Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
Anniversaries and Commemorations Collection
A.ANV
/repositories/2/resources/92
3.5 Linear Feet
5 Hollinger boxes, 1 custom box, 1 oversize box
1981-2000
English
.
Biographical / Historical
The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union was founded in 1853 by Ann Pamela Cunningham. The purpose of the Association was to purchase Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, in order to restore the property and open the grounds to visitors and admirers who desired to see Washington's house and tomb. Ann Pamela Cunningham became interested in the preservation of Mount Vernon when her mother, traveling down the Potomac River in 1853, saw the house in its neglected and dilapidated state and wrote to her daughter of its condition. Both women thought it shameful to allow the first President's home to fall into ruin. A determined Ann Pamela Cunningham assembled twenty-two women of like mind together to raise money to purchase the property, pay off all debt, and return the gardens and grounds to the condition in which they were left by Washington himself. John Augustine Washington III, George Washington's great-grandnephew and the owner of Mount Vernon at the time, delayed several years in selling the home to the Ladies' Association. He preferred a sale to the State of Virginia or the federal government, both of which declined purchase. In 1858 he finally agreed to sell Mount Vernon to Ann Pamela Cunningham and the MVLA for $200,000.
The MVLA is the owner and executive board of Mount Vernon. Membership is made up of one Regent and 20-30 Vice Regents, each from a different state. All MVLA members assemble twice a year in April and October for Council, where they hear motions and reports concerning projects or issues at the estate. The Vice Regents also divide into committees focused on different functions and operations, and rotate members every few years. Today the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association is remembered as the first organization dedicated to historic preservation in the United States, and as innovators in the field of preservation. The Association remains loyal to its original goals, the restoration and care of Mount Vernon, and educating people all over the world about George Washington's life and legacy. Mount Vernon is open to visitors 365 days a year. The estate now consists of not only the Mansion and tomb of Washington, but restored gardens, outbuildings, Pioneer Farm, Gristmill, Distillery, museum and orientation center, the National Library for the Study of George Washington, gift shops, food pavilion, and the Mount Vernon Inn restaurant.
Scope and Contents
As an organization devoted to historic preservation and the legacy of George Washington, the MVLA participates in many major national anniversaries and commemorations, especially those celebrating the founding of the United States, the American Revolution, or Washington himself. This artificial collection combines the papers and files documenting the Association's involvement in several of these anniversaries. The first commemoration represented is the 250th anniversary of Washington's birth in 1982 and it goes through the Bicentennial of his death in 1999, although additions can be made at a later date that cover subsequent events. Types of records include correspondence, research files, print or promotional material, reports, and event ephemera. An addendum of photographs, an object, oversize and media formats is described at the end of the contents list.
The MVLA's contributions to anniversaries and commemorations outside this collection's date range, such as the bicentennial of Washington's birth in 1932, can be found in other archival collections.
Arrangement
The collection is separated into 4 series representing each anniversary in chronological order. The folders within each series are arrange alphabetical by folder title.
Related Materials
Papers of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
Papers of the Superintendent and Resident Director
Papers of James Rees
Publications and Print Material of the MVLA
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research during scheduled appointments. Researchers must complete the Washington Library's Special Collections and Archives Registration Form before access is provided. The library reserves the right to restrict access to certain items for preservation purposes.
Conditions Governing Use
Material can be reproduced for study or personal use upon written approval from library staff.
Preferred Citation
[Name and date of item], Anniversaries and Commemorations Collection, [Folder], Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, The George Washington Presidential Library [hereafter Washington Library], Mount Vernon, Virginia
Series 1. 250th Anniversary of George Washington's Birth/repositories/2/archival_objects/386671981-1982Calendar/repositories/2/archival_objects/3866819821Correspondence/repositories/2/archival_objects/3866919821Events programs/repositories/2/archival_objects/3867019821Exhibit – Mount Vernon manuscripts at the Alderman Library/repositories/2/archival_objects/386711981-19821News clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/3867219821Photographs/repositories/2/archival_objects/3867319821Series 2. Two Hundredth Anniversary of George Washington's Inauguration/repositories/2/archival_objects/386741989Events, Mount Vernon Ladies' Association/repositories/2/archival_objects/3867519891Events, national/repositories/2/archival_objects/3867619891New York City Commission on the Bicentennial of the Constitution (1 of 2)
/repositories/2/archival_objects/3867719891New York City Commission on the Bicentennial of the Constitution (2 of 2)/repositories/2/archival_objects/3867819892News clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/3867919892Promotional material, Mount Vernon Ladies' Association/repositories/2/archival_objects/3868019892Research, first inauguration/repositories/2/archival_objects/386812Series 3. Bicentennial of the French Revolution/repositories/2/archival_objects/386821989Loan of the Bastille key (1 of 2)/repositories/2/archival_objects/386831989 2Loan of the Bastille key (2 of 2)/repositories/2/archival_objects/386841989 2Series 4. George Washington Bicentennial 1999/repositories/2/archival_objects/386851994-2000Bicentennial Community Program Support Center – List/repositories/2/archival_objects/3868620002Bicentennial events planning (1 of 2)/repositories/2/archival_objects/386871994-20002Bicentennial events planning (2 of 2)/repositories/2/archival_objects/386881994-2000 2Bicentennial information notebook/repositories/2/archival_objects/3868919992Community events (1 of 6)/repositories/2/archival_objects/3869019992Community events (2 of 6)/repositories/2/archival_objects/3869119993Community events (3 of 6)/repositories/2/archival_objects/3869219993Community events (4 of 6)/repositories/2/archival_objects/3869319993Community events (5 of 6)/repositories/2/archival_objects/3869419993Community events (6 of 6)/repositories/2/archival_objects/3869519993Conferences and symposia /repositories/2/archival_objects/3869619993Funeral – Planning and preparations (1 of 2)/repositories/2/archival_objects/386971994-19993Funeral – Planning and preparations (2 of 2)/repositories/2/archival_objects/386981994-19994Manuscripts and collections related to Washington's death/repositories/2/archival_objects/386994Music, "A Crown, a Mansion, and a Throne," for soprano and piano by Luigi Zaninelli/repositories/2/archival_objects/3870019994Press and clippings/repositories/2/archival_objects/387011998-20004Print material – Invitations, programs/repositories/2/archival_objects/3870219994Program Summaries and Projected Costs and Incomes/repositories/2/archival_objects/38703October 19, 19974Research – Eulogies, condolences (1 of 2)/repositories/2/archival_objects/387044Research – Eulogies, condolences (1 of 2)/repositories/2/archival_objects/387054Washington memorial prints/repositories/2/archival_objects/387064Addenda/repositories/2/archival_objects/387071982-2000Photo album, Bicentennial community events/repositories/2/archival_objects/3870819995Set of photo slides and color prints, George Washington in Wilmington, Delaware/repositories/2/archival_objects/3870919895Audio cassette tape, "Salute to George Washington" by J. William Middendorf, performed by Borger High School Band, Hutchinson, TX/repositories/2/archival_objects/38710February 8, 20005VHS cassette tape, "The Mock Funeral of George Washington," Cub Scouts, Northville, Michigan/repositories/2/archival_objects/38711December 14, 19995VHS cassette tape, "The Battle of Brandywine," Good-Land Chapter DAR, JCWR/repositories/2/archival_objects/3871219995VHS cassette tape, "Arizona DAR, Highlights of George Washington Bicentennial 1999"/repositories/2/archival_objects/3871319995T-shirt, George Washington's Mount Vernon Classic race shirt/repositories/2/archival_objects/3871419826Official State Proclamations/repositories/2/archival_objects/3871519997 OVERSIZEA Proclamation, The 250th Anniversary of the Birth of George Washington, by the President of the United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/3871619827 OVERSIZEA Proclamation, Bicentennial of George Washington's inauguration by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with printing of the first inaugural address/repositories/2/archival_objects/38717 April 30, 19897 OVERSIZEA Proclamation, Bicentennial Celebration of the Inauguration of George Washington, by the President of the United States/repositories/2/archival_objects/3871819897 OVERSIZECertificate of Recognition, George Washington Inauguration Memorial Day, Commonwealth of Virginia/repositories/2/archival_objects/38719April 30. 19897 OVERSIZEBumper sticker, "George Washington was a Northern Virginian"/repositories/2/archival_objects/38720undated7 OVERSIZE