A Guide to the Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia Records, 1946-2016, #MSS 05-01

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Over the years, the society acquired many historical documents and manuscripts.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.

Container List

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1950-2016

Box 1 Folder 1: Certificate of Incorporation, 1950
Box 1 Folder 2: Charter of the Historical Society of Fairfax County, 1950-1957
Box 1 Folder 3: Copyright Certificate of Registration for Courthouse Logo, 1951
Box 1 Folder 4: Bylaws of the Historical Society of Fairfax County, Undated
Box 1 Folder 5: Proposed Bylaws, Undated
Box 1 Folder 6: Meeting Minutes and Notes, 1950-1962
Box 1 Folder 7: Meeting Notices, 1981-2016
Box 1 Folder 8: List of Meeting Locations and Dates 1950-1980, 1970
Box 1 Folder 9: Board of Directors Meeting Agendas, 1976-2004
Box 1 Folder 10: Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 1990-2015
Box 1 Folder 11: List of Officers and Board Members, 1970-2005
Box 1 Folder 12: Secretarial Duties, 1994
Box 1 Folder 13: Commonwealth of Virginia-State Corporation Commission Annual Reports, 1995-1996
Box 1 Folder 14: Flyers, 1988
Box 1 Folder 15: Newspaper Clippings, 1950-1976
Box 1 Folder 16: News Articles, 1992-2002
Box 1 Folder 17: Newsletters, 1987-1990
Box 1 Folder 18: Newsletters, 1991-2000
Box 1 Folder 19: Reports, 1961-1975
Box 1 Folder 20: Portrait Information, 1951
Box 1 Folder 21: Histories , 1961-1979
Box 1 Folder 22: Essay Contest, 1971-1980
Box 1 Folder 23: Essay Contest, 1983-1988
Box 1 Folder 24: Floppy Disks, 1996-1998
Box 1 Folder 25: Website Printouts , 2001-2002
Box 6: Minute Book of The Historical Society of Fairfax County, Virginia, Inc., 1950-1994

Series 2: Correspondence, 1950-2005

Box 1 Folder 26: American Association of State and Local History Correspondence, 1950
Box 1 Folder 27: Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia Correspondence, 1950
Box 1 Folder 28: Douglas S. Freeman Correspondence, 1950-1951
Box 1 Folder 29: Richard M. Smith Correspondence, 1950-1962
Box 1 Folder 30: General Correspondence, 1950-1969
Box 1 Folder 31: Henry C. Mackall Correspondence, 1969-2002
Box 1 Folder 32: General Correspondence, 1971-1972
Box 1 Folder 33: General Correspondence, 1973-1974
Box 1 Folder 34: General Correspondence, 1975-1976
Box 1 Folder 35: General Correspondence, 1977-1980
Box 1 Folder 36: Bayard Evans Memorial Fund Correspondence, 1980
Box 1 Folder 37: General Correspondence, 1981-1982
Box 1 Folder 38: General Correspondence, 1983
Box 1 Folder 39: General Correspondence, 1984-1986
Box 1 Folder 40: General Correspondence, 1987-1988
Box 1 Folder 41: General Correspondence, 1989-1990
Box 1 Folder 42: Richard E. Crouch President's Correspondence, 1990-1993
Box 1 Folder 43: General Correspondence, 1991-1992
Box 1 Folder 44: Publications Committee Correspondence, 1991-1992
Box 2 Folder 1: General Correspondence, 1993-1995
Box 2 Folder 2: General Correspondence, 1996-1997
Box 2 Folder 3: General Correspondence, 1998-1999
Box 2 Folder 4: Mosby's Rock Correspondence, 2000-2001
Box 2 Folder 5: General Correspondence, 2000-2002
Box 2 Folder 6: General Correspondence, 2003-2005
Box 2 Folder 7: RSVP Meeting cards, Undated
Box 2 Folder 8: Historical Society Courthouse logo, Undated
Box 2 Folder 9: Letterhead and Envelopes, Undated

Series 7: Yearbooks, 1951-2008

Box 3 Folder 1: Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Block: Fairfax Courthouse, 1951
Box 3 Folder 2: Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Block: Antonia Ford, 1951
Box 3 Folder 3: Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Blocks: Accotink School and J.E.B. Stuart News Article on Mosby's Capture of Gen. Stoughton, 1951
Box 3 Folder 4: Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Blocks: John S. Mosby and Unidentified Building, 1951
Box 3 Folder 5: Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Blocks: Gunnell House and Old Fairfax Elementary School, 1951
Box 3 Folder 6: Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Block: Unidentified Building, 1951
Box 3 Folder 7: Yearbook V. 1 - Engraved Printing Block and Cards: Fairfax Courthouse Logo, 1951
Box 3 Folder 8: Yearbook V. 1 - Virginia Press Receipt for Engravings Used in Yearbook, 1952 June 18
Box 3 Folder 9: Yearbook V. 10 - Introduction, 1969
Box 3 Folder 10: Yearbook V. 10 - Mount Vernon’s Architect, 1969
Box 3 Folder 11: Yearbook V. 10 - The Gap Line, 1969
Box 3 Folder 12: Yearbook V. 10 - Tobacco, Tobacco Hogsheads, and Rolling Roads , 1959
Box 3 Folder 13: Yearbook V. 10 - Secessionist Sentiment in Northern Virginia, 1967
Box 3 Folder 14: Yearbook V. 10 - James Haley, 1st Va Regt, 1967
Box 3 Folder 15: Yearbook V. 10 - Fairfax County Committee of Safety, Undated
Box 3 Folder 16: Yearbook V. 10 - Engagement at Blackburn’s Ford, Undated
Box 3 Folder 17: Yearbook V. 10 - Fairfax County Portrayed by the Business Directory and Gazetteer, 1906, Undated
Box 3 Folder 18: Yearbook V. 10 - Constitution & By-laws Fairfax Medical Society, Undated
Box 3 Folder 19: Yearbook V. 10 - Historical Index, Undated
Box 3 Folder 20: Yearbook V. 10 - Manuscript Source Records, Undated
Box 3 Folder 21: Yearbook V. 11 - Introduction , 1971
Box 3 Folder 22: Yearbook V. 11 - George Turberville’s Grant on the Potomac, 1970
Box 3 Folder 23: Yearbook V. 11 - Fairfax County Resolutions, Undated
Box 3 Folder 24: Yearbook V. 11 - The American Revolution and No. Va, 1971
Box 3 Folder 25: Yearbook V. 11 - Genealogy of the Turberville Family, Undated
Box 3 Folder 26: Yearbook V. 11 - Windy Hill Farm, Undated
Box 3 Folder 27: Yearbook V. 11 - Official Records of the Colonial Period in Fairfax County, Undated
Box 3 Folder 28: Yearbook V. 11 - Fairfax County in 1887-88, 1962
Box 3 Folder 29: Yearbook V. 11 - Truro Rectory, 1970
Box 3 Folder 30: Yearbook V. 11 - Richard Bland Lee of Sully, 1970
Box 3 Folder 31: Yearbook V. 11 - Yankee Farmers in Northern Virginia, Undated
Box 3 Folder 32: Yearbook V. 13 - Introduction, Etc., 1977
Box 3 Folder 33: Yearbook V. 14 - Poor Relief in Truro Parish, 1732-1785, Undated
Box 3 Folder 34: Yearbook V. 14 - Development of Postal Service in Fairfax County, 1976-1977
Box 3 Folder 35: Yearbook V. 15 - Introduction, Etc., 1978-1979
Box 3 Folder 36: Yearbook V. 15 - Capture and Escape of Capt. J. Owens Berry, Undated
Box 3 Folder 37: Yearbook V. 15 - History of New Alexandria, 1978
Box 3 Folder 38: Yearbook V. 15 - Address Delivered by Mrs. E.L. Templeman on Lt. William Triplett, 1968
Box 3 Folder 39: Yearbook V. 15 - Matildaville, Support Town on the Patowmack Canal, 1979
Box 3 Folder 40: Yearbook V. 15 - Marriage Bonds, 1788, Undated
Box 3 Folder 41: Yearbook V. 15 - St. Timothy’s Chapel, Undated
Box 3 Folder 42: Yearbook V. 15 - John Turley, Tobacco Inspector, Undated
Box 3 Folder 43: Yearbook V. 15 - History of Pleasant Grove and Gunnel’s Chapel Methodist Churches, Undated
Box 3 Folder 44: Yearbook V. 15 - WPA in Fairfax County, Undated
Box 3 Folder 45: Yearbook V. 15 - Poll List for the Election of Burgess, 1741, Undated
Box 3 Folder 46: Yearbook V. 16 - Independent Order of Good Templars, 1980
Box 3 Folder 47: Yearbook V. 16 - Joseph Leiter, Undated
Box 3 Folder 48: Yearbook V. 16 - Coombe Cottage, Undated
Box 3 Folder 49: Yearbook V. 16 - Fairfax County Marriages Prior to 1853, Undated
Box 3 Folder 50: Yearbook V. 16 - Col. John Colville, 18th Century Gentleman, 1979
Box 3 Folder 51: Yearbook V. 16 - Capt. Burke Son of Silas, 1980
Box 3 Folder 52: Yearbook V. 16 - History of Arnon Chapel in Great Falls, Va, 1980
Box 3 Folder 53: Yearbook V. 16 - Fairfax County Publications, Undated
Box 6: Yearbook V. 19 - Camera Ready Copy, 1983-1985
Box 3 Folder 54: Yearbook V. 19 - Saga of Shutter's Hill, Appendix A-E, Undated
Box 3 Folder 55: Yearbook V. 19 - Gunnell Family in Fairfax County, Undated
Box 3 Folder 56: Yearbook V. 25 - Photographs, 1994
Box 3 Folder 57: Yearbook V. 28 - Front and Back Cover, 2001
Box 3 Folder 58: Yearbook V. 28 - The Bailey Family, Corrections, 2002
Box 3 Folder 59: Yearbook V. 29 - A Civil War Action at Lewinsville, Virginia, 2003
Box 3 Folder 60: Yearbook Order Blanks and Inventories, 1978-1999
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 1 [3 copies], 1951
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 2 [6 copies], 1952-1953
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 3 [4 copies], 1954
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 4 [5 copies], 1955
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 5 [7 copies], 1956-1957
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 6 [3 copies], 1958-1959
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 7 [4 copies], 1960-1961
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 8 [5 copies], 1962-1963
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 9 [7 copies], 1964-1965
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 10 [6 copies], 1969
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 11 [6 copies], 1970-1971
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 12 [7 copies], 1971-1973
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 13 [6 copies], 1973-1975
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 14 [5 copies], 1976-1977
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 15 [5 copies], 1978-1979
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 16 [5 copies], 1980
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 17 [7 copies], 1981
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 18 [6 copies], 1982
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 19 [4 copies], 1983
Box 4: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 20 [6 copies], 1984-1985
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 21 [1 copy], 1986-1988
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 22 [5 copies], 1989-1990
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 23 [2 copies], 1991-1992
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 24 [5 copies], 1993-1994
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 25 [6 copies], 1995-1996
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 26 [3 copies], 1997-1998
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 27 [6 copies], 1999-2000
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 28 [6 copies], 2001-2002
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 29 [6 copies], 2003-2004
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 30 [2 copies], 2005-2006
Box 5: Historical Society of Fairfax County Yearbook V. 31 [1 copy], 2007-2008