Norfolk NATO Festival Collection, 1954-2015 | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Will Hopkins

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Collection Overview

Title: Norfolk NATO Festival Collection, 1954-2015

ID: 001/01/MSS 2015-009

Primary Creator: Norfolk NATO Festival (1953-)

Extent: 19.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged in original order, generally in chronological order. Photographs are separated by size in chronological order.

Date Acquired: 08/12/2015

Subjects: International Azalea Festival (Norfolk, Va.), Norfolk (Va.), Norfolk (Va.)--Social life and customs--20th century, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, North Atlantic Treaty Organization--Anniversaries, etc., Organizations, Portrait photography, Spring festivals--Virginia--Norfolk--History

Forms of Material: Booklets, Brochures, Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence, Financial records, Invitations, Membership lists, Photographs, Portraits, Press releases, Programs

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Official documents, correspondence, promotional materials, newspaper clippings, photographs, and memorabilia collected by the Norfolk NATO Festival in Norfolk, Virginia.

Biographical Note

The Norfolk NATO Festival began in 1953 as the International Azalea Festival, with main events held at the city's expanded Azalea Garden (now Norfolk Botanical Garden). The Festival soon became associated with NATO, which had established an Atlantic headquarters in Norfolk in the early 1950s. Festival queens were selected from various NATO member countries, and annual Festival events had member-country themes. Notable American queens included Linda Baines Johnson, Tricia Nixon, and Susan Ford. The event was renamed the Norfolk NATO Festival in 2010. It remains the longest-running festival in Virginia.

Subject/Index Terms

International Azalea Festival (Norfolk, Va.)
Norfolk (Va.)
Norfolk (Va.)--Social life and customs--20th century
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
North Atlantic Treaty Organization--Anniversaries, etc.
Organizations
Portrait photography
Spring festivals--Virginia--Norfolk--History

Administrative Information

Repository: Sargeant Memorial Collection

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to all researchers.

Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the Unitied States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Source: Norfolk NATO Festival by donation

Preferred Citation: Norfolk NATO Festival Collection, MSS 2015-009, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: Processed in March 2020.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Records, 1962-1995],
[Box 2: Records, 1998-2006],
[Box 3: Records / Photographs, 1954-2008],
[Box 4: Photographs, 1999-2007],
[Box 5: Photographs, 2007-2014, undated],
[Box 6: Photographs, 1983-2000],
[Box 7: Photographs, 1990, 2001, 2003],
[Box 8: Memorabilia, circa 2003-2013],
[Box 9: Tiaras, circa 2007-2009],
[Box 10: Sashes, circa 2007-2009],
[Box 11: Oversized Items, 1983, 1998, 2014],
[Series 1: International Azalea Festival Queen Portraits],
[All]

Box 3: Records / Photographs, 1954-2008

Folder 1: Records, International Azalea Festival, 2007: Includes correspondence, promotional materials, and invitations.
Folder 2: Records, International Azalea Festival, 2008: Includes correspondence, promotional materials, and financial records.
Folder 3: Queen identification cards, 1954-1986: Includes information about the queen and her family.
Folder 4: Miscellaneous records, 1989, undated: Includes the Festival's 1989 Articles of Incorporation.
Folder 5: Book, Norfolk's International Azalea Festival, 2002
Folder 6: Photographs, Azalea Queens I-XVI, 1954-1969: Includes the first queen, Pat Priest, Luci Johnson, and Tricia Nixon.
Folder 7: Photographs, Azalea Queen XXX and officials, 1983
Folder 8: Photographs, 1991
Folder 9: Photographs, Blue Angels, 1997