The Personal Papers of Dorothea E. Abbott, 1950-1999

Access and use

Location of collection:
Arlington Public Library
Arlington Public Library, Center for Local History
1015 N. Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22201
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (703) 228-5966

Summary

Extent:
29 boxes
Creator:
Abbott, Dorothea E., 1921-1999
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The personal papers described here are those collected and generated by Dorothea E. Abbott of Arlington, Virginia, in the course of her research about Arlington and other Virginia localities, Florida, Martha and George Washington, and other topics of interest to her. RG 91 is 12.1 linear feet.

The first six series include handwritten research notes, clippings, brochures, photographs, photocopies of newspaper and magazine articles, and drafts of her historical articles, 1950-1999. Additionally, there are numerous copies and transcripts of legal documents which originally date from the 18th through the 20th century. Most of them are copies from microfilm, and some are faded and difficult to decipher. By reading the files, researchers will be able to trace some of the sources she read in preparing her articles.

In Series 6, Northern Virginia Historical Groups, there are founding documents and early minutes for the Arlington Heritage Alliance, among other administrative records for Arlington- and Northern Virginia-based groups concerned with local history.

Biographical / historical:

Dorothea E. Abbott (1921-1999) was born in Queens County, New York, and attended Edison College in Fort Myers, Florida. She married Robert E. Abbott in 1943 and was an Arlington resident from about 1960 to 1995, when she moved to Hamilton, Ohio. A self-employed historian for over twenty years, Abbott wrote several books and numerous articles, including eleven for Arlington Historical Magazine. Article topics include the history of individuals, buildings, and localities in Virginia, especially Northern Virginia. She was active in the Arlington Historical Society and other civic groups and was one of the founders of the Arlington Heritage Alliance. At the time of her death she was preparing to write a book about Martha Washington.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Robert E. Abbott in 1999.
Arrangement:

Record Group 91 is divided into six series: Series 1: Arlington and Northern Virginia Research Materials is arranged alphabetically by subject. Series 2: George and Martha Washington, contains series on publications, arranged alphabetically by title, and then notes and clippings, arranged alphabetically by subject. Series 3: Virginia Counties and Localities, Series 4: Florida Clippings, Notes, and Brochures, and Series 5: Miscellaneous Topics are all arranged alphabetically by subject. Series 6: Northern Virginia Historical Groups, have series arranged alphabetically by name of group.

Physical description:
.

Indexed terms

Subjects:
History -- Research.
Virginia -- History