The Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites was established in 1969. That same year, the Historical Landmarks Preservation Commission, which had been in operation since 1965, was renamed the History Commission. The History Commission undertook six tasks, the first of which was: "Prepare for publication as soon as compatible with thorough historical, architectural and archaeological research, a classified survey list of sites, areas and structures in Fairfax County."¹ This survey list became the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites. Fairfax County hired Nan Netherton as historic research supervisor; Elizabeth David became her assistant. Mrs. Netherton left County employ around 1980 to focus on other history-related projects. Mrs. David remained on the Office of Comprehensive Planning staff as an Historic Preservation Officer until her retirement in 1999. Among her many other accomplishments, Mrs. David co-authored the Fairfax County Heritage Resource Management Plan, which won an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Washington, DC Chapter of the American Planning Association.

¹Netherton, Ross and Netherton, Nan. The Preservation of History in Fairfax County, Virginia. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2002, pg. 33.