washington, DC. The collection also includes awards and certificates, newspaper clippings, bibliographical information, publications, and research papers. There is also a folder on the composer Richard Bales, who conducted orchestral performances at some of Adam's events. The collection includes a number of realia such as medals and medallions.

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Army photo badge Box 1, Object 2.4

Badge for William Adam

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