Martha Pennino papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Martha Pennino papers, Accession #C0146, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Summary

Extent:
12.5 linear feet (25 boxes)
Creator:
Martha Pennino, 1918-2004
Abstract:
The Martha Pennino papers document Pennino's career on Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Within the collection there are photographs, information from different projects that Martha Pennino worked on during her career and memorabilia that Martha Pennino collected during and after her career. The collection is dated from the early 1960s to 2005.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Martha Pennino papers, Accession #C0146, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Background

Scope and content:

The Martha Pennino Collection documents Pennino's career on Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Within the collection there are photographs, information from different projects that Martha Pennino worked on during her career and memorabilia that Martha Pennino collected during and after her career. The collection is dated from the early 1960s to 2005.

Series one is organized in alphabetical order. This collection is mostly paperwork relating to different projects, such as subsidizing, transportation, and the Reston Community Association. The series is dated from 1971-1990.

Series two is comprised of newsclippings. They are organized chronologically by month and year. The newsclipping cover Martha Pennino career such as Pennino's campaigns, re-elections and community meetings. The series is dated from 1960-1989.

Series three includes photographs that document Martha Pennino's career. The photographs show Martha Pennino campaigning, attending receptions and meeting with well know politicians including President Jimmy Carter and Senator Ted Kennedy. The series is dated from 1960-1985.

Series four is memorabilia that Martha Pennino collected. Items in this series include awards from different organizations such as Fox Mill Communities Preservation Association and Vienna Little League. Also in the collection is a telegram from President Jimmy Carter and a letter from John Glenn. The series is dated from 1960-2005.

Series five is oversize. It includes three boxes of memorabilia from Martha Pennino. Included are posters and awards given to Martha Pennino. The series is dated from 1960-1992.

This is the largest series in the collection and is organized in alphabetic order. In the series there is information on subsidizing housing, transportation, rezoning and other items relating to the work that Martha Pennino did while a member of the Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County.

244.3

244.2

244.1

252.4

252.5

252.6

252.7

252.8

253.3

253.2

253.1

250.3

248.1

254.4

254.3

254.2

245.1

244.4

244.7

244.8

244.6

244.5

250.1

250.2

246.5

249.7

246.4

253.4

249.4

249.6

249.5

248.5

248.7

248.6

248.2

245.6

245.5

250.8

250.9

251.9

250.7

250.4

250.5

250.6

255.4

255.1

255.2

255.3

247.1

247.2

247.3

247.5

247.4

247.8

247.7

247.6

251.6

251.7

251.8

252.1

252.2

252.3

251.1

249.3

249.2

249.1

248.8

248.4

248.2

248.3

251.5

251.3

251.4

251.2

253.7

253.5

253.6

245.2

245.3

245.4

243.3

243.1

243.2

254.1

243.7

243.6

243.5

243.4

246.6

254.5

254.6

This series is comprised of newsclippings over the course of Martha Pennino career. The newsclippings are in chronological order, organized by year. The newsclippings cover a variety of topics including campaigning and re-election.

256.9

256.7

256.6

256.1

256.2

256.3

256.4

256.5

256.8

257.1

257.2

257.3

257.4

257.5

257.6

257.7

257.8

258.1

258.2

258.3

258.4

258.5

258.6

258.7

258.8

259.1

259.2

259.3

259.4

259.5

259.6

259.7

259.8

260.1

260.2

260.3

260.4

260.5

261.1

261.2

261.3

261.4

261.5

261.6

262.1

262.2

262.3

262.4

262.5

262.6

262.7

263.1

263.2

263.3

263.4

263.5

263.6

264.1

264.2

264.3

264.4

264.5

264.6

264.7

264.1

264.2

264.3

264.4

264.5

This series is comprised of photographs that cover Martha Pennino entire career in Fairfax. Most of the photographs are of meetings, dedication ceremonies and receiptions.

5.9

5.6

5.9

5.11

5.10

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.5

5.8

5.4

5.12

This series is comprised of memorabilia that Martha Pennino received during and after her career. Included in the collection are magazine articles and awards from different organizations in recognization for her work over the years.

3.2

3.1

3.3

3

3.4

3.5

3.6

5.4

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

6.4

6.14

6.18

6.3

6.13

6.10

6.8

6.12

6.5

6.11

6.1

6.6

6.17

6.2

6.9

6.16

6.7

6.15

This series includes 3 boxes. The oversized boxes are stored separate from the rest of the collection. The documents included are posters and awards that were given to Martha Pennino.

399

399

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

Biographical / historical:

Born in Roanoke, Virginia, Martha Pennino (1918-2004) was called the Mother of Fairfax for her long service to the county. She was one of the longest-serving members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, spending 24 years on the board. She was first elected in November 1967, representing what was then the Centreville District. She served as vice chairman for a total of 17 years.

In 1985, Pennino won the Tom Bradley Regional Leadership Award. In giving her this honor, the National Association of Regional Councils cited her efforts in developing the first energy policy for a metropolitan area, the first area car pool program, and a fair share housing program. In 1986, Washingtonian magazine named her Washingtonian of the Year. Prior to joining the board, Pennino was elected to three terms on the Vienna Town Council, serving as vice mayor during one of those terms. Additionally, Pennino took a leadership role in developing the planned community of Reston, as well as embracing low-cost housing adjacent to her office.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Martha Pennino in September 1992.
Processing information:

The Pennino papers were originally attached to the larger Planned Community Archives collection currently in the Special Collections and Archives. The Pennino papers from the Planned Community Archives collection was then combined with the Martha Pennino Memorabilia collection, a separate collection relating to Martha Pennino. In 2009 the documents were removed and organized into a separate collection still housed in the Special Collections and Archives at George Mason University Libraries. The old box and folder numbers are also included as part of the new arrangement.

Processed in January 2009 by Emily Martin. EAD markup completed in January 2009 by Emily Martin.

Arrangement:

Organized into 5 series.

  • Series 1: Subject Files, 1971-1990 (Boxes 1-12)
  • Series 2: Newsclippings, 1960-1989 (Boxes 12-18)
  • Series 3: Photographs, 1960-1985 (Box 19)
  • Series 4: Memorabilia, 1960-2005 (Boxes 20-22)
  • Series 5: Oversize, 1960-1992 (Boxes 23-25)