Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

None

Use Restrictions

Consult repository for information.

Preferred Citation

Howdershell/Hummer Family Collection, MSS 07-28, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library

Acquisition Information

Donated by Karen Hummer Fort, March 2021.

Processing Information

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

Historical and Biographical Information

Lucile Howdershell was born on February 27, 1888 in Bealton, Virginia to James E. Howdershell (1846-1928) and Amanda S. Nalls Howdershell (1854-1933). Lucile was one of nine children. In 1899, the Howdershells moved to Lincolnia, Virginia in Fairfax County.

Around 1913, Beverly Traylor Hummer began courting Lucile Howdershell. Hummer was born on December 20, 1886 in Falls Church, Virginia to Benjamin A. Hummer (1857-1946) and Mary Ida Brunner Hummer (1856-1925). The Hummer family of Fairfax County is the namesake of present-day Hummer Road in Annandale, Virginia. Beverly was employed as a steam fitter for the Giesboro Steel Works in Giesboro, Maryland before serving in World War I with the 5th Company 5th Engineer Training Regiment.

Beverly and Lucile maintained a constant correspondence as evidenced by the letters in this collection. They were married on June 30, 1919 at the Howdershell home in Lincolnia. The couple went on to have two sons, Beverly T. Hummer, Jr. and Richard J. Hummer. Beverly was a plumbing and heating contractor until his death on October 28, 1951.

Lucile was active in the community with the Woman’s Missionary Union of the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Lincolnia Women’s Club, and Lincolnia Parent Teachers Association. She died on October 20, 1978 in Manassas, Virginia. The couple are both buried at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Alexandria.

Lucile Howdershell Hummer’s sister, Minnie Howdershell (1876-1970), married William Lee Clark (1863-1952) in 1902. That same year, Clark built the Clark House which is presently owned by the Fairfax County Park Authority and located at 6332 Barcroft Mews Drive in Falls Church, Virginia.

Scope and Content

The Howdershell/Hummer Family Collection consists of 0.75 linear feet and spans the years 1904-c.1940s and contains correspondence, family genealogies, and photographs. The bulk of the correspondence is between Lucile Howdershell Hummer and Beverly T. Hummer. Subjects include family life and properties in Lincolnia, Virginia.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1904-1922, Boxes 1-2

This series contains letters chiefly between Lucile Howdershell Hummer and Beverly T. Hummer before and after their marriage. Subjects discussed are family life in Lincolnia, Virginia; personal matters; local events; World War I; and the flu epidemic. Letters from Lucile’s brother, Bedford Howdershell, are also included. The letters are arranged chronologically. Some letters are undated but were inserted by the donor into the chronological order based on their written contents.

Series 2: Family Genealogy, 1928, Box 2

This series contains typed and handwritten family genealogies for the Howdershell and Nalls families. Also included is a newspaper obituary for James E. Howdershell.

Series 3: Photographs, 1935-c. 1940s, Box 2

This series contains photographs of Howdershell family members. Also included are family properties including the Howdershell House “Edgmoor” on Lincolnia Road and the Clark House owned by Minnie Howdershell Clark. Photographs are arranged alphabetically.

Related Material

None

Separated Material

None

Index Terms

• Howdershell family
• Howdershell, Bedford J. (1876-1940)
• Hummer family
• Hummer, Beverly T. (1886-1951)
• Hummer, Lucile Howdershell (1888-1978)
• Lincolnia (Va.) - History

Adjunct Descriptive Data