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 Places Maryland
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Richard H. Brown Revolutionary War Map Collection, 1740/1799

50 Linear Feet

This collection contains approximately 300 rare printed maps, unique manuscript maps, and published texts collected by Richard H. Brown, which pertain to the American Revolutionary War era.

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The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Historic map collection, 1675/1971

22 Sheets

This collection of historic maps date from 1675-1971, and primarily relate to the Washington and Custis families, the Revolutionary War, and society life in antebellum Washington D.C. and Virginia. Includes matching editions of maps personally owned by George Washington.

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The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Ted and Mary Wendell early American collection, 1721/1826

.5 Linear Feet 14 Sheets

This collection consist of 47 documents, 10 maps, and 1 map slipcase collected by Ted and Mary Wendell. The collection pertains to George Washington and includes 25 documents written, annotated, or signed by Washington. Much of the material concerns the Revolutionary War, western land claims following the French and Indian War, and British and American governmental records. The dates of the material range from 1721-1826.

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A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole province of Maryland with part of Pensilvania, New Jersey and North Carolina, 1775 1 Sheets Drawer 122 : L : 2, Section 1, Folder OUT

Map of Virginia and Maryland based on surveys by Joshua Fry and Peter Jefferson, accurately delineating boundaries, roads, settlements, and Native American trails, and incorporating considerable new geographical information. It was issued in 1775 for inclusion in Thomas Jeffery's 'American Atlas'.

  1. Series 3. Oversize

A map of the western parts of the colony of Virginia, 1754 1 Sheets Box 2, Folder 1754

This map was engraved by John Gibson and published in The London Magazine or Gentleman's Intelligencer, vol. 23 (June, 1754). It depicts the region from Lake Ontario southwest to the New River, and shows forts, trails, waterfalls, and general locations of Native American tribe settlements.

  1. Series 2. Publications

Map of the country between Washington & Pittsburg refering to the contemplated Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and its general route and profile, October 1826, 1826 1 Sheets Drawer 122 : L : 4, Section 5

Map showing the route of the proposed Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, with the route highlighted in red. Includes elevation profile in 3 segments, and 'Tranverse section of the canal'. Statement of responsibility: 'Reduced from the general map annexed to the report upon the contemplated canal and drawn, by Lieut. Farley, U.S.A. ; etched by Wm. Harrison, Georgetown, D.C. ; letter'd by D.R. Harrison'.

  1. Series 3. Oversize
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Paul Stevens map collection, 1541/1778

26 Sheets

The collection contains 26 maps of the New World, dating 1541-1778, which illustrate the progression of European geographic knowledge about Virginia and North America from the 16th through the 18th centuries

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Baye de Chesapeake en 4 feuilles avec les bas fonds, passes, entrées, sondes et routes ou l'on donne les parties navigables des rivieres Patowmack, Patapsco, et Nord-Est, 1778 1 Sheets Drawer 122 : L : 2, Section 1

"Produced for the French Navy, the rare chart displayed here was the best available chart of this region for the time, and was used by all naval forces involved in combat during the American Revolutionary War. The information on this very detailed chart was based primarily on the work of American Anthony Smith, a local Chesapeake Bay pilot of St. Mary's County. The chart was consulted by Admiral de Grasse in his victory over the British off the Chesapeake Capes on September 5, 1781." https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:z603vv10h

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

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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