McKenney-Mills Collection (MS413)

Collection

Identifier: MS413

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains research materials, ephemora, and photographs collected by or created by Mike McKenney, Thomas Mills Jr., and Thomas Mills III, that document the Alexandria Fire Department.

Dates

2000

Creator

McKenney, Ashton N. (Mike), 1921-2005 (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Ashton "Mike" McKenney was a long time member of the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department, starting in 1940. Later in his career, he worked as the historian for the AFD and wrote A History of the Relief Truck and Engine Company No. 1 of the Alexandria Fire Department (1788-1958). In 1956, Mike moved in with close friend Thomas Mills, Jr. and his family. He retired in 1972 from the Dulles International Airport Fire Department, and lived out his days with the Mills family in Colonial Beach where he was a charter member of the Colonial Yacht Club.

Thomas Mills III was a firefighter with the Alexandria Fire Department. Both he and his father had a penchant for grabbing their camera while headed to a fire, in order to capture the efforts of the fire companies. Tom also loved fire trucks and engines and documented that love with research and photographs, while both Mills and McKenney collected photos that documented the history of the AFD.