The Monongahela, or Washington on the First Great Field of his Fame by George Washington Parke Custis, circa 1826

RM-1197

An unpublished play written by the “adopted son of George Washington,” George Washington Parke Custis of Arlington House. 

Tobias Lear on behalf of Martha Washington to John Adams, 31 December 1799 and Tobias Lear to John Adams, 1 January 1800

RM-1212.001

Letters from Martha Washington and Tobias Lear regarding Congress’ request to permanently inter George Washington within a mausoleum inside the United States Capitol.  

31 December 1799 Letter

1 January 1800 Letter

Tobias Lear to Burgess Ball, 15 December 1799

RM-1209

Tobias Lear informed Burgess Ball of George Washington’s passing. 

The Virginia almanack for the year 1777 by David Rittenhouse (Williamsburg, VA: Printed and sold by Dixon & Hunter, [1776])

RL-6619

An early Virginia almanac with a manuscript account of a visit to Mount Vernon written on the book's back leaves. The author is unconfirmed but is thought to be a descendant of John Paul Barringer.

RM-1208

Receipt for clothing of the Washington family from William Carlin, an Alexandria tailor.  

RM-1216

A letter regarding Washington’s expectations of the farm managers at Mount Vernon. 

RM-1217.001

A letter in which Washington provided a list of subscribers, including himself, to the American Magazine and Monthly Chronicle for the British Colonies. 

RM-1217.002

A three page letter written from Mount Vernon revealing Washington’s continued frustration with George Washington Parke Custis’ disinterest in education.   

RM-1211

Advertisement for four enslaved individuals, Peros, Neptune, Cupid, and Jack, who ran away from Dogue Run on August 9, 1761. 

RM-1213

While encamped at Middlebrook, New Jersey for the winter of 1779 George Washington wrote this letter to Nathanial Greene about trading one of his horses for another.  This letter was previously undocumented in the Papers of George Washington.

John Parke Custis to George Washington, 29 May 1778

RM-1218

A letter about various aspects of the war and includes a note to his mom.

Andrew Elliott to Thomas Mifflin, 5 June 1794

RM-1219

A letter from Andrew Elliott, the surveyor general of the United States, disapproving of Washington’s policies regarding Native Americans. 

2016-SC-002

In this letter, Thomas Paine writes about issues of a new constitution in France and directly transcribed Washington’s address to the Society of Quakers (written by him c. 13 October 1789, in response to their address, c. 3 October 1789).

16th January 1794: Gentleman of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, I transmit for your information, certain intelligence lately received from Europe, as it relates to the subject of my past communications by George Washington ([Philadelphia: Printed by Childs and Swaine, 1794).

RL-6642

Gouverneur Morris' (Minister to France) diplomatic correspondence and the French response, as well as the report on the Navigation Act in which France severely restricted the activities of foreign shipping and navigation.

Bound sheet music for Eleanor “Nelly” Parke Custis, 1794

RL-6634

A volume of bound opera music, La Cifra by Antonio Salieri with an inscription, likely in Washington’s hand: “Brought from Rome for E. P. Custis, presented by Signore Cerrachi, 1794.” 

The Ephemera Collection

2016-SC-038

In 2016, the library acquired a collection of approximately 500 items of ephemera related to the memory and popular image of George Washington. The collection greatly expands our ephemera holdings and provides researchers with raw materials to view how Washington has infused the popular imagination and national psyche over the years.

Mémoire contenant le précis des faits, avec leurs pièces justificatives. Pour servir de réponse aux Observations (sur le Mémoire de la France) envoyées par les Ministres d'Angleterre dans les Cours de l'Europe by Jacob Nicolas Moreau (Paris, 1756). First edition.

2016-SC-016

This French publication of Washington’s Journal was created from Washington’s notes and other papers which were found by the French at Fort Necessity. It was issued by the French government, and transmitted to the courts of Europe as a justification of the war with England and to support the French claim that Washington murdered

2016-SC-009

Washington thanks Gordon for sending him newspapers from Boston and mentions issues he is having with people settling on his lands near the Ohio River, which is he is about to leave Virginia to take care of.

Engraved calling card, Martha Washington, 1796

2016-SC-046

"Mrs. Washington's card left at my husband's lodgings at Mr. Saml. Caldwell's North Fourth Street Philadelphia in the year 1796."

2017-SC-001-001

This correspondence lays out an elaborate plan of attack meant to fall into the hands of the enemy.

2017-SC-001-003

A memorandum detailing a work contract with Mount Vernon carpenter James Donaldson, including his allowances for food, moving expenses, use of tools, use of a house, garden, and cow, and the privilege of the occasional absence, in exchange for his work. 

2017-SC-010-002

West Ford reports on illnesses at Mount Vernon to John Augustine Washington III.

2018-SC-019-001

Washington issues orders for Greene's First Rhode Island Regiment, which included formerly enslaved African American soldiers, to march from Newport to West Point under Rochambeau.

Map of George Washington’s Land at MountVernon Fairfax Cty Virginia: As It Was & As It Is

TC-877

A map of Washington's land in Fairfax, Virginia. 

2018-SC-019-003

Rochambeau writes about Washington's plans for the 1782 campaign and news from Europe.

2017-VR-013

This image was taken in Gardner’s studio in Washington, D.C. Mitchell was formerly enslaved and in 1870 an employee of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. He poses with a group of wooden canes propped against a piece of furniture.

2018-SC-068

George Washington acknowledges and thanks John Beale Bordley for presenting him with a copy of Bordley's recently published book, Essays and Notes on Husbandry and Rural Affairs. The book was delivered to Mount Vernon by Secretary of War James McHenry.

2018-SC-072

Washington responds to a former Revolutionary officer's request for assistance. Washington offers to provide a certificate of service to Weissenfels if he can first send a testament of services from his commanding officer, Governor George Clinton.

2018-SC-041

Accounts between the President's household in New York and local confectioner Joseph Corre. Includes purchases of macaroni, bitter almonds, caraway seed, and ice cream. On April 15, the President's household purchased "dinner drest," when John and Abigail Adams, John Jay, and Thomas Jefferson dined with him.

2018-SC-058-004

In the hand of Henry P. Hill, likely dictated by Gabriel Johnson from Bruin's Slave Jail in Alexandria. Gabriel tells his side of the story following a disagreement with Joseph McFarland, John Augustine's overseer at Mount Vernon.

2018-SC-073-001

Pinckney writes from Harper's Ferry three days after George Washington's death offering his condolences for this "irrepreable loss" to Tobias Lear, Martha Washington, and Nelly Parke Custis Lewis.

Fenwick Mason to George Washington, 1789 December 5

2018-SC-029

Addressed to His Excellency George Washington Esq. President of the United States of America the letter makes reference to various wines ordered by the President for entertaining, including "26 dozen claret and 12 dozen vins de grave."

2019-SC-017

Receipt from Susanna Lockyer to First Land Martha Washington from 1791 September 6 for the purchase of 22 yards of mantua. 

Eliza Parke Custis, Boston, to Gideon Snow, 1828 October 10 with George Washington letter, 1785 September 10, and fragment of velvet from Washington’s coat.

2019-SC-018-001

2019-SC-018-002

Pickering discusses Washington’s response to the Pine Creek killings.

Memoirs of Andrew Jackson, Major-General in the Army of the United States; and Commander in Chief of the Division of the South, by S. Putnam Waldo, Esq. (Hartford: J. and W. Russell, 1819).

2019-SC-011-001

This book includes a manuscript note from Eliza Parke Custis to the Marquis de Lafayette.

Manuscript letters and documents

An archive of 162 letters and 2 receipts containing letters to and from John Augustine Washington III at Mount Vernon from 1837-1861.