History Commission - Local History Publications
Publication Grants
Each year, the Fairfax County History Commission may grant up to $1000 to researchers who have the intention of publishing, in print or visual form, original research-based material on Fairfax County history. For eligibility, procedures and rules, and an application, see Research/Publication Grant.
Purchasing Information
Local history
books are available for purchase at the Virginia Room of the City of
Fairfax Regional Library and at various Fairfax County Park Authority
sites. Refer to each publication below for locations where the books
are sold. You may wish to contact the site to verify book
availability. The books are also available for loan through the
Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL). Check for location and
availability through their on-line catalog.For books available at the Virginia Room, contact the Virginia Room City of Fairfax Regional Library 10360 North Street Fairfax, VA 22030-2514 Telephone: 703-293-6227. For books available at Fairfax County Park Authority Sites, contact Terry Tomasulo at Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites Wall Map |
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Map of the County of Fairfax depicting the
locations of historic sites listed on the Fairfax County of
Historic Sites. |
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Fairfax County, Virginia: A Historical Tour Map and Guide to
Places of Interest |
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Describes and shows locations of historical
places in Fairfax County, with a brief history of the county and
the area. |
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Fairfax County, Virginia in 1760: An Interpretive Historical
Map by Beth Mitchell and Donald M. Sweig |
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This map and its explanatory text provide a
unique view of Fairfax County in the pre-revolutionary era. Second Printing 2010. 101 pp. $13.00 Availabilty: Virginia Room |
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Fairfax County, Virginia: A History by Nan Netherton, Donald Sweig, Janice Artemel, Patricia Hickin, and Patrick Reed |
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A history of Fairfax County from prehistoric
times to the late 20th-century. Illustrated and indexed. 1992. Hardcover. 784 pp. $25.00 Availability: Contact Terry Tomasulo at Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov. |
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The Fairfax Family in Fairfax County: A Brief History by Kenton Kilmer and Donald Sweig |
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A description of the Northern Neck Proprietary
and a study of Fairfax County properties held by the
proprietors. Includes biographies, photographs, surveys, and maps. 1975. 119 pp. $7.00 Availability: Frying Pan Farm Park Country Store |
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A Fairfax Friendship: The Complete Correspondence Between George Washington and Bryan Fairfax, 1754-1799 edited by Donald M. Sweig and Elizabeth S. David |
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Printed transcriptions of the 69 extant
letters between Washington and his life-long friend Bryan Fairfax,
from 1754 until 1799. Published in commemoration of the 250th
anniversary of the birth of George Washington. 1982. 170 pp. $9.00 Availability: Contact Terry Tomasulo at Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov. |
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Fractured Land: Fairfax County's Role in the Vote for Secession,
May 23, 1861
complied by Brian A. Conley |
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Transcripts of the original handwritten poll
lists and Reconstruction-era newspaper articles give an enticing view
of politics in Virginia on the eve of the Civil War. Various opinions
about Virginia Convention candidates Alfred Moss and William H.
Dulany, and the results of the February 4, 1861 election, are
included in this volume. Mr. Conley presents the full text of the
Ordinance of Secession. He concludes with carefully compiled results
of the April 17, 1861 vote "For Ratification" and
"Against Ratification" during which white males publicly
declared their votes at Fairfax County's 14 precincts.
Index2001 98 pp. $14.00 Availability: Virginia Room, Sully Historic Site |
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Frying Pan Farm by Elizabeth Brown Pryor |
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A study of modest farms and farming
communities in Fairfax County, 1918-1940, with a history of Frying
Pan Park. 1979. 140 pp. $7.00 Availability: Frying Pan Farm Park Country Store |
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George Mason and the Bill of Rights by Donald J. Senese |
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Reprints of two articles from the Fairfax
Chronicles exploring George Mason's role in the creation of the U.S.
Bill of Rights. 1988. 14 pp. $Free (Currently Unavailable)Availability: Contact Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov. |
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George Mason and the Legacy of Constitutional Liberty: An
Examination of the Influence of George Mason on the American Bill of
Rights edited by Donald J. Senese |
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A collection of new and reprinted essays by
different authors. 1989. 192 pp. $16.50 Availability: Contact Terry Tomasulo at Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov. |
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Green Spring Farm, Fairfax County, Virginia by Ross D. Netherton and Nan Netherton |
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The story of a brick house near Annandale
which dates from ca. 1760. Includes agricultural, social, religious, and political history, photographs, estate inventories, and maps. 1970. 82 pp. $5.00 Availability: Sully Historic Site |
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Gum Springs: The Triumph of a Black Community by John Terry Chase |
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A study of the development of the Gum Springs
community from 1833 to 1988. Includes maps, drawings, photographs, and an index. 1990. 98 pp. $10.00 Availability: Contact Sully Historic Site |
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Hope Park and Hope Park Mill by Martin Petersilia |
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The history of Hope Park, an 18- and 19th
century plantation that was the home of Edward Payne, David Stuart,
and others, and the associated mill where grain was ground until
about 1905. Includes biographical sketches, Civil War history, maps, drawings, and photographs. 1978. 191 pp. $7.00 Availability: Contact Terry Tomasulo at Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov. |
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Huntley: Mason Family Country House by Tony P. Wrenn |
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A study of a brick country house, and its
numerous brick outbuildings, built ca. 1820 and associated with
Thomson Mason. Includes photographs, architectural drawings, and maps. 1971. 56 pp. $5.00 Availability: Contact Terry Tomasulo at Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov.) |
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The Legacy of the Constitution in Fairfax County by Donald M. Sweig |
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An overview of Fairfax County's contributions
towards creation of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights
from 1785 to 1791. 1988. 6 pp. $Free Availability: Contact Terry Tomasulo at Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov. |
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Legato School: A Centennial Souvenir edited by Tony P. Wrenn, Virginia B. Peters, and Edith Moore Sprouse |
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A brief history of the Fairfax County public
school system since 1870 and the one-room Legato schoolhouse. Illustrated. 1976. 110 pp. $4.00 Availability: Contact Terry Tomasulo at Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov. |
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Maplewood by Diane N. Rafuse |
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A study of the history and architecture of a
brick Victorian mansion built ca. 1870 near Tysons Corner, and of
Strawberry Vale Manor built ca. 1787. Includes photographs, architectural drawings, and maps. 1970. 64 pp. $6.00 Availability: Contact Terry Tomasulo at Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov. |
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Moorefield: Home of Early Baptist Preacher Jeremiah Moore by Thomas V. DiBacco |
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The history of a late 18th-century wooden
house built in what is now Vienna, the life of Jeremiah Moore, and of
early Baptist activities in northern Virginia. Includes architectural descriptions and photographs. 1971. 52 pp. $5.00 Availability: Sully Historic Site |
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Mount Air, Fairfax, Virginia by Edith Moore Sprouse |
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A study of a Greek Revival mansion near Fort
Belvoir. Includes biographies of several owners, a botanical inventory, photographs, drawings, and maps. 1970. 112 pp. Availability: Sully Historic Site |
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The Preservation of History in Fairfax County, Virginia by Ross Netherton and Nan Netherton |
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A must-read for interested citizens, planning professionals, and
historic preservationists, this significant and considerable book
explores the stewardship of Fairfax County's wealth of historic
resources. Begun as a history of the county's History Commission,
authors Ross and Nan Netherton document the challenges and
celebrations inherent in historic preservation.
Includes maps, tables, appendices, and an index. |
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Registration of Free Negroes: Commencing September Court 1822,
Book No. 2 and Register of Free Blacks 1835, Book 3...1822-1861 by Donald M. Sweig |
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Exact transcriptions of manuscript
registrations of free blacks in Fairfax County before the Civil War.
Registrations specify age, name, color, stature, distinguishing
marks, and the basis of claim to freedom. Includes introduction, analytical tables, and index. 1977. 292 pp. $8.00 Availability: Sully Historic Site |
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Return to Union: Fairfax County's Role in the Adoption of the
Virginia Constitution of 1870
compiled by Brian A. Conley
After the Civil War, the U. S. Congress
divided the former Confederate states into military districts. Mr.
Conley briefly reviews the conditions that Virginia needed to comply
with in order to be readmitted into the Union. He uses excerpts from
the Alexandria Gazette newspaper to illustrate the political climate
leading up to the October 27, 1867 election to call a constitutional
convention in Richmond. Transcripts of the results of the July 9,
1869 election in favor of returning to the Union include the names of
all the Fairfax County men who cast their secret ballots.Index 2001 135 pp. $14.00 Availability: Virginia Room, Sully Historic Site |
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Salona, Fairfax County, Virginia by Ellen L. Anderson |
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A study of a brick house in McLean tracing it
from the "Langley" grant through the Civil War to the late
20th-century. Includes photographs, architectural drawings, and maps. 1979. 99 pp. $6.00 Availability: Contact Terry Tomasulo at Terry.Tomasulo@fairfaxcounty.gov. |
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Stone Ground: A History of Union Mills (1710-1930) edited by Paula Elsey |
The once-bustling settlement of Union Mills
was nestled in the hilly stream valleys along Bull Run near Clifton
in Fairfax County, Virginia. Although it never coalesced into a town,
Union Mills was home to many people for many reasons. Historians and
archaeologists lend their expertise in documenting Union Mills'
contributions to our country's history. Explore water-powered mills,
the Orange & Alexandria Rail Road, partisan rangers, Union
encampments, soapstone quarries, and much more in this fascinating
neighborhood's history.76 illustrations, name index, subject index and bibliography. 2003 176 pp. $19.00 Availability: Virginia Room, Sully Historic Site |
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Sully: The Biography of a House by Robert S. Gamble |
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A study that traces the history of Sully
Plantation, near Dulles Airport, since the land was originally
acquired by the Lee family in 1725. Includes information on Quaker settlement in northern Virginia, Civil War history, photographs, maps, and drawings. 1973. 228 pp. $5.00 Availability: Sully Historic Site |
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Wakefield Chapel by D'Anne A. Evans |
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The history of a small country church near
Annandale and the 19- and 20-century community that grew up around
it. Includes a brief history of the Ravensworth tract, photographs, drawings, and maps. 1977. 87 pp. $6.00 Availability: Sully Historic Site |
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Walney: Two Centuries of A Northern Virginia Plantation by Elizabeth B. Pryor |
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A study of a stone house near Centreville and
a history of the property from 1793 to 1973. Includes Civil War history, photographs, and maps. 1984. 118 pp. $7.00 Availability: Frying Pan Farm Park Country Store, Eleanor C Lawrence Park |
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Local history
books are available for purchase at the Virginia Room of the City of
Fairfax Regional Library and at various Fairfax County Park Authority
sites. Refer to each publication below for locations where the books
are sold. You may wish to contact the site to verify book
availability. The books are also available for loan through the
Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL). Check for location and
availability through their
Website Survey