Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Use Restrictions

Visual materials may require special handling.

Preferred Citation

Jim Birchfield Photograph Collection, 1945-1983 (VC 0041), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Ann Braham, Leesburg, VA

Alternative Form Available

None

Accruals

2011.0259X

Processing Information

Lisa Dezarn, 3 April 2012

Biographical Information

Jim (James Fenton) Birchfield (1908-1997) was born in Marion, Virginia and graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1929. In 1935, Birchfield began his career in journalism as editor of The Washington County (Virginia) Forum , a newly established weekly in Abingdon. He joined the Richmond-Times Dispatch editorial staff in 1939, where he remained until 1942. At this juncture, he obtained a position in Washington, D.C. on the editorial staff of the Washington Star . There he worked on the picture desk and in other editorial roles including serving as state, farm and real estate editor. As editor for the Washington Star , he wrote a column entitled "Life in the Country" focusing on the struggles and rewards of rural living. During this time, he resided on his family farm, "Forty Acres," near Leesburg. In 1974, he retired from the Washington Star . Birchfield then served briefly as an editor for The Piedmont Virginian , an environmental weekly based in The Plains, before accepting a position with the Loudoun-Times Mirror , where he worked from July 1975 until July 1978.

Throughout his career, Birchfield cultivated his photographic interests. In 1965, he became a founding member of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society whose aim was to serve as a camera club for the area. His photographic images of Loudoun County were used during several calendar years (1974, 1981) for the Peoples National Bank of Leesburg, Virginia. Photographs of Washington County, Virginia taken by Birchfield were also used for a monograph entitled Places in Time: Abingdon, Virginia 1778-1880 (Volume 1.)

In 1983 after selling "Forty Acres," he and his wife moved back to Abingdon. He died at the age of 89 following complications from a stroke. He is best remembered for his editorial talent, polished writing abilities, and compelling photographic work.

Scope and Content

This photographic collection consists of twenty-five black and white photographs of sites within Loudoun County. The majority of the pictures taken are historic homes. However, a few other landmarks within the county were also captured including Waterford Mill, Thomas Balch Library, Loudoun County Courthouse, Paxton House, Springwood Ball Home Place, and St. James Episcopal Church. Also included are two farms. Most of the photographs have been identified although the identities of a few remain unknown. In the list below, photographs identified by Birchfield appear without brackets; those in brackets have been identified by library staff.The photographs appear to have been taken over the course of many years, and all likely date to 1945-1983, the years Birchfield lived near Leesburg. The photographs represent a wide variety of unique architectural styles.

Arrangement

Folder

Related Material

None

Separated Material

None

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Bibliography

"James Birchfield," Loudoun Times Mirror , August 20 1997, Obituaries, A18.

"Journalist James Fenton Birchfield Dies," Washington Post , August 18, 1997, Obituaries.

"New River Notes Obituary, Page B" New River Notes: Historical and Genealogical Resources , http://www.newrivernotes.com/obit/obit-b.htm accessed 14 December 2011.

"History of the Northern Virginia Photographic Society," Northern Virginia Photographic Society , http://nvps.org/main/about/history/ accessed 14 December, 2011.

King, Nanci C. 1989. Places in Time: Abingdon, Virginia 1778-1880 (Volume 1). Abingdon, VA.

"Places in Time by Nanci C. King. Photography by James Birchfield: Full Record." Virginia Historical Society, Library and Manuscripts Collections. http://vhs3.vahistorical.org/ accessed 20 March, 2012.

Other Finding Aid

Past Perfect Catalogue records

Technical Requirements

None