Preferred Citation

[Item identification], Vowell-Creighton Family Collection, MS024, Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections, Alexandria, Va.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Vowell and his brother John C. Vowell came over from England between the years 1749 and 1800. They were amongst the first settlement, to help build the town of Alexandria, Virginia. Thomas Vowell and his brother had a thriving shipping business before 1799. The firm occupied a warehouse on Prince Street but moved in 1805 to Union Street between King and Prince Street. In 1798 Thomas bought the property at 619 South Lee Street and constructed a house on it. He sold the property to Edgar Snowden, the editor of the Alexandria Gazette in 1842.

Thomas Vowell married three times. His first two wives: Mary Harper and Charlotte H. Douglas have both passed away. His third wife, Elizabeth Truscott would remain with him for the rest of his life. Thomas and Elizabeth had a daughter, Harriet Vowell on June 13, 1843.

Harriet Vowell married a druggist, William Franklin Creighton (b. January 5, 1840). They had three living children. In 1885, he purchased a wholesale and retail pharmacy located at the corner of King and Royal Streets. The continuous family owned the drug store until the 1964 urban renewal project when the building was destroyed.

Content Description

The collection consists of various objects, writings and ephemera pertaining to the Vowell-Creighton family. Most of the materials are from Hattie Vowell-Creighton. Writings include genealogical information and poetry written by Hattie. One piece of realia: a locket which includes a lock of hair, likely from Mary Vowell. There are a number of unidentified photographs, likely Vowell-Creighton family members. The oversized materials include certificates for the United Daughters of the Confederacy and an application for the Daughters of the Revolution.