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A Guide to the Burke, Virginia Collection, 1830-2016 Burke, Virginia Collection MSS 03-03

A Guide to the Burke, Virginia Collection, 1830-2016

A Collection in The Fairfax County Public Library

Record Group Number MSS 03-03


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Fairfax County Public Library
City of Fairfax Regional Library
Virginia Room
10360 North Street
Fairfax, VA 22030-2514 USA
Virginia Room: 703-293-6227 x6
Fax: 703-293-2155
Email: va_room@fairfaxcounty.gov
URL: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/virginia-room

© 2024 Fairfax County Public Library. All rights reserved.

Repository
Fairfax County Public Library
Record Group Number
MSS 03-03
Title
The Burke, Virginia Collection, 1830-2016
Extent
1.0 linear feet
Creator
Virginia Room Staff
Language
English
Abstract
The Burke, Virginia Collection consists of 1.0 linear feet and spans the years 1830-2016 consisting of reports, correspondence, newspaper clippings, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, photocopies, philatelic covers, framed needlework art, a commemorative pin, a poster, hand drawn map, and book inscribed and formerly owned by Silas Burke.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

None

Use Restrictions

Consult repository for information

Preferred Citation

Burke, Virginia Collection, MSS 03-03, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library

Acquisition Information

The Virginia Room staff artificially created this collection over a period of time. Nan Netherton donated several items in this collection in March 1993 and staff continue to add to it. Mike Copperthite donated the oversize poster of the Copperthite Race Track Historic Marker Dedication and Celebration in May 2017. The book inscribed and formerly owned by Silas Burke was acquired from a book seller in Maryland in July 2022. John Turbyfill donated the philatelic covers from the opening and closing of the Burke Post Offices in February 2024.

Processing Information

Chris Barbuschak, February 2017, updated December 2022, March 2024.
EAD generated by Ross Landis, 2024

Historical and Biographical Information

The namesake of Burke, Virginia is Col. Silas Burke (1796-1854) who lived in Fairfax County near the Fitzhugh family’s Ravensworth plantation. In 1854, the area became known as “Burke’s Station” because Col. Burke donated land to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad for a right of way and a railroad station. During the Civil War, the area saw heavy action. Burke’s notable claim to fame occurred on December 28, 1862 when Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart raided Burke’s Station, seized supplies and the telegraph office, and sent a telegram to Union Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs complaining of the poor quality of mules he had captured.

After the war, Burke remained a sleepy village until June 13, 1951, when the United States Justice Department posted a public notice in the Burke post office announcing that the government condemned 4,520 acres of land in the Burke area for the new Washington airport. The citizens fought a successful battle against the airport’s construction and the government relocated the airport to Chantilly, Virginia where it is today known as Dulles International Airport. Since then, Burke has grown significantly with the construction of housing subdivisions and land development.

Scope and Content

The Burke, Virginia Collection consists of 1.0 linear feet and spans the years 1830-2016 consisting of reports, correspondence, newspaper clippings, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, photocopies, philatelic covers, framed needlework art, a commemorative pin, a poster, hand drawn map, and book inscribed and formerly owned by Silas Burke. Subjects include the history of Burke, Virginia, Burke Centre Conservancy, and the Copperthite Racetrack.

Related Material

MSS 06-73 Ralph Raney Papers on Silas Burke Study, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library

MSS 06-74 Rosanne S. Berkenstock Papers on Burke Centre Study, Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library

Separated Material

None

Index Terms

  • Burke Centre Conservancy
  • Burke, Silas (1796-1854)
  • Burke, Virginia - History
  • Copperthite Racetrack

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Container List

Box 1 Folder 1: “The Burke Airport Issue: A Case Study in Public Policy and Citizen Opposition” by Kevin L. Kramer [Gift of Nan Netherton, March 1993], 1975 May 13
Box 1 Folder 2: Broadside, “Government Auction of Burke, VA. Airport Site”, June 13, 1959 (photocopy) [Gift of Nan Netherton, March 1993], Undated
Box 1 Folder 3: Newspaper clipping, “Four Views of Burke Airport Site”, Washington Times-Herald, 1951 June 15
Box 1 Folder 4: Newspaper, Annandale Free Press Special Supplement on Kings Park Community, Burke, VA., 1966 March 28
Box 1 Folder 5: “Copperthite Racetrack” by Susan Bujan [Gift of Nan Netherton, March 1993], Undated
Box 1 Folder 6: “Henry Copperthite and the Burke Race Track” by Laura Reilly , Undated
Box 1 Folder 7: “Burke’s Station” by Col. Arthur John Cornelson, 1969 August 3
Box 1 Folder 8: Correspondence of Hazel Davis, Memorandum on Early History of Burke, Virginia, 1937, 1973
Box 1 Folder 9: Burke Commons Civic Association Newsletters, “Historical Bits of Burke” by Owen J. Remington, 1975-1977
Box 1 Folder 10: Pamphlet, “An Introduction To The History of The Burke Centre Area”, 1977 April 29
Box 1 Folder 11: Burke Centre Conservancy, Covenants and Articles of Incorporation [Gift of Nan Netherton, March 1993], 1980
Box 1 Folder 12: Burke Centre promotional folder and map, 1977
Box 1 Folder 13: Terra Centre Elementary School promotional architectural brochures [Gift of Nan Netherton, March 1993], 1981
Box 1 Folder 14: Map of Burke (hand drawn, author unknown), Undated
Box 1 Folder 15: Newspaper clipping, “Site of New Washington Airport”, Washington Post, 1951 June 14
Box 1 Folder 16: Marriage certificate, Benjamin Hampton and Fannie Peyton at Burke’s Station, 1898 (photocopy), 2015
Box 1 Folder 17: Burke Cove condominiums promotional brochure, 1981
Box 1 Folder 18: Pin, Burke Centre Conservancy 25th Anniversary, 2002
Box 1 Folder 19: Philatelic cover, “Last Day of Use Burke Post Office” [Gift of John Turbyfill, February 2024], 1989 September 21
Box 1 Folder 20: Philatelic cover, “Opening Day Station New Burke Post Office” [Gift of John Turbyfill, February 2024], 1989 September 22
Box 1 Folder 21: Framed needlepoint artwork of Burke Centre logo, 1978
Box 2 Folder 1: Book, Abstract of Infantry Tactics Including Exercise and Manoeuvres of Light-Infantry and Riflemen; For the Use of the Militia of the United States (1830). [Book formerly owned by Silas Burke and inscribed by him on May 31, 1834], 1830
Oversize Drawer: Poster, “Copperthite Race Track Historic Marker Dedication and Celebration”, July 31, 2016 [Gift of Mike Copperthite, May 2017], 2016