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BUILDING AND LAND RESOURCES

LOCAL HISTORY/SPECIAL COLLECTIONS


 

GUIDES AND INDEXES


 

The Alexandria Library, Local History/Special Collections has 10,000 photographs in its collections ranging from 19th century daguerrotypes to images made by professional photographers still in practice.

 

This collection is used to study the history of structures in Alexandria. Building and Repair Permits were first issued in the City of Alexandria, ca. 1891 and are useful to today's homeowner or researcher who is preparing a history of the property.

 

Building and Repair Permits were first issued in the City of Alexandria, ca. 1891 and are useful to today's homeowner or researcher who is preparing a history of the property. These nearly 3400 permits cover the period ca. 1896-1928. There are a very few permits in the collection prior to 1896. The index is organized alphabetically by street name and then numerically by house number. 

 

Digital images of Old Town property tax documents from the 1960s.

 

 

ALEXANDRIA HOUSE HISTORY

 

The Alexandria Library's Special Collections division has a wide range of resources available to help you investigate the history of your home. Using both primary and secondary sources, you can uncover information about past owners, property values, alterations and improvements, and perhaps even find a photograph or two. The sources in this guide focus primarily on Old Town Alexandria.

  
READ MORE >>
 


 

VIRGIL DAVIS DOORWAY EXHIBIT

 

The photographs in this collection were developed from glass lantern slides photographed by professional photographer and Alexandria native, Virgil Davis.

Selection of photographs of Alexandria, VA doorways, ca. 1936 - ca. 1950. This exhibit illustrates historic properties on the cusp of the preservation movement.

SEE EXHIBIT >>