15.14 Loudoun County Better Government Club

The package starts with a letter from Oscar Emerick to principals in November, 1943 advertising essays designed for civics classes in the seventh grade and high school. Various Essays on county government organization.

Very likely, these papers fed into how the civics curriculum was developed, especially for the 8-12^th grades; but also seem to have been associated with “Loudoun County Better Government Club” which existed in 1945 might be related to internal discussions of that group. See Blue Ridge Herald, October 11, 1945. Page Six. “More Comparisons on Cost of County Government.” While virtually the entire substance deals with management or discussions about form of governments, given the probable link to the Club, we have placed the packet under clubs in 15.1, though it was originally labeled County Government: 1943-1956..

County of Albemarle Virginia, Financial Report, 1943-1944.
Memo of September 5, 1945 from O.L. Emerick to Wilbur Hall inquiring about hiring practices of the Sheriff.
Memo of November 28, 1945 from O.L. Emerick to three important citizens reflecting on a meeting. “It strikes me that the three ideas we emphasized need bearing down on in any further discussions……3. The development of the thought that we do not trust the Board of Supervisors.”
Undated chart on Executive Form of Government. Emerick showed himself reporting to the School Board and they to the Board of Supervisors but not School Trustee Electoral Board is shown..
January, 1937 chart on Present County Government. Very similar to undated chart but shows School Trustee Electoral Board over the school Board, which is above the Division Superintendent.
Special Memorandum on Forum at Hamilton. Various issues are raised about the system of government
Preliminary Remarks. A set of notes questioning the current form of Loudoun government and suggesting other models for consideration.
The government of Loudoun County, 1945.
The government of Loudoun County, November 18, 1946.
The government of Loudoun County, Feb 6, 1951. A breakdown of elements of the government and they meet as well as their responsibilities and expenditures in 1950.
The Government of Loudoun County, Revised, March 1, 1953.
Letter of March 19, 1947 from Ruth H. Potts of “Potts and Potts: Dry Good and Notions.” She asked for some information on the courts; but weather prevented meeting again.
May 20 (Year Unknown). “Know Your County Government.” Discusses various element of the government. Extensive discussion of the School Trustee Electoral Board.” The memo notes that the form of Trustee appointments to the School Board had been under criticism for some time, with some wanting school board to appointed by government bodies as done in the cities, whereas the modern form in counties is to have the school boards appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
County Government: Chapter V – Health and Sanitation. Undated discussion of how health was handled in the county, especially free services. No discussion of services to African-Americans.
County Government. Chapter VI. Education. Detailed summary who reports to whom and the budget implications of education.
Memo from OL. Emerick to Teachers of Civics, Feb 6, 1951. Emerick suggested that the students investigate this issue and report back.
Letter of Aug 19, 1953, from O.L. Emerick to Mrs. Philip Bradley asking for 100 copies of the revised Loudoun County Government. This was likely the March 1. 1953 booklet mentioned earlier.
County Executive Form of Government. Undated discussion of offices, including some that had been abolished. County Surveyor, Superintendent of Poor, School Trustee Electoral Board and inheritance Tax Commissioner. Unfortunately, the memo was not dated and didn’t say when the School Trustee Electoral Board was abolished.

For more information on the movement, ask the Edwin Washington Project for access to box 15.14. Project HQ is in the Douglass High School Building, 407 E. Market Street, Suite 106, Leesburg, Va 20176.