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 Collection Peter family papers, 1722/1932 Subjects Slavery

Account book, tobacco book, negros the property of Robert Peter taken November, lots in the city of Washington, 1784/1797 178 pages Box 37

Book of tobacco sales, list of enslaved persons belonging to Robert Peter, and lots of Robert Peter in the City of Washington with division by squares for the Commissioners and how they are disposed. The bound volume is made up of 178 pages. Pages 52-147 are blank. At some point the volume is flipped and entries are begun at the back of the book from pages 178-154. For viewing purposes those pages have been reoriented and reordered.

  1. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
  2. Peter family papers, 1722/1932
  3. Series 18. Letterbooks, Notebooks, and Bound Volumes, 1685/1932

Account of George Peter for burial expenses, 1813/1814 1 pages Box 12, Folder 01

Includes a $5 charge on 23 October 1813 for a coffin "for a black man." On 9 February 1814, Peter was charged $50.00 for a lined coffin covered with black cloth, among other expenses, possibly following the death of his first wife, Ann Plater Peter, or one of their young sons.

  1. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
  2. Peter family papers, 1722/1932
  3. Series 13. Papers of Major George Peter, 1800/1867
  4. Subseries 13.1. Business Correspondence
  5. Business Correspondence, 1814/1817

Accounts of Martha Washington with William Jones, 1800 1 pages Box 13, Folder 01

A list of clothing purchased by Martha Washington from William Jones of Alexandria. Includes suits purchased for enslaved workers Daniel, Marcus, Christopher, and Frank. According to notes on the verso, payments were received from James Anderson on 12 April 1800 and 15 May 1800.

  1. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
  2. Peter family papers, 1722/1932
  3. Series 13. Papers of Major George Peter, 1800/1867
  4. Subseries 13.2. Bills and Notes
  5. Bills and notes, 1800/1810

Estate, Robert Peter in account with James Dunlop and Jonathan Hicks, 1806/1812 Box 9, Folder 13

3 sheets of accounts between the estate of Robert Peter and James Dunlop, including the sale of "5 negroes willed Mrs. Peter." These are some of Martha's dower slaves inherited by Martha Parke Custis Peter. One additional account between Jonathan Hicks and the heirs of Robert Peter, dated 1809-1811.

  1. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
  2. Peter family papers, 1722/1932
  3. Series 11. Papers of Thomas Peter, 1732/1852
  4. Subseries 11.4. Estate Documents

Wages paid to George Smith for hire as smith at Mount Vernon, 1803 Box 7, Folder 29

Payment of $50 received by George Smith of Woodlawn from Thomas Peter on 12 January 1803 for hire as a blacksmith at Mount Vernon in the year 1802. Signed by George Smith (his mark) and Lawrence Lewis. George Smith was one of George Washington's slaves who was freed after Washington's death. His wife, Lydia, was one of Martha Washington's dower slaves and was inherited by Nelly Parke Custis Lewis of Woodlawn.

  1. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
  2. Peter family papers, 1722/1932
  3. Series 11. Papers of Thomas Peter, 1732/1852
  4. Subseries 11.1. Financial Documents

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