On the following pages the museum has assembled materials to aid visitors and scholars in researching the agricultural history of Loudoun County. Since the museum started obtaining objects in 2000 the collection has grown very diverse in objects and archival materials. The museum collection is divided up into three sections:
Artifacts:
The museum has a large collection of merchandise that belonged to a general store that was in business from 1890-1945. Museum collection includes farm implements used in Loudoun County dating to the 18th century.
Artifacts Highlights:
- Tractors
- Plows
- Hay implements
- Dairy Implements
- General Store Merchandise: Medicine bottles, dishware, textiles, and crocks
Archives:
Search Archival Records
Archive includes one of the most diverse collections of merchandise invoices of Mid-Atlantic distributors in Virginia. The invoices date from the 1890s-1940s and belonged to S.E. Munday Waxpool General Store in Loudoun County. The archives include the papers of various farmers and agricultural businesses dating back to the first half of the 19th century. The James Smith Collection include primary accounts of slavery, agriculture and the Civil War in Loudoun and Fairfax county, Virginia.
Archive Highlights:
S.E Munday Waxpool General Store Papers (1890-1945) that include:
- Merchandise Invoices
- General Store Ledgers
- Postal Ledgers and Forms
- Merchandise Advertisements
- Papers of James Smith 1800-1872
Photograph Collection Includes:
- Loudoun County agricultural photographs
- Loudoun County 4-H Clubs and Fairs
- Agricultural businesses
- Livestock
To obtain permission to copy prints, slides, negatives and transparencies please contact the museum.
Library:
The museum has a small collection of books on Loudoun history, agriculture, cultural history, and a growing collection of USDA yearbooks dating from 1914.
Library Highlights:
- USDA Pamphlets
- USDA Yearbooks
- 1997 USDA Agriculture Census on CD
Research
Oral Histories:
The museum in 2001-2002 conducted oral interviews with Loudoun County Farmers. To view portions of the interviews click here.
Agricultural and Loudoun County Historical Statistics: The following is a list of historic charts related to the population and agriculture of Loudoun County.
Slavery in Loudoun County:
The nature and history of Loudoun slavery has become a focal point of historians and museums in Northern Virginia in the last decade. To view primary accounts, illustrations and statistics on Loudoun slavery click here.
