LIBRARY & ARCHIVES
© Dennis McWaters
The Gunston Hall Plantation Library and Archives serves scholars, researchers and the general public by appointment. The research and reference collection of books, microfilm, periodicals, manuscripts, and related source materials emphasizes the social, cultural, economic, and political history of colonial and post-revolutionary Virginia and America.
The library and archives continually augments its collections with periodicals, currently available books, out-of-print or rare books, and photocopies of materials owned by public depositories.
In 2005 the library and archives moved into a new research center located at the rear entrance of the museum building.
Hours
By appointment, Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 5 :00 p.m.
To schedule an appointment, please contact the Librarian by email at library@gunstonhall.org or call 703-550-9220.
Online Resources
A list of books, articles, and online resources relating to George Mason, Gunston Hall, slavery, and 18th century plantation life is provided in our Online Bibliography
Library Resources
The Rare Book Collection comprises more than 1,230 titles, with strengths in law, cookery, history, gardening, literature, and architecture of the18th century.
The Modern Reference Collection emphasizes cookery, genealogy, gardening, architecture, museum administration, fine and decorative arts, U.S. Constitution and law, colonial America and Virginia history, and 18th-century social history and customs.
The Periodicals Collection includes subscriptions to over thirty magazines, newsletters, and scholarly journals. Major holdings include The Magazine Antiques, Maryland Historical Magazine, William and Mary Quarterly, Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts, and Virginia Magazine of History & Biography.
Archival Resources
The Manuscript Collection includes the documents and personal papers of George Mason and other family members, the research papers of authors who have written about George Mason, and records of other individuals and organizations closely connected with Gunston Hall. The primary collections are: George Mason Manuscript Collection; Mason Family Manuscript Collection; Thomson Francis Mason Papers; John Mason Papers; Gunston Hall School Records; Thomas Grimke Rhett Papers; and the Cheshire Collection.
The Research File is a rich source of material culture of the 18th-century Chesapeake region of Virginia and Maryland, including photocopies of public records such as wills, inventories, business and county records, as well as articles from 18th-century newspapers. Over 300 Probate Inventories from the region have been transcribed and are available on our website.
The Photograph and Slide Collection illustrates the heritage of Gunston Hall, its buildings, collections, and special events.
The Genealogy Records provide an excellent source of information about the family and descendants of George Mason. Visit Masonweb our online Mason family genealogy.
The Architecture and Map Collection documents the restorations, archaeological studies, and 20th-century buildings and gardens at Gunston Hall.
The Microfilm Collection contains primary sources including Maryland Gazette, 1727- 1837, Virginia Gazette, 1736-1780, and Alexandria Gazette, 1784-1824.
