Alexandria Historic Restoration and Preservation Commission.

The Alexandria Historic Restoration and Preservation Commission, usually called the Preservation Commission, was established by an Act of the Virginia Legislature in 1962. The five member Commission was given authority to regulate restoration or new construction in the Old Town section of Alexandria.

Most of the records in the collection originally belonged to Captain Earl Kendall Van Swearingen (ret.), the first Chairman of the Commission. His wife, Maria Eleanore Van Swearingen, was the chief researcher for the Commission and many of the items involving research were originated by her.