George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library, MS2FL 4400 University Dr. Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Business Number: 703-993-2220 Fax Number: 703-993-8911 speccoll@gmu.edu URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu
Emily Martin
Repository
George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Identification
C0147
Title
Nan Netherton Northern Virginia history collection 1962-1989
Quantity
12 Linear Feet, 20 boxes
Creator
Netherton, Nan
Language
English
.
Abstract
The Nan Netherton Northern Virginia history collection contains Netherton's research and notes from her book "Reston: A New
Town in the Old Dominion: A Pictorial History" (1989), as well as "Arlington County in Virginia : A Pictorial History" (1987)
and "Fairfax County in Virginia : A Pictorial History," coauthored with Ross Netherton. Within the collection there are outlines
for chapters, the copies of all the illustrations for the book, and the sources that Nan Netherton used during the writing
process. The collection also contains oral histories, reports, brochures, photographs, executive budgets, and newsletters
on historic sites in Northern Virginia.
The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Nan Netherton Northern Virginia history collection, C0147, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Nan Netherton on November 16, 1989 and by Nan and Ross Netherton in 2001, 2002, and 2007.
Processing Information
Processed in January 2009 by Emily Martin. The Nan Netherton Reston history collection was originally attached to the larger
Planned Community Archives collection currently in the Special Collections Research Center. In 2009 the documents were removed
and organized into a separate collection still housed in the Special Collections Research Center at George Mason University
Libraries. The old box and folder numbers are also included as part of the new arrangement. Later, fourteen more boxes of
materials donated by Nan and Ross Netherton on other areas of Northern Virginia were added to the six boxes containing research
materials and transcripts on Reston. Thus the finding aid does not yet list the folders in boxes 7-20, but a new finding aid
will be forthcoming.
Processed in January 2009 by Emily Martin. Finding aid updated by Amanda Brent in September 2020.
Nan Netherton was an author and historian who wrote books about the origins, growth and customs of communities in Northern
Virginia. The books include pictorial and narrative histories of a dozen Virginia counties. Some of the books that she wrote
are "Fairfax County Virginia: A History" (1978), "Clifton: Brigadoon in Virginia" (1980), and "Books and Beyond: Fairfax County
Public Library's First Fifty Years" (1990). She died on June 9, 2003 in Arlington, Virginia.
The Nan Netherton Northern Virginia history collection contains Netherton's research and notes from her book "Reston: A New
Town in the Old Dominion: A Pictorial History" (1989), as well as "Arlington County in Virginia : A Pictorial History" (1987)
and "Fairfax County in Virginia : A Pictorial History," coauthored with Ross Netherton. Within the collection there are outlines
for chapters, the copies of all the illustrations for the book, and the sources that Nan Netherton used during the writing
process. The collection also contains oral histories, reports, brochures, photographs, executive budgets, and newsletters
on historic sites in Northern Virginia.
Materials include brochures on the Woodlawn Plantation and Colvin Run Mill; comprehensive reports on plans for the Fairfax
County Park Authority; audio tapes and transcripts of interviews with curators and historical preservationists, including
an interview with former Gunston Hall curator Benny Brown and another with former Reston land developer Robert E. Simon, Jr.;
newsclippings and an essay on Gunston Hall and a pamphlet calling for public opposition to the cutting of funding for Gunston
Hall and the privatization of the Virginia Museum of Natural History; and eight boxes of images used in Netherton's pictorial
histories of Fairfax and Arlington.
Series 1: This series is comprised of Nan Netherton's writings. The documents in this series are the outlines for her book
in chapter format. There are ten chapters in order in the series. The books begins with the founding of Fairfax and ends with
Reston, following the take over by the Gulf Oil Corporation in the late 1960s.
Series 2: This series contains the illustrations from Nan Netherton's book. Like the chapters, the illustrations are in order
with pages numbers on the folders that correspond with the page numbers they would be placed in the book. Some of the illustrations
are copies of documents from the 18th and 19th centuries. There are also slides and photographs from the 1960s and 1980s.
Series 3: This series is a general series of the sources that Nan Netherton used in her research. The series is organized
in alphabetical order. The sources in this series are the more contemporary sources that deal primarily with Reston from the
1960s to the 1980s. Some of the sources include directories and maps from the Reston area.
The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Planned Community Archives and other personal papers and organizational
records that document Reston, Virginia, and other planned communities.
The documents in this series are the outlines for her book in chapter formate. There are ten chapters in order in the series
which outlines the history of Reston beginning with the founding of Fairfax County.
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1
Reston Study: First Increment
1981
Scope and Contents note
172.1
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2
Chapter 1: Reston Great Falls Manor
1980s
Scope and Contents note
172.2
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3
Chapter 2: Thornton, (1852-1886)
1960s-1980s
Scope and Contents note
172.3
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4
Chapter 3: Wiehle Traum, (1886-1908)
1960s-1980s
Scope and Contents note
172.4
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5
Chapter 4: Dr. Hugh B. Hutchison, (1908-1927)
1960s-1980s
Scope and Contents note
172.5
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6
Chapter 5: Bowmans and Sunset Hills, (1927-1961)
1960s-1980s
Scope and Contents note
172.6
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7
Chapter 6: Robert E. Sunon, Jr. and "Reston", (1961-1967)
Series two is the illustrations from Nan Netherton's book. The illustrations are in the order they appear in the book with
page numbers. Included are slides, photocopies and photographs.
This series is organized in alphabetical order. The documents in this series are the sources from Netherton's book and are
the contemporary sources that deal primarily with Reston from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 7
"A Place Called Reston"
1984-1985
Scope and Contents note
179.4
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 8
Appendix-reston Design Awards
1973
Scope and Contents note
174.9
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 9
Business Directory
1989
Scope and Contents note
179.6
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 10
Bylaws of the Reston Homeowner Association
1970
Scope and Contents note
177.4
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 11
Correspondence and Notes
1989
Scope and Contents note
178.1
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 12
Directory of Business and INdustry
1987-1988
Scope and Contents note
179.5
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 13
"Dispersing Population" by James L. Sundquist
1975
Scope and Contents note
179.1
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 14
Greater Reston Arts Center, Incorporated
1980s
Scope and Contents note
178.4
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 15
Handbook, Reston Residents
1968
Scope and Contents note
177.8
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 16
Homeowners Associations in Reston
1969
Scope and Contents note
177.1
Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 17
Houe Beautiful "Best Small House"
1984
Scope and Contents note
178.2
Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 1
Information on "The Builders' House" Correspondence
1985
Scope and Contents note
178.2
Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 2
Maps of Washington D.C.
1980s
Scope and Contents note
178.7
Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 3
"Naturescaping: Your Guide to Reforestation and Meadowmaking"
1980
Scope and Contents note
177.6
Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 4
Newsletter: "Reston Realtor Alert"
1987-1988
Scope and Contents note
178.5
Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 5
Northern Virginia Legal Directory
1984
Scope and Contents note
179.3
Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 6
Notes
1981-1984
Scope and Contents note
12.10
Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 7
Publicity and Newsclippings
1987
Scope and Contents note
177.10
Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 8
Program Budget for the Reston Homeowners Association