Collections : [The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon]

The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
3600 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Mount Vernon, VA 22121
Primary Collecting Areas:
George and Martha Washington, Mount Vernon, Founding Era and Early Republic, Historic preservation, Decorative arts, Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
Description:

The Fred W. Smith National Library includes general collections, special collections and archives as a resource for scholars, students, and those interested in George Washington, colonial America and the Revolutionary and founding eras.

The library's general collections include secondary source materials on the Washington and Custis families, and the colonial and founding eras.

The Special Collections materials highlight the lives of George and Martha Washington as well as their descendants through correspondence, financial materials, and original books from George and Martha Washington's library.

The archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association holds the historic institutional records of the organization dating back to its founding in 1853.

POC: Reference services
Phone: (703) 780-3600
Start Over Repository The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon Subjects Land grants
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Richard H. Brown Revolutionary War Map Collection, 1740/1799

50 Linear Feet

This collection contains approximately 300 rare printed maps, unique manuscript maps, and published texts collected by Richard H. Brown, which pertain to the American Revolutionary War era.

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The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Ted and Mary Wendell early American collection, 1721/1826

.5 Linear Feet 14 Sheets

This collection consist of 47 documents, 10 maps, and 1 map slipcase collected by Ted and Mary Wendell. The collection pertains to George Washington and includes 25 documents written, annotated, or signed by Washington. Much of the material concerns the Revolutionary War, western land claims following the French and Indian War, and British and American governmental records. The dates of the material range from 1721-1826.

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Council meeting minutes, by John Blair, 1773 1 pages Box 1, Folder 1773.12.16

Order of council written and signed by John Blair, Clerk of the Council, concerning stipulations for lands granted to veterans of the French and Indian War in the Proclamation of 1763. Thomas Walker is listed as the main petitioner. Docketed in George Washington's writing. Autograph document signed, 1 page.

  1. Series 1. Manuscripts

Land grant, from George Clinton to Edward Carpenter, 1789 1 pages Closed Stacks, Drawer 23

Document signed by George Clinton, Governor of New York, granting 300 acres of land in the township of Clinton in Montgomery County to Edward Carpenter. Typescript document signed, with manuscript completions and green ribbon seal fragment, 1 page.

  1. Series 3. Oversize
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Historic manuscript collection, 1601/1933

approx. 60 Linear Feet

This collection of historic manuscripts dates from 1607-1933, with the bulk of materials dating from 1738-1868. The correspondence, journals and diaries, legal and financial records, estate documents, and printed ephemera in the collection primarily relate to the Washington and Custis families, the Revolutionary War, and society life in antebellum Washington D.C. and Virginia.

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Land grant for John Washington, 1667 Box 1, Folder 1667.10.30

Document granting 1500 acres of land to Lt. Col. John Washington "for ye transportation thirty servants into this Colony ..." Lists the names of 28 servants and "Two Negroes." Signed by Anthony Bridges. Nicholas Spencer listed as one of the justices at Westmoreland County court where transaction is approved. Washington gained several thousands of acres in this manner.

  1. Series 1. Documents and Manuscripts
  2. Manuscripts Box 1, 1607/1740

Land grant, Herbert Jeffries to George Brent, 1677 Box 88 OVERSIZE, Folder 1677.12.14

A.D.S. 1 page. A grant for 584 acres of land in Stafford, [later Fairfax] County on the north side of Little Hunting Creek, for transporting twelve persons to Va. Document signed, with embossed seal of colony, laminated, oversize document, endorsed in hand of Genl. W-n on back, watermark. This property was acquired by Washington in 1760. Signed by Virginia governor Herb. Jeffreys, Recorded by [Jno. Harrison?].

  1. Series 3. Oversized Documents and Manuscripts
The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Chapin collection of Washington & Custis family documents, 1758/1829

.5 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

This collection consists of papers inherited and collected by Washington family descendants. Many were purchased in 1927 at auction to reunite Washington family correspondence. The collection includes correspondence, financial documents and legal documents that relate primarily to the Custis and Lewis families, but include other items related to Virginia history. Charles and Peter Chapin, the previous owners of this collection, descended from Eleanor Parke Custis and Lawrence Lewis through Esther Maria Lewis and Charles Chapin. This collection was originally assembled by Esther Maria Lewis Chapin who inherited some of the Washington/Custis papers, but was also an avid collector and brought back together family items that were being dispersed nationwide. This collection is an example of that effort; much of which was at auction in 1927 (Anderson Galleries, sale 2201, 28-29 November 1927).

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The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

George Washington collection, 1654/1799

approx. 25 Linear Feet

This collection contains letters to and from George Washington that have been aquired by the MVLA since 1858. For more information, see content note for individal items. The collection grows organically as new items are acquired.

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Presidential land grant for Samuel Eddins, 1796 1 pages Drawer 25, Folder 1796.07.18

Presidential land grant issued by U. S. President George Washington to Samuel Eddins for his service in the Virginia Regiment. The grant consists of 1000 acres of land located northwest of the Ohio River, between the Little Miami and Sciota Rivers. Embossed paper wafer presidential seal at lower left. Document signed by George Washington and Secretary of State Timothy Pickering, 1 page.

  1. Series 4. Oversized
  2. From George Washington, 1753/1799

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