PUBLIC "-//Fairfax County Public Library//TEXT (US::ViF::vif00035::A Guide to the Burke, Virginia Collection)//EN" "vif00035.xml" A Guide to the Burke, Virginia Collection, 1830-2016 Burke, Virginia Collection MSS 03-03 © 2024 Fairfax County Public Library. All rights reserved. Machine-readable finding aid created by Ross Landis, March 24, 2024 Description is in English A Guide to the Burke, Virginia Collection, 1830-2016 A Collection in The Fairfax County Public Library MSS 03-03

Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library Descriptive Summary Fairfax County Public Library The Burke, Virginia Collection, 1830-2016 MSS 03-03 1.0 linear feet English The Burke, Virginia Collection consists of 1.0 linear feet and spans the years 1830-2016 consisting of reports, correspondence, newspaper clippings, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, photocopies, philatelic covers, framed needlework art, a commemorative pin, a poster, hand drawn map, and book inscribed and formerly owned by Silas Burke. Virginia Room Staff Administrative Information Access Restrictions

None

 Use Restrictions

Consult repository for information

 Preferred Citation

Burke, Virginia Collection, MSS 03-03, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library

 Acquisition Information

The Virginia Room staff artificially created this collection over a period of time. Nan Netherton donated several items in this collection in March 1993 and staff continue to add to it. Mike Copperthite donated the oversize poster of the Copperthite Race Track Historic Marker Dedication and Celebration in May 2017. The book inscribed and formerly owned by Silas Burke was acquired from a book seller in Maryland in July 2022. John Turbyfill donated the philatelic covers from the opening and closing of the Burke Post Offices in February 2024.

 Processing Information

Chris Barbuschak, February 2017, updated December 2022, March 2024.EAD generated by Ross Landis, 2024

 Historical and Biographical Information

The namesake of Burke, Virginia is Col. Silas Burke (1796-1854) who lived in Fairfax County near the Fitzhugh family’s Ravensworth plantation. In 1854, the area became known as “Burke’s Station” because Col. Burke donated land to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad for a right of way and a railroad station. During the Civil War, the area saw heavy action. Burke’s notable claim to fame occurred on December 28, 1862 when Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart raided Burke’s Station, seized supplies and the telegraph office, and sent a telegram to Union Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs complaining of the poor quality of mules he had captured.

After the war, Burke remained a sleepy village until June 13, 1951, when the United States Justice Department posted a public notice in the Burke post office announcing that the government condemned 4,520 acres of land in the Burke area for the new Washington airport. The citizens fought a successful battle against the airport’s construction and the government relocated the airport to Chantilly, Virginia where it is today known as Dulles International Airport. Since then, Burke has grown significantly with the construction of housing subdivisions and land development.

 Scope and Content

The Burke, Virginia Collection consists of 1.0 linear feet and spans the years 1830-2016 consisting of reports, correspondence, newspaper clippings, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, photocopies, philatelic covers, framed needlework art, a commemorative pin, a poster, hand drawn map, and book inscribed and formerly owned by Silas Burke. Subjects include the history of Burke, Virginia, Burke Centre Conservancy, and the Copperthite Racetrack.

 Adjunct Descriptive Data

None

 Index Terms Burke, Silas (1796-1854) Burke, Virginia - History Burke Centre Conservancy Copperthite Racetrack Container List “The Burke Airport Issue: A Case Study in Public Policy and Citizen Opposition” by Kevin L. Kramer [Gift of Nan Netherton, March 1993], 1975 May 13 Broadside, “Government Auction of Burke, VA. Airport Site”, June 13, 1959 (photocopy) [Gift of Nan Netherton, March 1993], Undated Newspaper clipping, “Four Views of Burke Airport Site”, Washington Times-Herald, 1951 June 15 Newspaper, Annandale Free Press Special Supplement on Kings Park Community, Burke, VA., 1966 March 28 “Copperthite Racetrack” by Susan Bujan [Gift of Nan Netherton, March 1993], Undated “Henry Copperthite and the Burke Race Track” by Laura Reilly , Undated “Burke’s Station” by Col. Arthur John Cornelson, 1969 August 3 Correspondence of Hazel Davis, Memorandum on Early History of Burke, Virginia, 1937, 1973 Burke Commons Civic Association Newsletters, “Historical Bits of Burke” by Owen J. Remington, 1975-1977 Pamphlet, “An Introduction To The History of The Burke Centre Area”, 1977 April 29 Burke Centre Conservancy, Covenants and Articles of Incorporation [Gift of Nan Netherton, March 1993], 1980 Burke Centre promotional folder and map, 1977 Terra Centre Elementary School promotional architectural brochures [Gift of Nan Netherton, March 1993], 1981 Map of Burke (hand drawn, author unknown), Undated Newspaper clipping, “Site of New Washington Airport”, Washington Post, 1951 June 14 Marriage certificate, Benjamin Hampton and Fannie Peyton at Burke’s Station, 1898 (photocopy), 2015 Burke Cove condominiums promotional brochure, 1981 Pin, Burke Centre Conservancy 25th Anniversary, 2002 Philatelic cover, “Last Day of Use Burke Post Office” [Gift of John Turbyfill, February 2024], 1989 September 21 Philatelic cover, “Opening Day Station New Burke Post Office” [Gift of John Turbyfill, February 2024], 1989 September 22 Framed needlepoint artwork of Burke Centre logo, 1978 Book, Abstract of Infantry Tactics Including Exercise and Manoeuvres of Light-Infantry and Riflemen; For the Use of the Militia of the United States (1830). [Book formerly owned by Silas Burke and inscribed by him on May 31, 1834], 1830 Poster, “Copperthite Race Track Historic Marker Dedication and Celebration”, July 31, 2016 [Gift of Mike Copperthite, May 2017], 2016