PUBLIC "-//Fairfax County Public Library//TEXT (US::ViF::vif00039::A Guide to the Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia Records)//EN" "vif00039.xml" A Guide to the Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia Records, 1946-2016 Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia Records MSS 05-01 © 2024 Fairfax County Public Library. All rights reserved. Machine-readable finding aid created by Ross Landis, January 28, 2024 Description is in English A Guide to the Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia Records, 1946-2016 A Collection in The Fairfax County Public Library MSS 05-01

Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library Descriptive Summary Fairfax County Public Library The Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia Records, 1946-2016 MSS 05-01 5.0 linear feet English The Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia Records consists of 5.0 linear feet spanning the years 1946-2016. Items include correspondence, meeting minutes, flyers, programs, letterhead, photographs, engraved printing blocks, notes, yearbooks, reports, financial reports, essays, membership lists, membership applications, and floppy disks. Subjects include the creation, events, publications, administrative activities, membership, and finances of the Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia. Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia Administrative Information Access Restrictions

None

Use Restrictions

Consult repository for information

Preferred Citation

Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia Records, MSS 05-01, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library

Acquisition Information

Records deposited with the Virginia Room over a period of years by the Historical Society of Fairfax County

Processing Information

Chris Barbuschak, November 2016EAD generated by Ross Landis, 2024

Historical and Biographical Information

On February 18, 1950, twenty-six Fairfax County citizens met at Woodlawn Plantation at the invitation of Mr. J.W. Rixey-Smith to organize an historical society to preserve historical sites and traditions of Fairfax County. From this meeting began the Historical Society of Fairfax County, which received a charter from the Commonwealth on May 26, 1950. The continued purpose of the organization is to promote and preserve the history of Fairfax County. The historical society continues to do this by locating historical records, hosting annual meetings and lectures, and publishing a biennial yearbook containing historical articles. The original founding members invited 100 people to become charter members prior to opening membership to the general public in 1950. The first annual meeting of the society occurred on June 18th, 1950 at the Jackson House in McLean.

One of the inaugural kick-off events to gain interest in the society was a Heirloom Show and Tour of Historic Houses held at Truro Parish on November 25, 1950. Citizens brought out all sorts of antiques and heirlooms to exhibit. In 1951, the society also undertook a county-wide project of compiling a list of portraits painted before 1850 that were in the possession of local citizens.

In January 1965, the society was instrumental in sponsoring the creation of the Historic Landmarks Preservation Committee, later renamed the Fairfax County History Commission. Beginning in 1975 the society held an annual historical essay contest for students in Fairfax County high schools. Winners received cash prizes and the society published the winning essays in the biennial yearbook. In addition to the yearbook, the society started publishing a newsletter in 1987 but ceased in 2000.

Over the years, the society acquired many historical documents and manuscripts. The society donated most of these documents to the Virginia Room at the City of Fairfax Regional Library and the Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center. The society’s activity has slowed down in recent years and after an eight year lapse, the society will resuming publishing a biennial yearbook in 2017. Membership is open to anyone interested in the historical background of the county. There are typically four meetings a year which includes a lecture on a subject of local history.

Scope and Content

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1950-2016, Boxes 1 and 6

Contains miscellaneous papers relating to the administrative activities of the society. Includes certificates of incorporation, charters, copyright certificates, bylaws, meeting minutes, meeting notices, lists, reports, flyers, newsletters, articles, newspaper clippings, floppy disks, notes, and essays from the society’s annual historical essay contest.

Series 2: Correspondence, 1950-2005, Boxes 1 and 2

Contains correspondence written and received by the historical society. Correspondence written by society members include Henry C. Mackall, Mayo Stuntz, Douglas Mackall, Richard M. Smith, Edith Sprouse, Beth Mitchell, Connie Ring, Richard E. Crouch, Susan G. Leigh and several others. Subjects include membership, meetings, genealogy requests, local history, and society activities. Also included are RSVP cards, letterhead, and envelopes with the society’s logo and address.

Series 3: Membership Records, c. 1950s - 2016, Box 2

Contains membership lists, new member lists, register books, completed membership application forms and cards, and blank membership renewal forms. Lists contain addresses and contact information for members and their dues history. Also included is a roster of members who were interested in saving the Moorefield house (Vienna, Va.) from demolition.

Series 4: Financial Records, 1950-2005, Box 2

Contains expenditures notebook, receipts, account ledger book, and treasurer’s reports. The majority of these documents were maintained by long-time treasurer of the society, Henry C. Mackall. Documents detail the finances and expenditures of the society.

Series 5: Events, 1950-2000, Box 2

Contains flyers, invitations, programs, and notes regarding events the historical society was involved or invited to. Events include the society’s inaugural Heirloom Show and Tour of Historic Houses held in 1951, Fairfax County Heritage Day, Fairfax County’s 240th Anniversary Celebration, Fairfax Heritage Awards, 30th Anniversary of the Fairfax County History Commission, Old Town Hall Centennial, and 200th Birthday of the Fairfax Courthouse.

Series 6: Historical Fairfax County Papers, 1946-1965, Box 2

Over the years, the society acquired many historical documents relating to Fairfax County. Included here are original documents and photocopies of historical documents. Original papers contained are correspondence from the Fauquier County Bar Association and papers from Fairfax attorney and former State-Senator John W. Rust. Photocopies are included of Fairfax County Revolutionary War Surgeon Dr. Benjamin Chapin’s will, Judge James Allen’s papers, an 1873 subscription list of Chantilly Episcopal Church, and meeting minutes of the Fairfax Historical Society.

Series 7: Yearbooks, 1951-2008, Boxes 3, 4 and 6

Contains biennial yearbooks published by the society. Also included are articles, drafts, notes, photographs, order blanks, and engraved printing blocks used in the production of various yearbook issues.

Adjunct Descriptive Data

None

Invoices, copies of checks, and membership applications from 2000-2005 were destroyed.

Index Terms Historical Society of Fairfax County (Fairfax County, Va.) Container List Series 1: Administrative Records, 1950-2016 Certificate of Incorporation, 1950 Charter of the Historical Society of Fairfax County, 1950-1957 Copyright Certificate of Registration for Courthouse Logo, 1951 Bylaws of the Historical Society of Fairfax County, Undated Proposed Bylaws, Undated Meeting Minutes and Notes, 1950-1962 Meeting Notices, 1981-2016 List of Meeting Locations and Dates 1950-1980, 1970 Board of Directors Meeting Agendas, 1976-2004 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 1990-2015 List of Officers and Board Members, 1970-2005 Secretarial Duties, 1994 Commonwealth of Virginia-State Corporation Commission Annual Reports, 1995-1996 Flyers, 1988 Newspaper Clippings, 1950-1976 News Articles, 1992-2002 Newsletters, 1987-1990 Newsletters, 1991-2000 Reports, 1961-1975 Portrait Information, 1951 Histories , 1961-1979 Essay Contest, 1971-1980 Essay Contest, 1983-1988 Floppy Disks, 1996-1998 Website Printouts , 2001-2002 Minute Book of The Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia, Inc., 1950-1994 Series 2: Correspondence, 1950-2005 American Association of State and Local History Correspondence, 1950 Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia Correspondence, 1950 Douglas S. Freeman Correspondence, 1950-1951 Richard M. Smith Correspondence, 1950-1962 General Correspondence, 1950-1969 Henry C. Mackall Correspondence, 1969-2002 General Correspondence, 1971-1972 General Correspondence, 1973-1974 General Correspondence, 1975-1976 General Correspondence, 1977-1980 Bayard Evans Memorial Fund Correspondence, 1980 General Correspondence, 1981-1982 General Correspondence, 1983 General Correspondence, 1984-1986 General Correspondence, 1987-1988 General Correspondence, 1989-1990 Richard E. Crouch President's Correspondence, 1990-1993 General Correspondence, 1991-1992 Publications Committee Correspondence, 1991-1992 General Correspondence, 1993-1995 General Correspondence, 1996-1997 General Correspondence, 1998-1999 Mosby's Rock Correspondence, 2000-2001 General Correspondence, 2000-2002 General Correspondence, 2003-2005 RSVP Meeting cards, Undated Historical Society Courthouse logo, Undated Letterhead and Envelopes, Undated Series 3: Membership Records, c. 1950s-2016 Membership Lists, c. 1950s Membership Dues Register Book, 1973-1979 New Members Lists, 1978-1994 Membership Ledger, 1980-1999 Membership Lists, 1984-1989 Membership Lists, 1997 Membership Lists, 1998 Membership Lists, 1999 Membership Lists, 2000 Membership Lists, 2001 Membership Lists, 2002 Membership Lists, 2004 Membership Lists, 2005 Membership Lists, Undated List of members interested in saving Moorefield, Undated McLean Historical Society Members of Fairfax County Historical Society, 1995-2005 New Membership Application Cards (completed), 1984-1988 Membership Application Forms (completed), 1994-1998 Membership Renewal Forms (blank), 1998-2016 Series 4: Financial Records, 1950-2005 Expenditures Notebook, 1950-1952 Receipts, 1956-1957 Account Ledger Book, 1983-1984 Treasurer's Reports, 1977-1993 Treasurer's Reports, 1995-1999 Treasurer's Reports, 2000-2001 Treasurer's Reports, 2002-2005 Series 5: Events, 1950-2000 Heirloom Show and Tour of Historic Houses, Fairfax, Va. , 1950 November 25 Fairfax County Heritage Day , 1976 June 6 240th Anniversary Celebration of Fairfax County, Virginia, 1982 Fairfax Heritage Awards, 1997 Fairfax County History Commission 30th Anniversary, 1998 November 8 Old Town Hall Centennial Celebration, 2000 November 17 200th Birthday of Fairfax County Courthouse, 2000 Series 6: Historical Fairfax County Papers, 1946-1965 Fauquier County Bar Association Correspondence, 1946 John W. Rust Papers , 1950-1956 Dr. Benjamin Chapin, Revolutionary War Surgeon, Copy of 1781 Will [photocopy], 1951 February 27 1873 Subscription List of Christ Church for Chantilly Episcopal Church [photocopy], 1965 January 13 Judge James Allen Papers, 1910-1928 [photocopy], Undated Minutes of Meetings of the Fairfax Historical Society, 1910-1917 [photocopy], Undated Series 7: Yearbooks, 1951-2008 Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Block: Fairfax Courthouse, 1951 Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Block: Antonia Ford, 1951 Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Blocks: Accotink School and J.E.B. Stuart News Article on Mosby's Capture of Gen. Stoughton, 1951 Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Blocks: John S. Mosby and Unidentified Building, 1951 Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Blocks: Gunnell House and Old Fairfax Elementary School, 1951 Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Block: Unidentified Building, 1951 Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Block and Cards: Fairfax Courthouse Logo, 1951 Yearbook V. 1 - Virginia Press Receipt for Engravings Used in Yearbook, 1952 June 18 Yearbook V. 10 - Introduction, 1969 Yearbook V. 10 - Mount Vernon’s Architect, 1969 Yearbook V. 10 - The Gap Line, 1969 Yearbook V. 10 - Tobacco, Tobacco Hogsheads, and Rolling Roads , 1959 Yearbook V. 10 - Secessionist Sentiment in Northern Virginia, 1967 Yearbook V. 10 - James Haley, 1st Va Regt, 1967 Yearbook V. 10 - Fairfax County Committee of Safety, Undated Yearbook V. 10 - Engagement at Blackburn’s Ford, Undated Yearbook V. 10 - Fairfax County Portrayed by the Business Directory and Gazetteer, 1906, Undated Yearbook V. 10 - Constitution & By-laws Fairfax Medical Society, Undated Yearbook V. 10 - Historical Index, Undated Yearbook V. 10 - Manuscript Source Records, Undated Yearbook V. 11 - Introduction , 1971 Yearbook V. 11 - George Turberville’s Grant on the Potomac, 1970 Yearbook V. 11 - Fairfax County Resolutions, Undated Yearbook V. 11 - The American Revolution and No. Va, 1971 Yearbook V. 11 - Genealogy of the Turberville Family, Undated Yearbook V. 11 - Windy Hill Farm, Undated Yearbook V. 11 - Official Records of the Colonial Period in Fairfax County, Undated Yearbook V. 11 - Fairfax County in 1887-88, 1962 Yearbook V. 11 - Truro Rectory, 1970 Yearbook V. 11 - Richard Bland Lee of Sully, 1970 Yearbook V. 11 - Yankee Farmers in Northern Virginia, Undated Yearbook V. 13 - Introduction, Etc., 1977 Yearbook V. 14 - Poor Relief in Truro Parish, 1732-1785, Undated Yearbook V. 14 - Development of Postal Service in Fairfax County, 1976-1977 Yearbook V. 15 - Introduction, Etc., 1978-1979 Yearbook V. 15 - Capture and Escape of Capt. J. Owens Berry, Undated Yearbook V. 15 - History of New Alexandria, 1978 Yearbook V. 15 - Address Delivered by Mrs. E.L. Templeman on Lt. William Triplett, 1968 Yearbook V. 15 - Matildaville, Support Town on the Patowmack Canal, 1979 Yearbook V. 15 - Marriage Bonds, 1788, Undated Yearbook V. 15 - St. Timothy’s Chapel, Undated Yearbook V. 15 - John Turley, Tobacco Inspector, Undated Yearbook V. 15 - History of Pleasant Grove and Gunnel’s Chapel Methodist Churches, Undated Yearbook V. 15 - WPA in Fairfax County, Undated Yearbook V. 15 - Poll List for the Election of Burgess, 1741, Undated Yearbook V. 16 - Independent Order of Good Templars, 1980 Yearbook V. 16 - Joseph Leiter, Undated Yearbook V. 16 - Coombe Cottage, Undated Yearbook V. 16 - Fairfax County Marriages Prior to 1853, Undated Yearbook V. 16 - Col. John Colville, 18th Century Gentleman, 1979 Yearbook V. 16 - Capt. Burke Son of Silas, 1980 Yearbook V. 16 - History of Arnon Chapel in Great Falls, Va, 1980 Yearbook V. 16 - Fairfax County Publications, Undated Yearbook V. 19 - Camera Ready Copy, 1983-1985 Yearbook V. 19 - Saga of Shutter's Hill, Appendix A-E, Undated Yearbook V. 19 - Gunnell Family in Fairfax County, Undated Yearbook V. 25 - Photographs, 1994 Yearbook V. 28 - Front and Back Cover, 2001 Yearbook V. 28 - The Bailey Family, Corrections, 2002 Yearbook V. 29 - A Civil War Action at Lewinsville, Virginia, 2003 Yearbook Order Blanks and Inventories, 1978-1999 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 1 [3 copies], 1951 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 2 [6 copies], 1952-1953 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 3 [4 copies], 1954 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 4 [5 copies], 1955 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 5 [7 copies], 1956-1957 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 6 [3 copies], 1958-1959 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 7 [4 copies], 1960-1961 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 8 [5 copies], 1962-1963 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 9 [7 copies], 1964-1965 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 10 [6 copies], 1969 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 11 [6 copies], 1970-1971 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 12 [7 copies], 1971-1973 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 13 [6 copies], 1973-1975 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 14 [5 copies], 1976-1977 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 15 [5 copies], 1978-1979 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 16 [5 copies], 1980 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 17 [7 copies], 1981 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 18 [6 copies], 1982 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 19 [4 copies], 1983 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 20 [6 copies], 1984-1985 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 21 [1 copy], 1986-1988 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 22 [5 copies], 1989-1990 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 23 [2 copies], 1991-1992 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 24 [5 copies], 1993-1994 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 25 [6 copies], 1995-1996 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 26 [3 copies], 1997-1998 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 27 [6 copies], 1999-2000 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 28 [6 copies], 2001-2002 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 29 [6 copies], 2003-2004 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 30 [2 copies], 2005-2006 Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 31 [1 copy], 2007-2008