Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Reston Black Focus records, Collection #C0171, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Edward G. Sharp on December 16, 2008.

Processing Information

Processed in June 2009 by Emily Martin.

Historical Information

Reston is a planned community in Northern Virginia. Robert E. Simon, Jr., the founder of Reston, purchased the land with the proceeds from the sale of Carnegie Hall in New York City in 1961. Construction began in 1963 with the building of Lake Anne. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Reston Black Focus was established. The Reston Black Focus was created to encourage black citizens to participate more in Reston and to promote black culture and lifestyles.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of papers from the Reston Black Focus, such as correspondence, advertisements, financial information and general information. Also included in the collection is a series on the Reston Homeowners Association (RHOA) with papers and other information from the Association.

Series one is titled correspondence. The series has correspondence to and from the Reston Black Focus. The correspondence is from a variety of people such as Beverley Sharp, Edward Sharp and others. Also included in the collection are emails dated later than most of the series. The series contained in boxes 1 through 2 and is dated from 1967 to 2005.

Series two is titled By-laws. The series is a collection of various By-laws from the Reston Black Focus. The By-laws are in draft and final form. Also included are Environmental Management Committee Charter, Fairfax County-Wide Black Citizens Association (BCA) and other committees. The series is contained in box 2 only and is dated from 1968 to 1974.

Series three is titled committee. The series contains paperwork from different committees. Included are reports, Board of Directors meeting, election results, meeting minutes and other papers from committees. The series is contained in boxes 2 through 3 and is dated from 1969 to 1975.

Series four is titled finance. The series has information relating to the finances of the Reston Black Focus. The papers include calculations, financial reports, budgets and other financial documents. The series is contained in box 3 only and is dated from 1970 to 1975.

Series five is titled publications. This contains mostly booklets, brochures and other information from Reston and the Reston Black Focus. Some of the information includes The Reston Philosophers, Directory and United Virginia Bank. The series is contained in boxes 3 through 4 and is dated 1965 to 2000.

Series six is titled newsclippings. The newsclippings are articles written about Reston and the Reston Black Focus. Included are articles from the Reston Times and the Washington Post. The series is contained in boxes 4 through 5 and is dated from 1960 to 2005.

Series seven is titled Reston Homeowners Association (RHOA). The series contains general information on the Reston Homeowners Association such as deed of dedications, meetings, election results and others. The series is contained in box 5 only and is dated from 1960 to 1972.

Series eight is titled General Information. This series contains a variety of papers relating to Reston Black Focus. Included are maps, biographies, schedule of events and general notes. The series is contained in boxes 5 through 6 and is dated from 1960 to 2005.

Arrangement

Organized into eight series.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1967-2005 (Box 1-2) Series 2: By-Laws, 1968-1974 (Box 2) Series 3: Committee, 1969-1975 (Box 2-3) Series 4: Finance, 1970-1975 (Box 3) Series 5: Publications, 1965-2000 (Box 3-4) Series 6: Newsclippings, 1960-2005 (Box 4-5) Series 7: Reston Homeowners Association (RHOA), 1960-1972 (Box 5) Series 8: General Information, 1960-2005 (Box 5-6)

Related Material

The Special Collections and Archives also holds the Planned Community Archives and other personal papers and organizational records that document Reston, Virginia, and other planned communities.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Reston Association.
• Reston Black Focus.

Geographical Names:

• Reston (Va.)

Subjects:

• African Americans--Virginia--Reston.
• Housing--Virginia--Reston.
• Planned communities--Virginia--Reston.

Adjunct Descriptive Data