Guide to the Planned Community Archives collection C0001 Planned Community Archives

Guide to the Planned Community Archives collection C0001

Planned Community Archives


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George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center

Fenwick Library, MS2FL
4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Business Number: 703-993-2220
Fax Number: 703-993-8911
speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu

Emily Martin

Repository
George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Identification
C0001
Title
Planned Community Archives collection 1960-2009
Quantity
175.5 Linear Feet, 457 boxes
Creator
Planned Community Archives
Location
Map Case 3.2, 9.2, 12.2-13.3, 14.1, 14.5, 19.4-19.5, 29.1, 32.1-32.3
Language
English .
Abstract
The collection consists of a variety of materials relating to planned communities across the United States with a particular emphasis on the planned community of Reston, Virginia, and international communities as well. The collection includes correspondence, reports, promotional material, community brochures, newspapers, videotapes, slides, photographs and architectural drawings and blueprints. The collection is divided into 11 series in 351 boxes and 3 mapcases and is dated from 1960 to 2009.

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Alternative Form Available

Selections from the Planned Community Archives are also available in the Reston Planned Community Archives Digital Collection and the Planned Community Archives: Catherine A. Baum Digital Collection.

Preferred Citation

Planned Community Archives, C0001, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Donated by the Planned Community Archives, Inc. in 1986 with additional donations in the years following.

Processing Information

Processing completed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed by Emily Martin between November 2009 and January 2010 with additions by Steven Harris-Scott in June 2010.

Historical Information

The era of new town development in the United States, which is of special interest to Planned Community Archives (PCA), begins with the Greenbelt towns developed by the federally sponsored Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The next major new town development was Reston, Virginia, in 1962. Since that time, at least thirty-eight planned communities have been developed throughout the United States. Thirteen of these communities were sponsored by the Federal New Communities Program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (1970 - 1983).

The records contained in this collection were assembled by the Planned Community Archives, Inc., of Reston, Virginia, and placed on deposit in Special Collections and Archives of Fenwick Library, George Mason University beginning in 1986. Each year since then has seen major additions to the collection. After many years of housing and processing the collection, George Mason University Libraries accepted the Planned Community Archives collections as a donation by Planned Community Archives, Inc.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of a variety of materials relating to planned communities across the United States with a particular emphasis on the planned community of Reston, Virginia and international communities as well. The collection includes correspondence, reports, promotional material, community brochures, newspapers, videos, slides, photographs and architectural drawings and blueprints.

Series one is titled Reston and is divided into nine subseries. The information in this series contains correspondence, finance, plans, reports, meetings, publications, marketing, a scrapbook and general information. All of the information relates to the community of Reston in Virginia. There is additional Reston information in series nine, ten and eleven. The series is dated from 1961-2006 and is contained in boxes 1-42.

Series two is titled United States Planned Communities. The material in this series relates to planned communities in the United States other than Reston, such as Columbia, Maryland, Evergreen Mills, Hawaii, Portland and others. The series is comprised of correspondence, plans, reports and other paperwork relating to the development of these communities. The series dated from 1970 to 1996 and is contained in boxes 42-53.

Series three is titled International Planned Communities. The material in this series relates to international planned communities in countries such as France, Great Britain, Israel, China and others. The materials are mostly promotional from the communities and other information regarding the development of the communities. Some of the material is in the foreign language while others are printed in English. The series is dated from 1960 to 1990 and is contained in boxes 53-56.

Series four is titled Reports. The documents are reports from and about different communities, relating financial, environmental and other issues. There are also documents from the Federal government pertaining to the development of the communities. The series is dated from 1965 to 2001 and is contained in boxes 56-61.

Series five is titled Planed Community Archive Board. The series is small and contains the meeting minutes and other information from the board that created the planned community archive. The series dated from 1985 to 2001 and is contained in boxes 61-64.

Series six is titled Promotional Material. The series has promotional material from different planned communities such as pamphlets, flyers, articles and others. The series dated from 1966 to 1990 and is contained in boxes 64-66.

Series seven is titled Brochures. The series is comprised of different planned communities brochures, such as Arbor Glenn, Fairfield, Key West, Ridgewood and many others. The series dated in the 1990s and is contained in boxes 66-75.

Series eight is titled Newspapers. The series is comprised of copies of The Connection a newspaper from Reston. The Connection, the local newspaper has articles mostly about local events. For example there are articles about Reston Association elections, local residents and also the Washington Redskins. There are additional copies in series ten. The series is dated from 1981 to 1996 and is contained in boxes 76 to 106.

Series nine is titled Media and is divided into five subseries. The series contains photographs, slides, negatives, cassettes, CDs and videos relating to planned communities. The series is dated from 1960 to 2004 and contained in boxes 107-232.

Series ten is titled General Information. The information in this series covers a variety of topics relating to planned communities, such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, newsclippings, Virginia government and other paperwork. The series is dated from 1960 to 2005 and is contained in boxes 233-246.

Series eleven is titled Oversize. This series contains photographs, brochures and posters related to planned communities such as Lake Anne Village Center, Beacon Hill and others. The majority of the series is comprised of architectural drawings, blueprints, floor plans, topography and designs for buildings, such as Reston First Village Center, Reston Town Center and two individual homes, one in Arlington, Virginia and the other in McLean, Virginia. The series is dated from 1960 to 2004 and is contained in boxes 247-351 with additional plans in 3 mapcases.

Arrangement

Arranged in 11 series according to subject and format.

Series Series 1: Reston, 1961-2006 (Boxes 1-42) Series 2: US Planned Communities, 1970-1996 (Boxes 42-53) Series 3: International Planned Communities, 1960-1990 (Boxes 53-56) Series 4: Reports, 1965-2001 (Boxes 56-61) Series 5: Planned Community Archives Board, 1985-2001 (Boxes 61-64) Series 6: Promotional Material, 1966-1990 (Boxes 64-66) Series 7: Brochures, 1990s (Boxes 66-75) Series 8: Newspapers, 1965-2006 (Boxes 76-106, 242-46, 352-456) Series 9: Media, 1960-2004 (Boxes 107-232, 348-350) Series 10: General Information, 1960-2009 (Boxes 233-241) Series 11: Oversize, 1960-2010 (Boxes 247-347, 351, Mapcase 1-4, Shelf 1-2)

Related Material

The Special Collections Research Center holds many other collections on the history and development of Reston, Virginia, as well as other collections that document United States and international planned communities.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

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Container List

Series 1: Reston
1961-2006
Scope and Contents note

The information in this series contains correspondence, finance, plans, reports, meetings, publications, marketing, a scrapbook and general information. All of the information relates to the community of Reston in Virginia.

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Series 2: United States Planned Communities
1970-1996
Scope and Contents note

The material in this series relates to planned communities in the United States other than Reston, such as Columbia, Maryland, Evergreen Mills, Hawaii, Portland and others. The series is comprised of correspondence, plans, reports and other paperwork relating to the development of these communities.

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Series 3: International Planned Communities
1960-1990
Scope and Contents note

The material in this series relates to international planned communities in countries such as France, Great Britain, Israel, China and others. The materials are mostly promotional from the communities and other information regarding the development of the communities. Some of the material is in the foreign language while others are printed in English.

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Series 4: Reports
1965-2001
Scope and Contents note

The documents are reports from and about different communities, relating financial, environmental and other issues. There are also documents from the Federal government pertaining to the development of the communities.

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Series 5: Planned Community Archive (PCA) Board
1985-2001
Scope and Contents note

The series is small and contains the meeting minutes and other information from the board that created the planned community archive.

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Series 6: Promotional Material
1966-1990
Scope and Contents note

The series has promotional material from different planned communities such as pamphlets, flyers, articles and others.

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Series 7: Brochures
1990s
Scope and Contents note

The series is comprised of different planned communities brochures, such as Arbor Glenn, Fairfield, Key West, Ridgewood and many others.

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Series 8: Newspapers
1965-1999, 2004
Scope and Contents note

Series eight is titled Newspapers. The series is comprised of copies of The Reston Connection, the Reston Times, the Reston Observer, and the Reston Flier. All four newspapers largely covered local and area events. For example there are articles about Reston Association elections, local residents and also local and area sports teams. The collection of Connection papers is dated from 1981 to 1995 with about half of 2004 as well, and is contained in boxes 76 to 106 and 242 to 246. The Reston Times newspapers are dated from 1965 to 1999 with about half of 2004 as well, and are contained in boxes 358 to 456. The collections of the Reston Observer (2004 and 2006, Box 356) and Reston Flier newspapers (1971-72, Box 357) are relatively small.

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Series 9: Media
1960-2004
Scope and Contents note

The series contains photographs, slides, negatives, cassettes, CD's and videos relating to planned communities.

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Series 10: General Information
1960-2009
Scope and Contents note

The information in this series covers a variety of topics relating to planned communities, such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, newsclippings, Virginia government and other paperwork.

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Series 11: Oversized
1960-2010
Scope and Contents note

This series contains photographs, brochures and posters related to planned communities such as Lake Anne Village Center, Beacon Hill and others. The majority of the series is comprised of architectural drawings, blueprints, floor plans, topography and designs for buildings, such as Reston First Village Center, Reston Town Center and two individual homes, one in Arlington, Virginia and the other in McLean, Virginia.

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