Whitton Collection Finding Aid MS027

Whitton Collection Finding Aid MS027


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Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library

717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Business Number: 703-746-1791
lhsc@alexlibraryva.org
URL: http://alexlibraryva.org/lhsc

Barbara Winters, 2009. Reprocessed and updated by Gregory Pierce, 2019.

Repository
Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library
Identification
MS027
Title
Whitton Collection (MS027) 1843-1989
URL:
https://alexlibraryva.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/resources/166
Quantity
.65 Cubic Feet, 2 boxes
source
Whitton, Robert Goodacre, 1906-1986
Language
English .

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Item identification], Whitton Collection, MS027, Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria, Virginia.


Biographical / Historical

Robert Whitton, a native of Alexandria, was involved in many organizations in the city. After graduating from the American Institute of Banking and the Rutgers Graduate School of Banking, he went to work for the First National Bank of Alexandria in 1922. In 1949, he opened the Alexandria branch of the Johnston, Lemon, and Co., a stock brokerage firm, retiring in 1979 as senior Vice President. As a Rotarian, he was named a Paul Harris Fellow and the Rotarian of the Year in 1985. He also helped found clubs in Mount Vernon, Annandale, Springfield, Purcellville, and elsewhere. He was a director of local chapters of the Davis Memorial Goodwill Industries, the United Negro College Fund, and the National Conference of Christians and Jews, served on the board of the Alexandria Library, and was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church. He died on April 17, 1986.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains printed matter such as brochures of George Washington's birthday, the Washington Board of Trade, the Suburban Spectator and others. Additionally, there are limited correspondence, reports of the Historic Alexandria Foundation, annual reports of the Alexandria Library, several booklets, photographs, and postcards.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Alexandria (Va.) -- History
  • Alexandria (Va.). Library
  • Letters.
  • Photographs.
  • Whitton, Robert Goodacre, 1906-1986

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Cox, Ethelyn, 1908-1988
  • Dixon, Fanny (Chatham), 1826-1899
  • Duncan, James M., Jr. (James Morton), 1897-1967
  • Duncan, Ruth Birch (Deahl), 1899-1985
  • Van Swearingen, Eleanor Maria, 1904-1966
  • Washington, George, 1732-1799.
  • Whitton, Margaret (Monroe), 1915-1992
  • Whitton, Robert Goodacre, 1906-1986

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Alexandria (Va.) -- History
  • Churches

Container List

Series I: Printed Matter
  • Text box: 1 folder: 1
    George Washington Birthday Brochures
    1933-1951
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains 3 booklets from the 1933, 1950, and 1951 celebrations of Washington's birthday by the Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, along with a photocopy of Washington's stock held in the Bank of Alexandria.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 2
    Washington Board of Trade
    1956
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains materials prepared by the Washington Board of Trade Economic Development Committee and shows population, employment, retail, and new construction statistics.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 3
    Suburban Spectator Brochures
    November 1951-March 1953
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains several newsletters called the Suburban Spectator, published by Woodward and Lothrop, featuring articles and photos of happenings in Alexandria.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 4
    Miscellaneous Brochures
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains several brochures including a pamphlet on Maryland, a tour guid of historic Richmond, a program for a performance of The Confederacy and selections from The Republic at Francis C. Hammond High School in 1960, the story of The Jefferson Davis Funeral Train, a program for The Civil War Round Table's Gold Medal Award Dinner in 1957 (in which Virgil Carrington Jones was awarded), a program for the Northern Virginia State Fair at the Hybla Valley Airport in 1953, a program for a performance of The Confederacy at George Washington High School in 1955, a program for the George Mason Festival, and a souvenir program of the Virginia Aviation Jubilee in 1953.

Series II: Correspondence
  • Text box: 1 folder: 5
    Correspondence
    Whitton, Robert Goodacre, 1906-1986Whitton, Margaret (Monroe), 1915-1992Duncan, James M., Jr. (James Morton), 1897-1967Duncan, Ruth Birch (Deahl), 1899-19851933-1989
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains a handful of letters written to or by Robert Whitton, his wife, and friends James and Ruth Duncan, among others.

Series III: Alexandria
  • Text box: 1 folder: 6
    Alexandria Brochures
    Scope and Contents

    Brochures include: Alexandria, the Place to Locate, Rambling Through Alexandria Virginia (1965 and 1979), The Alexandria Community Y's Scottish Christmas Walk (1979), The Alexandria Association Directory (1978-1979), Dedication of Academic Building and Gymnasium at St. Stephen's School (1957), Art Fair Program (1957), a reference book list for the history of Alexandria, Historic Alexandria: A Growing City, a booklet honoring Harry Flood Byrd, Alexandria: Gateway to the South, and the 1981-82 Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Annual Report among others.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 7
    Historic Alexandria Foundation
    Cox, Ethelyn, 1908-1988Van Swearingen, Eleanor Maria, 1904-19661964-1965
    Scope and Contents

    This folder includes materials regarding the Historic Alexandria Foundation including a letter from Ethelyn Cox, and the Alexandria Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission.

  • Books box: 1 folder: 8
    Alexandria Library Annual Reports
    1951-1957
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains 6 annual reports collected by Bob Whitton while he served on the Library Board at the Alexandria Library.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 9
    Miscellaneous
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains various programs and brochures for organizations such as the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, and St. Paul's in Alexandria.

Series IV: Books
  • Books box: 1 folder: 10
    Rosenberger and Johston, Lemon, & Co.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains 3 booklets. One is a list of published writings by Francis Coleman Rosenberger. The other two are booklets for the investment banking firm Johnston, Lemon, & Co. and feature photos of Robert Whitton, as he managed the office in Alexandria.

  • Books box: 1 folder: 11
    Fanny Chatham Autograph Book
    1843-1847
    Scope and Contents

    This file contains one book wherein friends and family of Fanny Chatham wrote poems to her. Some are signed with initials, however, the only name that can be gleaned is Edwin R. Violett.

Series V: Postcards
  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 1
    Alexandria Academy - Apothecary Shop
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains postcards of the Alexandria Library and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop.

  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 2
    Cardinal Athletic Club - Carlyle House
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains postcards of the Cardinal Athletic Club and Carlyle House in Alexandria, Virgina.

  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 3
    Christ Church - Female Stranger
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains postcards of Christ Church, Fannon & Sons, and the story of the Female Stranger.

  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 4
    Fort Ward - Friendship Fire Station
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains postcards of Fort Ward and the Friendship Fire Station in Alexandria, Virginia.

  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 5
    Gadsby's - Lee-Custis Portraits
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains postcards of Gadsby's Tavern, Gentry Row, Gunston Hall, the George Mason Hotel, King Street, the Lee Boyhood Home, and portraits of Robert E. Lee and Mary Custis.

  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 6
    Marshall House - Potomac Park
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains postcards of the Marshall House, George Washington National Masonic Memorial, the new Alexandria Post Office, and Potomac Park.

  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 7
    Virginia (Misc.) - Woodlawn
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains postcards of miscellaneous Virginia sites, the Anne Warren Gravestone, Washington Street, Washington's Grist Mill, and Woodlawn Plantation.

Series VI: Photos
  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 8
    Parades and Firemen
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains four photos, 2 of a parade at the 500 block of King Street facing the Edgar Warfield Jr. building, one of the Columbia Engine Company standing in front of 109 S. St. Asaph Street around 1900, and another of the old hose wagon of the Columbia Engine Company.

  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 9
    Old Post Office, Lee School, Alexandria Hospital, and 508 Cameron
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains 4 photos, one of the Alexandria Hospital at 420 Wolfe Street, one of the Lee School at King and Alfred (where White House|Black Market is, currently), the old post office at Prince and St. Asaph (now a parking lot), and a sketch of Washington's Townhouse at 508 Cameron Street in Alexandria.

  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 10
    An Old Pump
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains a single photo of a boy standing at a water pump with the title "An old pump, Alexandria, Va." The photo is glued to a note that says "To Bob Whitton, 9 July, 1958. Photographic copy of an undated post card printed in Germany, found in effects of Mr. John T. Boyd. By Virgil C. Davis.

  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 11
    Group Photo
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains a single 8x10 photo of a group of young men sitting in front of a building. We are to assume that Robert Whitton is one of them.

  • Graphic Materials box: 2 folder: 12
    Access Copies
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains access copies of several photos and some postcards in the collection, created by Lloyd House, Alexandria Library.