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 Date range 1765

Account, Lawrence Washington with the Ohio Company, 1750/1772 Box 2, Folder 1750.00.00

A.D.S. 2 pages. Account - Lawrence Washington with the Ohio Company. Account before his death, and interest run up on the unpaid account after his death, amount credited to his account. Autograph document signed by Geo. Mason, docketed "The Estate of Lawrence Washington Esqr. deceased with The Ohio Company - Acc't, May 8, 1772, "laminated, Watermarks (crown over GR, and crown over encircled armed figure).This acc't. drawn up and signed by George Mason on part of Ohio Co. Attested on May 19, 1772, by A. Henderson, Clerk of Fairfax Co. Court.

  1. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
  2. Historic manuscript collection, 1601/1933
  3. Series 1. Documents and Manuscripts
  4. Manuscripts Box 2, 1741/1762

Account of Mary Washington with James Buchanan, 1765 Box 3, Folder 1765.05.00

D.S. 2 pages. Document signed, fragment, laminated, torn and charred scrap of paper. Account from May 3-July 30, 1765, for snuff, Irish l[inen], silk hat, fann, etc. Account signed by [Ja]mes Buchanan.

  1. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
  2. Historic manuscript collection, 1601/1933
  3. Series 1. Documents and Manuscripts
  4. Manuscripts Box 3, 1763/1771

Bushrod Washington family papers, 1662/1835 1.5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

Washington, Bushrod, 1762-1829

The Bushrod Washington Family Papers consist of documents gathered by the descendants of the first President of the United States, George Washington. The collection comprises an assortment of correspondence and legal documents documenting the lives and property ownership of several branches of the Washington family. The collection is organized into five series: Correspondence, Legal Documents, Social, Miscellaneous, and Indenture Notices (Land Deeds).

  1. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Chapin collection of Washington & Custis family documents, 1758/1829 .5 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Lewis, Eleanor Parke Custis, 1779-1852

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).

  1. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Esther Maria Lewis Chapin collection of Washington family documents, 1743/1852 1.5 Linear Feet (5 Boxes)

Lewis, Eleanor Parke Custis, 1779-1852

Scope and Content: This collection was originally assembled by Esther Maria Lewis Chapin, who inherited some of the Washington and Custis papers but was also an avid collector. She reassembled family materials that were being dispersed nationwide, much of which was purchased at Anderson Galleries, sale 22001, 28-29 November 1927. The collection contains correspondence, legal documents, and financial records related primarily to the Custis and Lewis families. Much of the financial and legal materials focus on the construction of the New Tomb at Mount Vernon, as well as settling George Washington's estate.The dates of the material in this collection ranges from 1743-1852, with the bulk of the material dating between 1818-1829.

  1. The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Content Warning

ARVAS is an aggregator of archival resources. ARVAS does not have control of the descriptive language used in our members’ finding aids.

Finding aids may contain historical terms and phrases, reflecting the shared attitudes and values of the community from which they were collected, but are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical or mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Many institutions and organizations are in the process of reviewing and revising their descriptive language, with the intent to describe materials in more humanizing, inclusive, and harm-reductive ways. As members revise their descriptive language, their changes will eventually be reflected in their ARVAS finding aids.