Papers of the Superintendent and Resident Director [Mount Vernon], 1850-1996

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Papers of the Superintendent and Resident Director [Mount Vernon], 1850-1996

1850-1996

https://archives.mountvernon.org/repositories/2/resources/45

This collection combines the papers and files of each Superintendent or Resident Director listed under “Creators,” as well as their office staff, assistants, and other Mount Vernon personnel. The bulk of this collection consists of correspondence to and from each Superintendent or Resident Director. Other types of material include reports, essays, memos, publications, clippings, official forms, logs or diaries of events, calendars, schedules, photographs, and ephemera. Subject matter includes a wide variety of topics and concerns for operating and maintaining an historic house. The Resident Directors oversaw almost all major projects and events around Mount Vernon such as building and grounds maintenance, restoration, fundraising, collection of historic artifacts, visitor engagement, and administrative functions. Dodge and Wall were both well known for their involvement in even the smallest details of the operation of Mount Vernon and this is reflected in the volume and scope of their files. Later Resident Directors began keeping chronological files which are also a great resource for understanding projects from specific years and periods of Mount Vernon’s history. Both Charles Wall and John Castellani were employees of Mount Vernon before they were appointed Resident Director, and their files include material from previous job assignments. The majority of material reflects Charles Wall’s tenure as Resident Director, the 1930s to 1970s, however, there is a substantial amount from the other directors as well. Several folders may extend into the term of James (Jim) Rees who served as Resident Director (later President) of Mount Vernon from 1994 to 2012. Most of the letters written by Superintendent Harrison Dodge were laminated or adhered to a tissue or paper backing, and bound together into a multiple volume set. These bound volumes, along with the original work diaries kept by Dodge, have been combined into a separate collection, the Bound Volumes of Superintendent’s Letters, Diaries, and Monthly Reports. A finding aid for this collection is also available.

60 Linear Feet

eng, Latn

George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 11629689

George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon

Related Entities

There are 6 Entities related to this resource.

Horstman, Neil W., 1946-2020

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69q3r20 (person)

Neil W. Horstman, Resident Director of George Washington's Mount Vernon from 1987 to 1994....

Harbour, John E.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fg4gtr (person)

John E. Harbour worked at George Washington's Mount Vernon and served in the position of Resident Director from 1984 to 1987 after several previous directorships at historic sites and museums. Harbour worked to improve research access to historic collections and update interpretation of museum exhibits. He helped implement a reorganization plan at Mount Vernon, creating a Research Department and expanding the roles of other departments including Education, Curatorial, Library, and Development. H...

Castellani, John A., 1944-1993

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6q0607r (person)

Symmes, Harrison M., 1921-2010

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zh7gnn (person)

Dodge, Harrison Howell, 1852-1937

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hb3d2x (person)

Wall, Charles Cecil, 1903-1995

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xp8bbr (person)

Charles C. Wall became Superintendent of George Washington's Mount Vernon in 1937, after the death of his supervisor Harrison Dodge. Wall described the Superintendent’s job in a book he coauthored with Gerald W. Johnson entitled Mount Vernon: The Story of a Shrine, saying the position required someone “not exactly a farmer, yet a man acquainted with soils, seasons, and the proper handling of growing plants.” He went on to say the director should have traits of a theatrical producer, an acco...