PUBLIC "-//Mary Riley Styles Public Library//TEXT (US::VaFcSPL::VaFcSPL00010::Village Preservation and Improvement Society, 1885-2023)//EN" "VaFcSPL00010.xml" A Guide to the Village Preservation and Improvement Society, 1885-2023 Village Preservation and Improvement Society Record Group 4-8 Mary Riley Styles Public Library 2024 (CC0 1.0)

Conditions of Use

This finding aid was produced using a form and manually entry [AS date] Description is in English Village Preservation and Improvement Society, 1885-2023 A Collection in Mary Riley Styles Public Library Record Group 4-8

Mary Riley Styles Public Library 2024 Mary Riley Styles Public Library Mary Riley Styles Public Library Descriptive Summary Falls Church History Room, Mary Riley Styles Public Library Village Preservation and Improvement Society, 1885-2023 Record Group 4-8 Materials in this collection are in English. Administrative Information Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

 Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

There are no restrictions.

 Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection...

 Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Village Preservation and Improvement Society transferred their files to the Mary Riley Styles Public Library by resolution on January 2, 1980.

 Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description...

 History

The Society was founded in 1885 as the Village Improvement Society of Falls Church. It was one of hundreds of such societies around the country modeled after the famous Laurel Hill Association of Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

The Society's early objectives were to improve and ornament the streets of Falls Church by planting and cultivating trees, cleaning and repairing the sidewalks, and carrying out other acts to beautify and benefit the culture and prosperity of the village. The Society planted the street trees we see in historic photos, built the first sidewalks, and organized parades and the town-wide July 4th celebrations with baseball and ice cream socials. It helped to start the first library in Falls Church and initiated the first Arbor Day in Virginia (1892).

The Society was renamed in 1923 as the Falls Church Citizens Association and, after a few decades of intermittent activity, it was reestablished in 1965 as the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS). In March 1973 it received Certification of Incorporation from the State Corporation Commission.

VPIS is still an active association. Their website is https://www.vpis.org/.

 Scope and Content

Some of the records of the original Society from 1890-1918 are included in addition to the records from 1965 to the present. There are meeting minutes, membership records, with the bulk of the files concerning their projects and their rewards programs.

Arrangement

The early records of the Society were separated into Series 1. File names were retained as they were labeled. Occasionally a file was renamed to more accurately reflect the contents or split into two smaller files. Some loose papers were filed into appropriate folders. In the interests of efficiency files were arranged into series. Files are arranged chronologically or alphabetically, depending on the series.

The newsletter published by VPIS was named the VPIS Newsletter through August 1978; with the November 1978 issue it was changed to The Village Way.

There are also numerous video recordings and publications in the Falls Church Local History Room.

The files were arranged into the following series: Series 1: Village Improvement Society (1885-1923?) Series 2: Constitution and Bylaws -- Incorporation Series 3: Annual Reports Series 4: Presidents and Boards of Directors Series 5: Membership Series 6: Executive Meetings Series 7: Membership Meetings Series 8: Financial Reports Series 9: Committees Series 10: Correspondence Series 11: Programs Series 12: Projects Series 13: Rewards, Prizes Series 14: Subject files Series 15: VPIS Newsletter Series 16: Village Way Series 17: Publications Series 18: Newspaper Clippings Series 19: Miscellaneous File

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Other record groups of interest are the Historical Commission (Record Group 1-3) and the Citizens for a Better City (Record Group 4-1)

 Contents List 1 Series 1: Village Improvement Society 1890-1900 1 1911-1912 2 Amusements, 1899-1900, 1901, 1902 3 Amusements, 1910 4 Bylaws and Constitution, 1897, 1907 5 Dinners and Dining, First Banquet, March 1, 1901 6

[has cards – need envelope]

 Financial Transactions, 1896-1899 7 Financial Transactions, 1901-1903 8 Fourth of July Celebrations, [no date] 9 Fourth of July Celebrations, 1892 10 Fourth of July Celebrations, 1895-1897 11 Fourth of July Celebrations, 1897 12 Fourth of July Celebrations, 1899 13 Fourth of July Celebrations, 1900 14 Fourth of July Celebrations– expenses and contributions, no program, 1901 15 Fourth of July Celebrations– expenses and contributions, no program, 1902 16 Fourth of July Celebrations– expenses and contributions, no program, 1903 17 Fourth of July Celebrations– programs, has a sheet with no date, 1911 18 Fourth of July Celebrations [photograph], 1918 19 Meetings, 1911-1912 20 Projects – East End Well, 1901 21 Projects – Piano, 1899-1900 22 Projects – Sidewalks, 1897-1907 23 Projects – Street Lighting, 1890-1903 24 Projects – Street Signs, 1901-1902 25 Speeches and Addresses, [1910] 26 1 Series 2: Constitution and Bylaws Constitution and Bylaws, 1965-1973 1 Incorporation, 1973 2 Resolution Transferring Records, January 2, 1980 3 1 Series 3: Annual Reports Annual Reports, 1966, 1969 1 Annual Reports, 1993-1999 2 1 Series 4: Presidents and Boards of Directors Boards of Directors, 1966-2006 1 Presidents - Mel H. Bolster, 1965 2 Presidents - Elwood H. Street, 1966-1968 3 Presidents - Robert L. Hubbell, 1972 4 Presidents - Louis T. Olom, 1974-1976 5 Presidents - Edward B. Strait, 1979 6 1 Series 5: Membership Membership Campaigns, 1965-1994 1 Membership Lists, 1965-1968 2 Membership Lists, 1969-1971 3 Membership Lists, 1973-1976 4 Membership Lists, 1977-1978 5 2 Series 5: Membership, (continued) Membership Lists, 1979-1980 6 Membership Lists, 1981-1984 7 Membership Lists, 1989, 1998-1999 8 Membership Reports, 1980-1981 9 Series 6: Executive Meetings Executive Meetings (Provisional Committee), March-August 1965 1 Executive Meetings, 1965-1966 2 Executive Meetings, 1966-1967 3 Executive Meetings, 1967-1968 4 Executive Meetings, 1968-1969 5 Executive Meetings, 1969-1970 6 Executive Meetings, 1970-1971 7 Executive Meetings, 1971-1972 8 Executive Meetings, 1972-1973 9 Executive Meetings, 1973-1974 10 Executive Meetings, 1974-1975 11 Executive Meetings, 1975-1976 12 Executive Meetings, 1976-1977 13 Executive Meetings, 1977-1978 14 Executive Meetings, 1978-1979 15 Executive Meetings, 1979-1980 16 Executive Meetings, 1980-1981 17 Executive Meetings, 1981-1982 18 Executive Meetings, 1982-1983 19 Executive Meetings, 1983-1984 20 Executive Meetings, 1984-1985 21 Executive Meetings, 1985-1986 22 3 Series 6: Executive Meetings (continued) Executive Meetings, 1986-1987 23 Executive Meetings, 1987-1988 24 Executive Meetings, 1988-1989 25 Executive Meetings, 1989-1990 26 Executive Meetings, 1993-1994 27 Executive Meetings, 1994-1995 28 Executive Meetings, 1997, 1998 29 Executive Meetings, 1999 30 Executive Meetings, April 13, 2000 31 Series 7: Membership Meetings Spring 1966-1970 1 Spring 1971-1973 2 Spring 1974-1976 3 Spring 1977-1980 4 Spring 1981-1984 5 Spring 1985-1988 6 Fall 1966 - Fall 1979 7 Fall 1980 - Fall 1988 8 Series 8: Financial Reports Financial Reports, 1970-1979 1 Financial Reports, 1980-1984 2 Funds, 1975 3 Taxation Exemption Form, 1974 4 Treasurer's Reports, 1982-1983 5 Treasurer's Reports, 1987-1988 6 Series 9: Committees Committees, 1966-1985 1 Broad Street Widening, 1981-1985 2 Cable Access, 1984 3 City Hall Information Committee, 1982-1983 4 4 Series 9: Committees (continued) Historical, 1966-1981 5 Historical Committee, Report on Quadrant, 1968-1969 6 Nominating, March 25, 1982 7 Study, 1966, 1970 8 Tree, 1973-1980 9 Series 10: Correspondence Correspondence, 1965-1979 1 Correspondence, 1983 2 Series 11: Programs Fourth of July Celebrations, 1982-1999 1 Programs, 1994-1995 2 Programs - Home Concert Series, 1996-1997 3 Tours, 1975-1963 4 Series 12: Projects Annexation, 1966-1969 1 Arbor Day, 1974-1993 2 Attic Treasures Sale -- Financial Statements, 1976-1977 3 Attic Treasures Sale – Flyers, 1969-1990 4 Attic Treasures Sale – Lunch, 1976 5 Attic Treasures Sale – Planning, 1969-1986 6 Attic Treasures Sale – Publicity, 1969-1985 7 Big Chimneys Commemorative Site, 1999 8 Cable Television, 1966 9 Catalog, 1985, 1995 10 Centennial – Planning, 1984-1986 11 Centennial – Publicity, 1985 12 Charter Revision, 1969-1970 13 Cheese Sale, 1973-1978 14 Cherry Hill, 1975-1977 15 Children History Program, February 1987 16 Citizens' Committee for a Low Skyline, 1968 17 City Planning, 1963-1965 18 City Planning, 1966-1967 19 City Planning, 1968 20 5 Series 12: Projects (continued) City Planning, 1969-1970 21 City Planning, 1971 22 City Planning, 1981-1985 23 City Planning, "The Future of the City: Genesis for Progress in Falls Church, North Washington Street," March 1993 24 Cookbook, 1976 25 Cookbook, Hors d'oeuvres at Tranquility, 1985 26 Cycling Paths, 1974-1975 27 Cycling Paths – Landscape, 1975 28 Cycling Paths – Rest Shelter dedicated to Elwood Street, 1979 29 Elizabeth Graham – Memorial Garden, 1987 30 Gage House, 1982 31 George Mason Commemoration, 19914 32 George Mason Memorial, 1975-1976 33 Hangman's Tree, 1968, 1987 34 Historic Houses and Sites – Surveys 35 Historic Memorabilia – Surveys, 1968-1969 36 Historical News and Notes 37 Landscape Master Plan, 1976-1985 38 Lawton House – Historic Preservation, 1960-1976 39 Lawton House – Park Street Encroachment (has photos), 1965-1967 40 Lawton House Estate Moving Sale, 1978 41 Lifetime Memberships, 1984, 1999 42 Master Plan, 1975-1980 43 Master Plan Review, Downtown-Open Space, 1980-1982 44 Master Plan, 1982-1984 45 Memorial Day Parade, 1999 46 One Hundred Trees for One Hundred Years, 1985-1986 47 6 Series 12: Projects (continued) Ordinances, Municipal – Mixed-Use Redevelopment (MUR), 1999 48 Ordinances, Municipal – Sign, 1966-1969 59 Ordinances, Municipal – Tree Preservation, 1976-1978 50 Planned Unit Developments, 1970-1973 51 Planned Unit Development – Hechinger, 1972 52 Postcards, 1976 53 Presidents' Garden, 1994, 2000 54 Rain Garden, [1999] 55 Schools, February 1987 56 Taxation Survey, February 9, 1978 57 Urban Beautification, 1965-1976 58 Walking Tour Brochure, 1974-1975 59 Whitehall, 1978-1983 60 Wine Sale, 1972-1976 61 Series 13: Rewards and Prizes Awards for Excellence in Design, 1966 1 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1967 2 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1968 3 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1969 4 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1970 5 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1966-1970 6 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1971 7 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1979 8 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1980 9 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1981 10 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1982 11 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1983 12 Awards for Excellence in Design, 1981-1986 13 Business Improvement Awards Program, 1978-1979 14 Certificate of Award, blank form 15 Hemlock Tree, November 13, 1980 16 National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., 1968 17 Noteworthy Tree Awards, 1973-1976 18 Tree City, U.S.A., 1979-1980 19 7 Series 14: Subject Files Achievements, 1966-1970, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1993 1 Central Business District, 1965-1970 2 Falls Church Historical Collection, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 1985-1986 3 History, 1877-1904 4 History, 1971-1999 5 Issues, 1982-1983 6 Mixed-Use Redevelopment Ordinance, 1998-1999 7 Northern Virginia Recreation and Cultural Authority, 1970 8 Public Relations, 1965, 1868 9 Related Interest Groups - Citizens for Quality Living, 1970-1975 10 Related Interest Groups – Falls Church Historical Commission (Cherry Hill), 1966-1975 11 Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Historic Preservation, [n.d.] 12 Resolution, March 12, 1987 13 Statements, Summary of, 1965-1968 14 Statements to City Council, 1965-1979 15 Statements to City Council, 1980, 1985 16 Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and the Laurel Hill Association, 1985, 1991 17 Trees, 1973-1999 18 Virginia Village Index 19 Website, February 1999 20 Series 15: VPIS Newsletter 1967-1970 1 1971-1972 2 1973-1975 3 1976-1978 4 Series 16: The Village Way 1978-1980 1 8 Series 16: The Village Way (continued) 1981-1983 2 1984-1985 3 1986-1987 4 1988-1989 5 1990-1991 6 1992-1995 7 1996-1999 8 2000-2007 9 2008-2023 (incomplete) 10 Series 17: Publications Publications 1 The Village Catalogue, 1995-1996 2 Series 18: Newspaper Clippings Newspaper Clippings, 1963-1977 1 Newspaper Clippings, 1983 2 Series 19: Miscellaneous File Miscellaneous papers 1