Vowell-Creighton Family Collection (MS024)
Content Description
The collection consists of various objects, writings and ephemera pertaining to the Vowell-Creighton family. Most of the materials are from Hattie Vowell-Creighton. Writings include genealogical information and poetry written by Hattie. One piece of realia: a locket which includes a lock of hair, likely from Mary Vowell. There are a number of unidentified photographs, likely Vowell-Creighton family members. The oversized materials include certificates for the United Daughters of the Confederacy and an application for the Daughters of the Revolution.
Dates
- 1890 - 1970
Biographical / Historical
Thomas Vowell and his brother John C. Vowell came over from England between the years 1749 and 1800. They were amongst the first settlement, to help build the town of Alexandria, Virginia. Thomas Vowell and his brother had a thriving shipping business before 1799. The firm occupied a warehouse on Prince Street but moved in 1805 to Union Street between King and Prince Street. In 1798 Thomas bought the property at 619 South Lee Street and constructed a house on it. He sold the property to Edgar Snowden, the editor of the Alexandria Gazette in 1842.
Thomas Vowell married three times. His first two wives: Mary Harper and Charlotte H. Douglas have both passed away. His third wife, Elizabeth Truscott would remain with him for the rest of his life. Thomas and Elizabeth had a daughter, Harriet Vowell on June 13, 1843.
Harriet Vowell married a druggist, William Franklin Creighton (b. January 5, 1840). They had three living children. In 1885, he purchased a wholesale and retail pharmacy located at the corner of King and Royal Streets. The continuous family owned the drug store until the 1964 urban renewal project when the building was destroyed.
Extent
.42 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Condition Description
Photos are fragile. If necessary, photos are to be handled with untreated nitrile or latex gloves.
- Title
- Vowell-Creighton Family Collection Finding Aid
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library Repository