Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Sterling Farm (Loudoun County, Va.) Records, 1909-1952. Accession 50967. Business records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Purchased.

Historical Information

Sterling Farm was a cattle and dairy business located in Loudoun County, Virginia. It was purchased in 1909 by journalist and academic Dr. Albert Shaw (1857-1947). It originally contained 1640 acres. It was called "The Experimental Farm," for Shaw was the first area farmer to receive a federal grant for applying "scientific methods" to the raising of crops and livestock. In 1938, Shaw gifted the farm to his son, Albert Shaw, Jr. (1897-1983). The farm was later purchased from the younger Shaw by its manager, Fred F. Tavenner (1905-1979).

Scope and Content

Records, 1909-1952, of Sterling Farm, a cattle and dairy business in Loudoun County, Virginia, owned by journalist Dr. Albert Shaw (1857-1947), and later his son Albert Shaw, Jr. (1897-1983) of New York, and managed by Fred F. Tavenner (1905-1979). The collection includes an agreement and certificate of partnership, correspondence, deeds, financial statements, photographs, and a history of the farm. The majority of the letters are between Dr. Shaw, who was residing in Winter Park, Florida and Tavenner, and concern farming activities, business matters, maintenance and upkeep, and expenses, as well as weather, health, social activities, family news, trips, and visits. The financial statements contain expenses and receipts, assests and liabilities, and payroll records which include employee names and salaries.