Guide to the Planned Community Archives collection, 1960-2009 Planned Community Archives C0001

Guide to the Planned Community Archives collection, 1960-2009

A Collection in
Special Collections and Archives
Collection Number C0001


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George Mason University Libraries

2006 By George Mason University Libraries. All rights reserved.

Processed by: Special Collections and Archives Staff

Repository
George Mason University. Special Collections and Archives.
Collection number
C0001
Title
Planned Community Archives collection 1960-2009
URL:
http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/
Physical Characteristics
175.5 linear feet 351 boxes)
Creator
Planned Community Archives, Inc.
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

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Planned Community Archives, Collection #C0001, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

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 and Archives 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

Organized into 11 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

Special Collections and Archives 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.

Index Terms

Adjunct Descriptive Data

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 .

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

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Contents List

Series 1: Reston,
1961-2006

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 ,

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 ,

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 ,

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 ,

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 ,

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

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Series 7: Brochures 1990s ,

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

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 ,

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 ,

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 ,

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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