Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

None

Use Restrictions

Consult repository for information.

Preferred Citation

Herbert O. Blunt Collection, MSS 06-113, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library

Acquisition Information

Donated by Susan Norman, December 2021.

Processing Information

Chris Barbuschak, December 2021
EAD generated by Ross Landis, 2023

Historical and Biographical Information

Herbert Oliver Blunt was born on September 18, 1896, in Fairfax, Virginia to Henry H. Blunt and Janet “Nettie” L. Pulman. He was the oldest of two sisters and a brother. Blunt was working for the Cranford Paving Company based at Camp Humphreys (Fort Belvoir), before serving in the U.S. Army as a private during World War I. On May 1, 1918, he married Ruth E. Hott in Washington, D.C.

In 1926, Blunt became a reporter and Fairfax County news editor for the Alexandria Gazette newspaper. As the Fairfax correspondent, Blunt wrote a “Fairfax County News” column in addition to writing numerous articles about county events. After being associated with the newspaper for 17 years, publisher C.C. Carlin Jr. appointed Blunt as managing editor of the Alexandria Gazette and Arlington Daily newspapers in 1943. He retired from the position in 1946.

In addition to being a reporter, Blunt engaged in local civic affairs throughout his life. He was the American Legion’s vice commander for Alexandria Post 24, and a member of American Legion and Voiture Locale No. 934, the Forty and Eight Society, Mt. Vernon Grange, Chamber of Commerce, and an officer in the Groveton Community Club. In 1940, he became the first chairman of the Fairfax County Selective Service System and held that position throughout World War II.

In 1931, Blunt entered politics running for a position on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors representing the Mount Vernon District. W.F.P. Reid defeated Blunt by 89 votes, however he successfully ran again for Mount Vernon District Supervisor winning in 1943.

As supervisor, Blunt supported many progressive measures in Fairfax County until retiring at the end of his term on December 31, 1947. Upon his retirement, he moved to Indian Neck, Virginia in King and Queen County. In January 1955, he married Lucille V. Fecteau. In later years, Blunt was active with the King and Queen Farm Bureau, and King and Queen Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Committee. He died on November 6, 1975, in Tappahannock, Virginia.

Scope and Content

The Herbert O. Blunt Collection consists of 22.5 linear feet, spans the years 1929-1946, and contains 31 notebooks featuring news articles written by Blunt as the Fairfax County news editor for the Alexandria Gazette newspaper. Subjects of Blunt’s articles include the courts, schools, politics, elections, accidents, police, crime, murders, fires, jail breaks, weather, obituaries, roadwork, infrastructure, clubs, building permits, marriage licenses, and local soldiers fighting overseas during World War II.

Related Material

None

Separated Material

None

Index Terms

• Alexandria (Va.) -- Newspapers.
• Blunt, Herbert O. (1896-1975).
• Fairfax County (Va.) -- History.

Adjunct Descriptive Data