Collections : [Alexandria Library]

This collection contains the records of the Alexandria Library, documenting the administration and operation of the Library, dating from the founding of the public library in 1937 through the present. Included are administrative records, annual reports, financial records, circulation records, materials documenting the history of the Library, programming and outreach records, and records of the individual branches of the library system. Formats include textual documents, photographs, and ephemera.

These are the collected papers of Alexandria politician Armistead Lloyd Boothe (1907-1990). Papers created or collected by Boothe in the course of his career include campaign materials, correspondence with colleagues, and extensive newspaper clippings in addition to other research on political issues such as segregation, education, and transportation.

Newspaper clippings; Listings of officers for the Civitans and Civinettes; Membership lists for the Civinettes; Lists of naturalized citizens, mid-to-late 1950s; By-laws for both organizations; Camp Tapawingo; Jr. Civitans.

Records, correspondences, authorizations for expenditure (AFEs), notebooks, ephemera, and blueprints, all documenting the Potomac Yard rail yard in Alexandria, Virginia.

The collection consists of financial records, such as account books from the 1800s; dividend payments; income tax returns from 1919-1928; company records and reports; an employee records book from the 1920s-1940; letters of correspondence; company histories; franchise map; and newsclippings from various newspapers in 1956-1957. Of particular interest are the 1867 property book and the book containing the "Copies of Deeds, Agreements, & Contracts" from 1853-1892. Both contain drawings and diagrams of where water pipes had been laid in Old Town.

Reports, minutes, correspondence, and surveys documenting HAF's formation, relationships to other volunteer organizations, and more than three decades of HAF's preservation projects and concerns. HAF also plaqued historic properties, sponsored the Alexandria Antique Show, and funded preservation grants. In addition, files of correspondence, programs, and publications from other historic preservation projects provide evidence for the history of preservation not only in Alexandria, but as a national movement during the late 1950's and early 1960's. Leaders in Alexandria' preservation movement appear in these records: Ethelyn Cox, Dorothy Kabler, William Kabler, J. C. Herbert Bryant, Howard Joynt, Hannon E. Norris, and Arthur J. Mourot. Among the historic sites documented are Lloyd House, Ramsey House, the McGuire House/Lyceum, Gadsby's Tavern, Carlyle House, the Alexandria Academy, and the 500 block of King Street. Other organizations mentioned include the Alexandria Association, the Gadsby's Tavern Society, the American Legion, the Alexandria Tourist Council, the Board of Architectural Review, the Alexandria Heritage Foundation, the Alexandria Historic Restoration and Preservation Commission, the Building Code Board of Appeals, and the Old Town Civic Association.

This collection pertains mostly to Alexandria's 1974 celebration. Included are minutes and reports from the Alexandria Bicentennial Commission's meetings, and schedules of festivities. Also included are the Bicentennial editions of the Alexandria Gazette from both 1974 and 1976. The 1974 edition, however,is missing the first two sections. The collection also contains a bound collection of historical information on the history of the Alexandria Library Company and the Circulating library, presumably at the behest of the Bicentennial Commission.

This collection contains digital donations collected from members of the Alexandria African American community during the 2023 Alexandria Black Family Reunion event. This is a completely digital collection consisting of digital surrogates of the materials; the original items have been retained by their owners. Included are photographs, documents, and ephemera.

The collection contains the combined research papers of Charles L. Sampson and William F. Hellmuth. Sampson compiled and rewrote much of Hellmuth's research, producing short histories on the individual engine companies of the Alexandria Fire Department. Sampson also typescripted many articles from the Alexandria Gazette as well as primary documents like the Auditor's Annual Statement (1893) and correspondence. In addition to the research papers, the collection also contains correspondence from the Columbia Engine Co. #4 and the Alexandria Fire Department, meeting minutes, certificates, articles, and a few pictures. Sampson's research primarily covers the history of the Alexandria Fire Department from its beginning in 1774 with the organization of the Friendship Company to the 1960's. It also bound volumes of minutes, accounts, and other records from various fire companies and scrapbooks of news clippings about the department. The collection also includes Sampson's photographs covering not only fire related subjects but also Alexandria in general.

The Alexandria Gazette I, 1942 - circa 1991, contains nearly 230 photographs taken for and published in the Alexandria Gazette. Notable Alexandrians, politicians, events, and historic sites are captured. Several photographs have their original captions included.