Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union

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The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union was founded in 1853 by Ann Pamela Cunningham. The purpose of the Association was to purchase Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, in order to restore the property and open the grounds to visitors and admirers who desired to see Washington's house and tomb. Ann Pamela Cunningham became interested in the preservation of Mount Vernon when her mother, traveling down the Potomac River in 1853, saw the house in its neglected and dilapidated state and wrote to her daughter of its condition. Both women thought it shameful to allow the first President's home to fall into ruin. A determined Ann Pamela Cunningham assembled twenty-two women of like mind together to raise money to purchase the property, pay off all debt, and return the gardens and grounds to the condition in which they were left by Washington himself.

John Augustine Washington III, George Washington's great-grandnephew and the owner of Mount Vernon at the time, delayed several years in selling the home to the Ladies' Association. He preferred a sale to the State of Virginia or the federal government, both of which declined purchase. In 1858 he finally agreed to sell Mount Vernon to Ann Pamela Cunningham and the MVLA for $200,000. The MVLA is the owner and executive board of Mount Vernon. Membership is made up of one Regent and 20-30 Vice Regents, each from a different state. All MVLA members assemble twice a year in April and October for Council, where they hear motions and reports concerning projects or issues at the estate. The Vice Regents also divide into committees focused on different functions and operations, and rotate members every few years.

Today the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association is remembered as the first organization dedicated to historic preservation in the United States, and as innovators in the field of preservation. The Association remains loyal to its original goals, the restoration and care of Mount Vernon, and educating people all over the world about George Washington’s life and legacy. Mount Vernon is open to visitors 365 days a year. The estate now consists of not only the Mansion and tomb of Washington, but restored gardens, outbuildings, Pioneer Farm, Gristmill, Distillery, museum and orientation center, the National Library for the Study of George Washington, gift shops, food pavilion, and the Mount Vernon Inn restaurant.

List of Regents of the MVLA:

  • Ann Pamela Cunningham, 1853-1874 resigned 1874, died 1875
  • Lily Macalester Berghmans Laughton, 1874-1891, died 1891
  • Justine Van Rensselaer Townsend, 1891-1909, died 1912
  • Harriet Clayton Comegys, 1909-1927, died 1927
  • Alice Haliburton King Richards, 1927-1936, died 1936
  • Harriet Cole Towner, 1937-1942, died 1942
  • Mary Vilas Hanks, 1943-1948, died 1959
  • Hope Hodgman Harkness (formerly Hope H. Powel), 1948-1958, died 1974
  • Rosamond Harding Randall Beirne, 1958-1968, died 1968
  • Elizabeth Throckmorton Cooke, 1968-1976, died 1993
  • Frances Claiborne Guy, Jr., 1976-1982
  • Helen Sharp Anderson, 1982-1986, died 2013
  • Eugenia Ayer Merrill Seamans, Jr., 1986-1990, died 2010
  • Mabel Alleyne Livingstone Bishop, 1990-1993, died 2007
  • Laura Vaughan Inge Morrissette, 1993-1996
  • Jane Carew Lee, 1996-1999
  • Ellen Carroll Walton, 1999-2004
  • Gay Hart Gaines, 2004-2007
  • Boyce Lineberger Ansley, 2007-2010, died 2016
  • Ann Haunschild Bookout III, 2010-2013
  • Barbara Bourgeois Lucas II, 2013-2016
  • Sarah Miller Coulson, 2016-
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Cunningham, Ann Pamela, 1816-1875. Letters, 1857-1874. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Oral Histories of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
referencedIn Anderson, Barbara L. Anderson postcard collection. George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
referencedIn Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union Collection, 2007-2010 University of Mississippi
referencedIn Longfellow, Alice M. (Alice Mary), 1850-1928. Alice Mary Longfellow papers, 1850-1965. Longfellow House, Longfellow National Historic Site
creatorOf Land Records of the MVLA, Identifier A-LR, Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
referencedIn [Mount Vernon, Virginia ; guidebooks and histories of the dwelling and the association]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Ritchie, Anna Cora Ogden Mowatt, 1819-1870. Papers of Anna Cora Ogden Mowatt Ritchie, 1842-1865. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Historical Photograph Collection, Identifier HPC, Photo Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
referencedIn Cunningham, Ann Pamela, 1816-1875. Ann Pamela Cunningham papers, 1854-1936; (bulk, 1857-1874). University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Yeadon, Richard, 1802-1870. Richard Yeadon papers, 1841-1870. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Porcher, Virginia Leigh, 1866-1940. Virginia Leigh Porcher papers, 1889-1961. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Waldo family. Waldo and Hyde families papers, 1811-1914. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Washington, George, 1732-1799. List of trees, shrubs etc., had of Jno. Bartram to supply the place of those of his catalogue of Mar: 92 which failed. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Victorine Elizabeth 1849-1934. Papers 1912-1939. Winterthur Library
referencedIn Solotko, Leslie Anne. Frances Payne Bolton oral history interviews, 1989. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Operation Overview Collection, Identifier A-OOC, Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
referencedIn Pickens and Dugas family papers, 1800-1903 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Satterfield, Frances Gibson, Papers, 1976-1986 University of West Florida Libraries
referencedIn Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924. [Washington (D.C.) broadside collection 1868-1983?]. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Confederate States of America. Army. Hampton Legion. Company A. Washington Light Infantry records, 1820-1936. College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library
creatorOf Everett, Edward, 1794-1865. [Receipt] 1859 Jan. 12, Boston [to] Mary T. Payson / Edward Everett. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
creatorOf Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union. Early records collection [manuscript], 1866-1923. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union. Circular letter, 1883 Nov. 1. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Bolton, Frances Payne Bingham, 1885-1977. Papers, 1939-1977. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Myers, Gustavus Adolphus, 1801-1869. Papers, 1834-1869. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union. Records of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union [manuscript] 1850-1923. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Lee, Fitzhugh, 1835-1905,. Papers of the Anderson family [manuscript], 1773-1930. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union. Microfilm relating to records owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union [manuscript], n.d. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Anna Cora Ritchie collection 1856-1860 Ritchie, Anna Cora William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Larson, Elinor C. [Papers]. American Textile History Museum Library
referencedIn Stocks and bonds., 1814-1973. Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn Du Pont, Victorine Elizabeth 1849-1934. Papers 1912-1939. Winterthur Library
creatorOf Washington, George, 1732-1799. Catalogue of trees, shrubs & plants, of Jno. Bartram. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence and records, 1832-1944. Houghton Library
creatorOf Rensselaer and Washington Plank Road Company. Records, 1850-1866. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company contracts, 1831-1979 (inclusive) 1880-1940 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Papers, 1922-1941. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Lossing, Benson John, 1813-1891. Papers concerning Mount Vernon [manuscript], 1855-1899. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Audio Visual Collection, A-AVC, Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
Tomb Books, Floral Tribute Registries, Identifier A-TB, Archives of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
creatorOf Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union. Records [manuscript], 1800-1890. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Pringle, Elizabeth W. Allston (Elizabeth Waties Allston), 1845-1921. Elizabeth W. Allston Pringle family papers, 1861-1926. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Lee, Jean Butenhoff. Historical memory, sectional strife, and the American mecca: Mount Vernon, 1783-1853 / Jean B. Lee. George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
referencedIn Kellers, Edward Henry, 1836-1906. Edward Henry Kellers papers, 1852-1893. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union. Early Records of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, 1853-1951 (bulk 1853-1875) George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
contributorOf Restoration Files for the Historic Structures Report [Mount Vernon]. 1750s-2005, 1860s-2005 George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
referencedIn Bottineau, Pierre, 1817-1895. Stocks and bonds, 1814-1973. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Halsted, N. Norris (Nathaniel Norris),. N. Norris and Nancy Marsh Halsted Papers, 1852-1891. New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn Burwell family. Papers, 1770-1965 (bulk 1815-1872). Virginia Historical Society Library
creatorOf Papers of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, 1858-2016 George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
Mount Vernon VA US
Subject
American history/Early national
Historic preservation
Women
Occupation
Activity
Nonprofit organizations

Corporate Body

Establishment 1853

English

Information

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