A Guide to the Nancy O'Brien Papers O'Brien, Nancy, Papers 14815

A Guide to the Nancy O'Brien Papers

A Collection in
Special Collections
The University of Virginia Library
Accession number 14815


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Processed by: Special Collections Staff

Repository
Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
Collection Number
14815
Title
Nancy O'Brien Papers
Physical Characteristics
ca. 4000 items
Location
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions

Use restrictions

There are no restrictions

Preferred Citation

Nancy O'Brien Papers, Accession #14815, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisitions

The papers were a gift to the University of Virginia Library from Nancy O'Brien on August 31, 2009.

Biographical/Historical Information

Nancy Kilpatrick O'Brien was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1936. From 1954-1957 she attended Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing earning her nursing degree. She became active in politics at age thirty-nine when she moved to Charlottesville because her husband, Dr. William O'Brien accepted a position in Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia. She joined the Women's League of Voters and was appointed Treasurer of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission by City Council in 1973-1974, and Chairman in 1974. She ran for City Council and was elected first woman mayor of Charlottesville in 1976. She also served on many community organizations including the Jefferson School Task Force, the Community Development Task Force, the Advisory Committee on the South Rivanna Reservoir study and many housing committees. She also worked as a facilitator to improve the services of many community service organizations. Early in her political career she met Francis Fife, a former mayor of Charlottesville (1972-1974) who later became her second husband. She has four children.

Scope and Content

The papers of Mayor Nancy O'Brien contain correspondence, political campaign information, and topical files regarding many issues that were facing the city of Charlottesville, Virginia from 1973 to 1981; [1982-2008]. The correspondence includes general correspondence, letters to the Mayor about routine issues, and congratulations from political figures such as Charles S. Robb, Thomas J. Michie, Tim Kaine, J. Kenneth Robinson, and Mark Warner. The political files include information about upcoming primaries. The topical files reflect O'Brien's interest in the community with a particular focus on the development of strong neighborhood communities, economic development, city annexation, city planning, housing, and local transportation issues. The collection contains ca. 4000 items and 22 Hollinger boxes which make up 9 linear feet.

Specific economic issues mentioned are the construction and revitalization plan of the Downtown Mall, the decision to construct the Fashion Square Mall, plans for the Vinegar Hill area ten years after it had been destroyed and then left abandoned, and the designation of Fifeville as a historic neighborhood. There are also Charlottesville Albemarle Transportation Studies on the Meadowcreek Parkway, and extension of McIntire Road, Schenks Branch, and Preston Avenue. Other events mentioned are Queen Elizabeth's visit to Charlottesville for the bicentennial, racial diversity, and a sister cities program.

There are also minutes and correspondence from City Council and strategies for sharing services between the City and the County. There are similarly joint committees between the City and the University of Virginia. Of particular interest regarding the University is a photocopy of a letter written by Thomas Jefferson about the opening of the University of Virginia.

There are also student papers from 1983-1986 when O'Brien obtained a Masters degree in Public Administration at the University of Virginia (after being Mayor). There are also papers from when O'Brien taught planning courses (on Fifeville) at the University. There is a copy of her thesis (and thesis research) on Planning District Commissions in Virginia. (Series II UVA Graduate Student and Professor) There are also papers from her work as executive director of the Thomas Jefferson Planning Commission [1979-2006] (Series III TJPDC) and papers from her private work in which she acted as a facilitator for agencies that served the needs of the community. (Series V Facilitator) There are a few papers from her work with the Housing Authority.

There are also minutes from the Jefferson School Task Force which was appointed by City Council to preserve Jefferson School as a historical institution. Included is information about grant funding (Bama funds from the Dave Mathews Band) and information about the history of Jefferson School and early African American life in Charlottesville. There are copies of photographs from the Rufus Holsinger collection. (Series IV Jefferson School)

There is information on racial diversity from a group titled, "Many Races, One Community" which was organized by Nancy O'Brien to address racial tensions. These tensions had arisen in 2002 following an occurrence of violence by several African American Charlottesville High School students against white University of Virginia students. "Many Races, One Community" planned events in an attempt to unite people from different cultural experiences. (Series I Mayor and City Council topical files: Race)

There are also speeches of Nancy O'Brien from 1971 to 2008 including when she was mayor (Series VI Speeches) and awards, certificates, and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and photographs (Series VII)

Arrangement

The collection is organized into seven series, Series I Mayor of Charlottesville and city council member A. Correspondence files B. Political files C. Topical files; Series II UVA classes A. Graduate student B. Professor; Series III Thomas Jefferson District Planning Commission; Series IV Jefferson School; Series V Facilitator; Series VI Speeches, and Series VII Scrapbook pages, photographs, awards, certificates, and trophies

Contents Listing

Series I: Mayor of Charlottesville and City Council Member
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Series II: UVA Classes
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Series III: Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission
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Series IV: Jefferson School
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Series V: Facilitator
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Series VI: Speeches
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Series VII: Scrapbooks
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