A Guide to the Village Preservation and Improvement Society, 1885-2023 Village Preservation and Improvement Society Record Group 4-8
A Collection in
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
120 North Virginia Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22046
Phone: (703)-248-5030
Email:
URL:
https://www.mrspl.org/ 2024 ( CC0 1.0 )
Processed by: Catherine Wilson,
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
Repository Falls Church History Room, Mary Riley
Styles Public Library
Collection Number Record Group 4-8
Title Village Preservation and Improvement Society, 1885-2023
Language Materials in this collection are in
English .
Abstract
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection...
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Village Preservation and Improvement Society transferred their files to the Mary
Riley Styles Public Library by resolution on January 2, 1980.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description...
The Society was founded in 1885 as the Village Improvement Society of Falls Church. It was
one of hundreds of such societies around the country modeled after the famous Laurel Hill
Association of Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
The Society's early objectives were to improve and ornament the streets of Falls Church by
planting and cultivating trees, cleaning and repairing the sidewalks, and carrying out other
acts to beautify and benefit the culture and prosperity of the village. The Society planted
the street trees we see in historic photos, built the first sidewalks, and organized parades
and the town-wide July 4th celebrations with baseball and ice cream socials. It helped to
start the first library in Falls Church and initiated the first Arbor Day in Virginia
(1892).
The Society was renamed in 1923 as the Falls Church Citizens Association and, after a few
decades of intermittent activity, it was reestablished in 1965 as the Falls Church Village
Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS). In March 1973 it received Certification of
Incorporation from the State Corporation Commission.
VPIS is still an active association. Their website is https://www.vpis.org/ .
Some of the records of the original Society from 1890-1918 are included in addition to the
records from 1965 to the present. There are meeting minutes, membership records, with the
bulk of the files concerning their projects and their rewards programs.
The early records of the Society were separated into Series 1. File names were retained as
they were labeled. Occasionally a file was renamed to more accurately reflect the contents
or split into two smaller files. Some loose papers were filed into appropriate folders. In
the interests of efficiency files were arranged into series. Files are arranged
chronologically or alphabetically, depending on the series.
The newsletter published by VPIS was named the VPIS
Newsletter through August 1978; with the November 1978 issue it was changed to
The Village Way .
There are also numerous video recordings and publications in the Falls Church Local History
Room.
The files were arranged into the following series:
Series 1: Village Improvement Society (1885-1923?)
Series 2: Constitution and Bylaws -- Incorporation
Series 3: Annual Reports
Series 4: Presidents and Boards of Directors
Series 5: Membership
Series 6: Executive Meetings
Series 7: Membership Meetings
Series 8: Financial Reports
Series 9: Committees
Series 10: Correspondence
Series 11: Programs
Series 12: Projects
Series 13: Rewards, Prizes
Series 14: Subject files
Series 15: VPIS Newsletter
Series 16: Village Way
Series 17: Publications
Series 18: Newspaper Clippings
Series 19: Miscellaneous File
Other record groups of interest are the Historical Commission (Record Group 1-3) and the
Citizens for a Better City (Record Group 4-1)
Box 1
File 1
1890-1900
File 2
1911-1912
File 3
Amusements, 1899-1900, 1901, 1902
File 4
Amusements, 1910
File 5
Bylaws and Constitution, 1897, 1907
File 6
Dinners and Dining, First Banquet, March 1, 1901
[has cards – need envelope]
File 7
Financial Transactions, 1896-1899
File 8
Financial Transactions, 1901-1903
File 9
Fourth of July Celebrations, [no date]
File 10
Fourth of July Celebrations, 1892
File 11
Fourth of July Celebrations, 1895-1897
File 12
Fourth of July Celebrations, 1897
File 13
Fourth of July Celebrations, 1899
File 14
Fourth of July Celebrations, 1900
File 15
Fourth of July Celebrations– expenses and contributions, no program,
1901
File 16
Fourth of July Celebrations– expenses and contributions, no program,
1902
File 17
Fourth of July Celebrations– expenses and contributions, no program,
1903
File 18
Fourth of July Celebrations– programs, has a sheet with no date,
1911
File 19
Fourth of July Celebrations [photograph], 1918
File 20
Meetings, 1911-1912
File 21
Projects – East End Well, 1901
File 22
Projects – Piano, 1899-1900
File 23
Projects – Sidewalks, 1897-1907
File 24
Projects – Street Lighting, 1890-1903
File 25
Projects – Street Signs, 1901-1902
File 26
Speeches and Addresses, [1910]
Box 1
File 1
Constitution and Bylaws, 1965-1973
File 2
Incorporation, 1973
File 3
Resolution Transferring Records, January 2, 1980
Box 1
File 1
Annual Reports, 1966, 1969
File 2
Annual Reports, 1993-1999
Box 1
File 1
Boards of Directors, 1966-2006
File 2
Presidents - Mel H. Bolster, 1965
File 3
Presidents - Elwood H. Street, 1966-1968
File 4
Presidents - Robert L. Hubbell, 1972
File 5
Presidents - Louis T. Olom, 1974-1976
File 6
Presidents - Edward B. Strait, 1979
Box 1
File 1
Membership Campaigns, 1965-1994
File 2
Membership Lists, 1965-1968
File 3
Membership Lists, 1969-1971
File 4
Membership Lists, 1973-1976
File 5
Membership Lists, 1977-1978
Box 2
File 6
Membership Lists, 1979-1980
File 7
Membership Lists, 1981-1984
File 8
Membership Lists, 1989, 1998-1999
File 9
Membership Reports, 1980-1981
File 1
Executive Meetings (Provisional Committee),
March-August 1965
File 2
Executive Meetings,
1965-1966
File 3
Executive Meetings,
1966-1967
File 4
Executive Meetings,
1967-1968
File 5
Executive Meetings,
1968-1969
File 6
Executive Meetings,
1969-1970
File 7
Executive Meetings,
1970-1971
File 8
Executive Meetings,
1971-1972
File 9
Executive Meetings,
1972-1973
File 10
Executive Meetings,
1973-1974
File 11
Executive Meetings,
1974-1975
File 12
Executive Meetings,
1975-1976
File 13
Executive Meetings,
1976-1977
File 14
Executive Meetings,
1977-1978
File 15
Executive Meetings,
1978-1979
File 16
Executive Meetings,
1979-1980
File 17
Executive Meetings,
1980-1981
File 18
Executive Meetings,
1981-1982
File 19
Executive Meetings,
1982-1983
File 20
Executive Meetings,
1983-1984
File 21
Executive Meetings,
1984-1985
File 22
Executive Meetings,
1985-1986
Box 3
File 23
Executive Meetings,
1986-1987
File 24
Executive Meetings,
1987-1988
File 25
Executive Meetings,
1988-1989
File 26
Executive Meetings,
1989-1990
File 27
Executive Meetings,
1993-1994
File 28
Executive Meetings,
1994-1995
File 29
Executive Meetings,
1997, 1998
File 30
Executive Meetings,
1999
File 31
Executive Meetings,
April 13, 2000
File
File 1
Spring 1966-1970
File 2
Spring 1971-1973
File 3
Spring 1974-1976
File 4
Spring 1977-1980
File 5
Spring 1981-1984
File 6
Spring 1985-1988
File 7
Fall 1966 - Fall 1979
File 8
Fall 1980 - Fall 1988
File 1
Financial Reports,
1970-1979
File 2
Financial Reports,
1980-1984
File 3
Funds,
1975
File 4
Taxation Exemption Form,
1974
File 5
Treasurer's Reports,
1982-1983
File 6
Treasurer's Reports,
1987-1988
File 1
Committees,
1966-1985
File 2
Broad Street Widening,
1981-1985
File 3
Cable Access,
1984
File 4
City Hall Information Committee,
1982-1983
Box 4
File 5
Historical,
1966-1981
File 6
Historical Committee, Report on Quadrant,
1968-1969
File 7
Nominating,
March 25, 1982
File 8
Study,
1966, 1970
File 9
Tree,
1973-1980
File 1
Fourth of July Celebrations,
1982-1999
File 2
Programs,
1994-1995
File 3
Programs - Home Concert Series,
1996-1997
File 4
Tours,
1975-1963
File 1
Annexation,
1966-1969
File 2
Arbor Day,
1974-1993
File 3
Attic Treasures Sale -- Financial Statements,
1976-1977
File 4
Attic Treasures Sale – Flyers,
1969-1990
File 5
Attic Treasures Sale – Lunch,
1976
File 6
Attic Treasures Sale – Planning,
1969-1986
File 7
Attic Treasures Sale – Publicity,
1969-1985
File 8
Big Chimneys Commemorative Site,
1999
File 9
Cable Television,
1966
File 10
Catalog,
1985, 1995
File 11
Centennial – Planning,
1984-1986
File 12
Centennial – Publicity,
1985
File 13
Charter Revision,
1969-1970
File 14
Cheese Sale,
1973-1978
File 15
Cherry Hill,
1975-1977
File 16
Children History Program,
February 1987
File 17
Citizens' Committee for a Low Skyline,
1968
File 18
City Planning,
1963-1965
File 19
City Planning,
1966-1967
File 20
City Planning,
1968
Box 5
File 21
City Planning,
1969-1970
File 22
City Planning,
1971
File 23
City Planning,
1981-1985
File 24
City Planning, "The Future of the City: Genesis for Progress in Falls Church, North Washington Street,"
March 1993
File 25
Cookbook,
1976
File 26
Cookbook, Hors d'oeuvres at Tranquility ,
1985
File 27
Cycling Paths,
1974-1975
File 28
Cycling Paths – Landscape,
1975
File 29
Cycling Paths – Rest Shelter dedicated to Elwood Street,
1979
File 30
Elizabeth Graham – Memorial Garden,
1987
File 31
Gage House,
1982
File 32
George Mason Commemoration,
19914
File 33
George Mason Memorial,
1975-1976
File 34
Hangman's Tree,
1968, 1987
File 35
Historic Houses and Sites – Surveys
File 36
Historic Memorabilia – Surveys,
1968-1969
File 37
Historical News and Notes
File 38
Landscape Master Plan,
1976-1985
File 39
Lawton House – Historic Preservation,
1960-1976
File 40
Lawton House – Park Street Encroachment (has photos),
1965-1967
File 41
Lawton House Estate Moving Sale,
1978
File 42
Lifetime Memberships,
1984, 1999
File 43
Master Plan,
1975-1980
File 44
Master Plan Review, Downtown-Open Space,
1980-1982
File 45
Master Plan,
1982-1984
File 46
Memorial Day Parade,
1999
File 47
One Hundred Trees for One Hundred Years,
1985-1986
Box 6
File 48
Ordinances, Municipal – Mixed-Use Redevelopment (MUR),
1999
File 59
Ordinances, Municipal – Sign,
1966-1969
File 50
Ordinances, Municipal – Tree Preservation,
1976-1978
File 51
Planned Unit Developments,
1970-1973
File 52
Planned Unit Development – Hechinger,
1972
File 53
Postcards,
1976
File 54
Presidents' Garden,
1994, 2000
File 55
Rain Garden,
[1999]
File 56
Schools,
February 1987
File 57
Taxation Survey,
February 9, 1978
File 58
Urban Beautification,
1965-1976
File 59
Walking Tour Brochure,
1974-1975
File 60
Whitehall,
1978-1983
File 61
Wine Sale,
1972-1976
File 1
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1966
File 2
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1967
File 3
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1968
File 4
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1969
File 5
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1970
File 6
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1966-1970
File 7
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1971
File 8
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1979
File 9
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1980
File 10
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1981
File 11
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1982
File 12
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1983
File 13
Awards for Excellence in Design,
1981-1986
File 14
Business Improvement Awards Program,
1978-1979
File 15
Certificate of Award, blank form
File 16
Hemlock Tree,
November 13, 1980
File 17
National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.,
1968
File 18
Noteworthy Tree Awards,
1973-1976
File 19
Tree City, U.S.A.,
1979-1980
Box 7
File 1
Achievements,
1966-1970, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1993
File 2
Central Business District,
1965-1970
File 3
Falls Church Historical Collection, Mary Riley Styles Public Library,
1985-1986
File 4
History,
1877-1904
File 5
History,
1971-1999
File 6
Issues,
1982-1983
File 7
Mixed-Use Redevelopment Ordinance,
1998-1999
File 8
Northern Virginia Recreation and Cultural Authority,
1970
File 9
Public Relations,
1965, 1868
File 10
Related Interest Groups - Citizens for Quality Living,
1970-1975
File 11
Related Interest Groups – Falls Church Historical Commission (Cherry Hill),
1966-1975
File 12
Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Historic Preservation,
[n.d.]
File 13
Resolution,
March 12, 1987
File 14
Statements, Summary of,
1965-1968
File 15
Statements to City Council,
1965-1979
File 16
Statements to City Council,
1980, 1985
File 17
Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and the Laurel Hill Association,
1985, 1991
File 18
Trees,
1973-1999
File 19
Virginia Village Index
File 20
Website,
February 1999
File 1
1967-1970
File 2
1971-1972
File 3
1973-1975
File 4
1976-1978
Box 8
File 2
1981-1983
File 3
1984-1985
File 4
1986-1987
File 5
1988-1989
File 6
1990-1991
File 7
1992-1995
File 8
1996-1999
File 9
2000-2007
File 10
2008-2023 (incomplete)
File 1
Newspaper Clippings,
1963-1977
File 2
Newspaper Clippings,
1983
File 1
Miscellaneous papers
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