TranslateAbout the Collection
Although Alexandria is fortunate to have several specialized museums, Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum is the only one that collects and interprets artifacts and history from all periods of the City's past, from the periods before its founding in 1749 through the present day. The collection includes architectural fragments removed from the building during renovation, furniture, textiles, ceramics, silver, glass, records from Alexandria businesses, tools, art, newspapers, toys and almost anything else that would help to tell the community's story.
The museum collects artifacts representing all time periods of Alexandria and the surrounding region's past, as well as objects relevant for interpreting The Lyceum as a historic site. If you know of any artifacts that would be of interest to the museum, please contact the museum's Curator for more information at 703.746.4994.
Some particular strengths of the collection include:
- Alexandria Silver
- Alexandria Stoneware
- Alexandria Furniture
- Original Documents
- George Washington Commemoration
See more about these collections in the photos gallery.
Collection includes late 18th- and early 19th-century pieces made by Charles Burnett, Adam Lynn, William Williams and John P. Latruite.
The Howard W. Smith, Jr. Silver Collection forms the core of the museum’s collection of locally made silver. This remarkable collection of 18th- and 19th-century silver from Alexandria and District of Columbia silversmiths was donated to the Museum in 2004 by the estate of Howard W. Smith, Jr., and was the focus of an exhibit, An Alexandria Legacy: The Howard W. Smith, Jr. Silver Collection, which ran from November 26, 2004 - March 27, 2005. Comprised of a variety of silver wares made in Alexandria from 1790 to 1850, the collection includes almost 600 pieces. It has added significantly to the knowledge and appreciation of local silversmiths and their work. Howard W. Smith, Jr., an Alexandria native and resident, was a collector and scholar of Alexandria-made silver for most of his life. His remarkable collection includes pieces made by Adam Lynn, John Pittman, Charles Burnett, John Adam, William Adam, William A. Williams, Mordecai Miller, John Gaither, Benjamin Barton, John Potter, and James Galt. Forms include tea sets, beakers, serving wares, ladles, and sugar tongs. An extensive collection of flatware also features the work of many lesser-known makers from the District of Columbia, and it includes forks, which are rare in early 19th century American silver flatware, as well as spoons.
This image includes a sugar bowl, cream jug and waste bowl, Charles A. Burnett ca. 1810; Details of finial and spout from a Charles A. Burnett teapot, ca. 1830; and a sauce tureen and ladle marked by Adam Lynn, ca. 1830.
The museum has a fine collection of ceramics, with an emphasis on 19th-century stoneware made and/or sold in Alexandria by John Swann, H.C. Smith, B.C. Milburn and E.J. Miller.
The Wilkes Street Pottery is the modern name given to Alexandria’s most successful stoneware manufactory, which operated on the 600 block of Wilkes Street from around 1810 to 1876. The beautiful decorative wares of the Wilkes Street potters were well known throughout Alexandria and the surrounding countryside, and are still sought after today.
This pitcher is by John Swann, ca. 1819-1821. (Photo by Gavin Ashworth for Ceramics in America)
The collection includes furniture made in Alexandria by Charles Koones and the Green family business.
This sideboard was made by Charles Koones, Alexandria (1820-1860)
The collection includes many personal and business papers from Alexandrians.
Illustrated is a five dollar bank note from The Merchants Bank of Alexandria, 1815.
George Washington is represented in the museum's collection with items created to commemorate, and celebrate, his life and achievements. A commemorative bust, postage stamp and sampler are three examples from the 19th century that show he was greatly admired at home, nationally, and abroad.
Alexandria was George Washington’s hometown, even as he served his country. When the seaport community was founded in 1749, Washington’s older half-brother Lawrence purchased two of the original lots and George drew one of the earliest known plats of the new town.
Washington became involved in a variety of business, social and civic activities in Alexandria. He purchased property and built a town house on Cameron Street. He attended court in Alexandria as a justice of the peace for Fairfax County, and the town was in the area he represented as a member of the House of Burgesses. Washington worshiped at Christ Church and patronized local taverns. When the Alexandria Academy opened in 1785 he contributed on an annual basis to support the free school, and left four thousand dollars in Bank of Alexandria stock for the school in his will. During Washington’s last illness, two of the three physicians attending him were from Alexandria. The Presbyterian Meeting House was the site of his funeral oration.
NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER
Young Ann Tottington Rudd’s sampler recalls George Washington’s career in a unique commemoration of Alexandria’s favorite son. Her work undoubtedly expresses the depth of feeling many Alexandria’s held toward Washington. Ann, born in 1804, was the daughter of Mary and William Rudd. The family immigrated to Alexandria from England sometime prior to 1815 and William leased a dwelling and shop on Prince Street. Click on image for detail.
1817, silk on linen, Ann Tottington Rudd, Alexandria. (Photograph by Anna Frame).
This bust of George Washington was made in time for the 1876 American Centennial Celebration. It is a ceramic piece from Wedgwood, measuring 18 1/4 inches high, and was based on Jean Antoine Houdon’s statue of Washington in the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. Houdon’s was the only sculpture of Washington done from life.
1875, Black Basalt stoneware, Wedgwood, Staffordshire, England.
The Lyceum’s 12-cent George Washington stamp was one of the first pre-paid postage stamps issued by the United States. The portrait on the stamp, released in 1851, was based on the painting of the first president by Gilbert Stuart. At the time, the 12-cent was the highest denomination of a U.S. stamp ever issued. It covered the over-3,000-mile double-weight rate of the quadruple-weight rate for a letter sent under 3,000 miles and was often used to pay the 24-cent, single-weight rate to England. Click on image for detail.
1851, Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., Philadelphia. Gift of Jude Abadie.
Collection includes late 18th- and early 19th-century pieces made by Charles Burnett, Adam Lynn, William Williams and John P. Latruite.
The Howard W. Smith, Jr. Silver Collection forms the core of the museum’s collection of locally made silver. This remarkable collection of 18th- and 19th-century silver from Alexandria and District of Columbia silversmiths was donated to the Museum in 2004 by the estate of Howard W. Smith, Jr., and was the focus of an exhibit, An Alexandria Legacy: The Howard W. Smith, Jr. Silver Collection, which ran from November 26, 2004 - March 27, 2005. Comprised of a variety of silver wares made in Alexandria from 1790 to 1850, the collection includes almost 600 pieces. It has added significantly to the knowledge and appreciation of local silversmiths and their work. Howard W. Smith, Jr., an Alexandria native and resident, was a collector and scholar of Alexandria-made silver for most of his life. His remarkable collection includes pieces made by Adam Lynn, John Pittman, Charles Burnett, John Adam, William Adam, William A. Williams, Mordecai Miller, John Gaither, Benjamin Barton, John Potter, and James Galt. Forms include tea sets, beakers, serving wares, ladles, and sugar tongs. An extensive collection of flatware also features the work of many lesser-known makers from the District of Columbia, and it includes forks, which are rare in early 19th century American silver flatware, as well as spoons.
This image includes a sugar bowl, cream jug and waste bowl, Charles A. Burnett ca. 1810; Details of finial and spout from a Charles A. Burnett teapot, ca. 1830; and a sauce tureen and ladle marked by Adam Lynn, ca. 1830.
The museum has a fine collection of ceramics, with an emphasis on 19th-century stoneware made and/or sold in Alexandria by John Swann, H.C. Smith, B.C. Milburn and E.J. Miller.
The Wilkes Street Pottery is the modern name given to Alexandria’s most successful stoneware manufactory, which operated on the 600 block of Wilkes Street from around 1810 to 1876. The beautiful decorative wares of the Wilkes Street potters were well known throughout Alexandria and the surrounding countryside, and are still sought after today.
This pitcher is by John Swann, ca. 1819-1821. (Photo by Gavin Ashworth for Ceramics in America)
The collection includes furniture made in Alexandria by Charles Koones and the Green family business.
This sideboard was made by Charles Koones, Alexandria (1820-1860)
The collection includes many personal and business papers from Alexandrians.
Illustrated is a five dollar bank note from The Merchants Bank of Alexandria, 1815.
George Washington is represented in the museum's collection with items created to commemorate, and celebrate, his life and achievements. A commemorative bust, postage stamp and sampler are three examples from the 19th century that show he was greatly admired at home, nationally, and abroad.
Alexandria was George Washington’s hometown, even as he served his country. When the seaport community was founded in 1749, Washington’s older half-brother Lawrence purchased two of the original lots and George drew one of the earliest known plats of the new town.
Washington became involved in a variety of business, social and civic activities in Alexandria. He purchased property and built a town house on Cameron Street. He attended court in Alexandria as a justice of the peace for Fairfax County, and the town was in the area he represented as a member of the House of Burgesses. Washington worshiped at Christ Church and patronized local taverns. When the Alexandria Academy opened in 1785 he contributed on an annual basis to support the free school, and left four thousand dollars in Bank of Alexandria stock for the school in his will. During Washington’s last illness, two of the three physicians attending him were from Alexandria. The Presbyterian Meeting House was the site of his funeral oration.
NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER
Young Ann Tottington Rudd’s sampler recalls George Washington’s career in a unique commemoration of Alexandria’s favorite son. Her work undoubtedly expresses the depth of feeling many Alexandria’s held toward Washington. Ann, born in 1804, was the daughter of Mary and William Rudd. The family immigrated to Alexandria from England sometime prior to 1815 and William leased a dwelling and shop on Prince Street. Click on image for detail.
1817, silk on linen, Ann Tottington Rudd, Alexandria. (Photograph by Anna Frame).
This bust of George Washington was made in time for the 1876 American Centennial Celebration. It is a ceramic piece from Wedgwood, measuring 18 1/4 inches high, and was based on Jean Antoine Houdon’s statue of Washington in the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. Houdon’s was the only sculpture of Washington done from life.
1875, Black Basalt stoneware, Wedgwood, Staffordshire, England.
The Lyceum’s 12-cent George Washington stamp was one of the first pre-paid postage stamps issued by the United States. The portrait on the stamp, released in 1851, was based on the painting of the first president by Gilbert Stuart. At the time, the 12-cent was the highest denomination of a U.S. stamp ever issued. It covered the over-3,000-mile double-weight rate of the quadruple-weight rate for a letter sent under 3,000 miles and was often used to pay the 24-cent, single-weight rate to England. Click on image for detail.
1851, Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., Philadelphia. Gift of Jude Abadie.
Collections Policies
Like all professional museums, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum abides by a Collections Policy in acquiring and caring for collections. The Historic Alexandria Museums worked together to create a set of collections policies that define the scope of each museum’s collections and set policies for caring for them in accordance with the special needs of each collection.
The goal of the Museum is to actively preserve and interpret this historic landmark and its collections in order to foster an appreciation by Alexandria residents and the general public of its historic value. The Museum staff is additionally responsible for preserving and interpreting the Friendship Firehouse Museum and Friendship Firehouse collection.
Collection Goals: The purpose of the museum's collection is to provide for the preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of material culture pertaining to Alexandria's comprehensive history and the city's role in American history. As both a community history museum and a historic site, the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum collects artifacts representing all time periods of Alexandria and the surrounding region’s past, as well as objects relevant for interpreting The Lyceum as a historic site.
The Friendship Firehouse Museum and Friendship Firehouse collection consist of the building and objects of the Friendship Fire Company, and the organization’s twentieth-century incarnation, the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association; it is not a collecting museum.
The staff collaborates with other local museums and historical organizations to ensure that artifacts are placed in the most appropriate repository for long-term preservation and educational purposes. The museum will collect only those objects for which professional care, storage and security can be provided.
Acquisition: The museum's permanent collection is established through gifts, bequests, purchases, transfers from other institutions, and collecting by staff members. Prior to acquisition each object will be evaluated by the Director and Curator.