Reston Land Corporation records

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

Summary

Extent:
13 linear feet (26 boxes)
Creator:
Reston Land Corporation
Abstract:
The Reston Land Corporation records document the development of Reston, Virginia, by Reston Land Corporation, a subsidiary of Mobil Oil Corporation. The records focus primarily on Reston Land Corporation's development projects and marketing programs from 1960 to 1990. Also in the collection are promotional material, media and 35mm slides from the Reston Land Corporation.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Reston Land Corporation records document the development of Reston, Virginia, by Reston Land Corporation, a subsidiary of Mobil Oil Corporation. The records focus primarily on Reston Land Corporation's development projects and marketing programs from 1960 to 1990. Also in the collection are promotional material, media and slides from the Reston Land Corporation.

Series 1 is comprised of correspondence dated from 1961 to 1986. The correspondents include the Federal Housing Administration, Community and Public Relations Division, and others relating to the development and marketing of Reston.

Series 2 consists of reports and studies from the Reston Land Corporation. The reports and studies involve the development of different areas in Reston from James Felt and Company, Siddall, Matus and Coughter Incorporation and other companies. The reports are dated from 1964-1989.

Series 3 contains plans from different development projects in Reston. The plans are for housing developments, marketing plans for the new areas of Reston, and proposals from different companies for the development of Reston Town Center. The series is dated from 1962-1990.

Series 4 is promotional material from the different housing developments that were built from 1965-1990. The first item in this series is a copy of a book entitled "Reston: A Study in Beginnings" Volume I, written by Kathryn H. Stone in 1966. The rest of the information consists of floors plans and brochures advertising the new developments.

Series 5 on finances is the smallest series in the collection. The documents are legal and leasing contracts from Reston. The series is dated from 1965-1991.

Series 6 is comprised of 35mm slides from different development projects and marketing campaigns dated from the 1970s and 1980s.

Series 7 consists of audiovisual material. The collection is organized in alphabetical order by subject and type. The first section is video cassettes, next is video reels, then audio cassettes and audio reels. The series is comprised of news programs about Reston and interviews with different people involved in Reston development. The series is dated from 1976-1988.

Series 8 is a variety of memorabilia items from Reston Land Corporation. Included in the series are a can of tennis balls, key chains, mugs, notecards, posters and a tee-shirt. The items are dated from 1975-1990.

Series 9 is titled oversize. The series is small and contains only one set of blueprints. The blueprints are from Reston, the plans for Upper Dam and Lake on Snakeden Branch from July of 1970.

Biographical / historical:

Reston is a planned community in Northern Virginia. Robert E. Simon, Jr., the founder of Reston, purchased the land with the proceeds from the sale of Carnegie Hall in New York City in 1961. Construction began in 1963 with the building of Lake Anne. In 1967, Gulf Oil Corporation formed a subsidiary, Gulf Reston, Inc. and took complete financial and operational control. Gulf Reston continued construction of the growing development.

When Mobil Corporation bought the remaining undeveloped land from Gulf Reston in 1978, Reston Land Corporation was formed as a subsidiary. The new developer also followed Robert Simon's master plan for the development of the New Town. Some of the projects that were completed were additional schools and parks, a regional county branch library building, the Reston Hospital Center, a shelter for the homeless, a county magisterial district office building, and the Cameron Glen nursing center for the elderly.

Acquisition information:
Donated by the Reston Land Corporation on May 28 and 29, 1990.
Arrangement:

Organized into nine series.

  • Series 1: Correspondence, 1961-1986 (Boxes 1-2)
  • Series 2: Reports, 1964-1989 (Boxes 2-6)
  • Series 3: Plans, 1962-1990 (Boxes 6-9)
  • Series 4: Promotional Material, 1965-1990 (Boxes 9-13)
  • Series 5: Finances, 1965-1991 (Box 13-15)
  • Series 6: Slides, 1970s-1980s (Boxes 15-16)
  • Series 7: Audiovisual, 1976-1988 (Boxes 17-22)
  • Series 8: Memorabilia, 1975-1990 (Boxes 23-26)
  • Series 9: Oversize, 1970 (Map Case)