Post Office Box 110
Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121
Phone: (703) 780-2000
WWW: http://www.mountvernon.org/image/libraryandcollection.html
The association maintains a collection of manuscripts
on the domestic life of George and Martha Washington. The collection
is catalogued by date, writer and recipient in most cases. There
is no subject index, therefore no finding aids exist relevant
to the atmospheric sciences.
Textual Records
- GEORGE WASHINGTON'S PRIVATE DIARY.
January-March, May-December 1797. Bound MS,
70 pages. Washington kept meticulous records of weather in his
diary. Here may be found daily notes on temperatures; wind speeds
and directions; precipitation; and weather patterns.
- LETTERS OF LUND WASHINGTON TO GEORGE WASHINGTON,
1767- 1783.
Forty-six letters from the manager of Mount
Vernon to owner of same. Lund Washington, a distant cousin, is
known primarily as manager of George Washington's estate during
the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783, although before the war he managed
the estate during George Washington's occasional absences. Scattered
references to the weather.
- RECORD OF WORK DONE ON MOUNT VERNON FARMS,
1786-1787.
Bound MS, in hand of George Augustine Washington,
nephew of George Washington, and Tobias Lear, Secretary to George
Washington, 116 pages. Record of work done each week on Mount
Vernon farms during the period November 18, 1786-April 28, 1787.
Scattered reports on weather.
- FARM REPORTS FOR MOUNT VERNON FARMS.
1790-February 21-27, March 14-20, August 8-14,
September 4-11, September 12-18, December 5-11; 1793--January
6-12, February 10-16, March 17-23, August 4-10. Manuscript reports.
Meteorological Instruments
- THERMOMETER BOARD.
Made by Joseph Gatty, New York, ca. 1790s.
Length - 15 13/16 inches, Width - 3 1/8 inches. Presently on
display in the Washington bedchamber.
- BAROMETER/THERMOMETER IN NARROW MAHOGANY,
BANJO-SHAPED CASE.
Made by Gilbert & Sons, London. Length
- 41 3/4 inches. On display in Washington's study.
- BAROMETER/THERMOMETER, SHIP'S.
Made by James Bosnett, Liverpool. Length -
37 inches. Currently stored in the closet off of Washington's
bedchamber.
- WEATHERVANE, IN FORM OF A DOVE-OF-PEACE.
Copper body bound with iron strips. Head is
lead to balance weight of body. Weight - 19 1/2 pounds, wing
tip to wing tip - 35 inches. Made by Joseph Rakestraw, 1787.
