Special Collections Research Center

Letter written on December 4, 1781 from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Baron de Watergeul Boom to "Mon Cher Ami" concerning celebration on board French ship after Yorktown Campaign. He writes poetry about the party, particularly talking of bachelorhood. Baron de Watergeul Boom may be a pseudonym. Includes poem with classical allusion which is annotated. Original letter is written in French, but English transcription is included.

This item is a November 1933 plat map of Barrett's Ferry, a property along the James River. The land was the property of G.T. Brooks.

Typed carbon transcript from a draft of John Bartram's journal of a trip to Maryland and Virginia in 1738. Note on transcript "most important, never published in full, EGS." EGS is Earl Gregg Swem. Another note states, "the journey of 1738, which is outlined in [William] Darlington, letter to [Peter] Collinson, December 1738. See 'Brothers of the Spade' [by E.G. Swem]." Includes notes and correspondence on John Bartram by Earl Gregg Swem in 1926.

Account book, 1852, for board at Bath Alum Springs, Bath County, Va. which was also used as a scrapbook for newspaper clippings containing verse and household hints. Many of the accounts were receipted by E. Augustus Dudley.

Letters, 1838 August - September 6, of Lucy T. Baytop and her son Thomas C. Baytop to James Baytop, Gloucester Court House, Va. and including a letter, 1838, of Thomas C. Baytop to Jefferson W. Stubbs. The letters are written from Richmond, Va., Staunton, Va. and Lewisburg, Va. [now W. Va.] and concern a trip to Lewisburg.

Patricia Beach is a former pupil of the Cape Charles Elementary School, a former Rosenwald school. Patricia Beach describes her life and experiences living in Cape Charles during segregation. Patricia Beach details a typical day attending a former Rosenwald School.

Daybook entries for furniture and buying lumber (chair plank), 1842-1854, of John L. Beard. approximately 64 leaves. : bound volume ; 16 cm.

Daybook of John L. Beard, cabinetmaker of Middlebrook, Augusta Co., Va. 107 p. : bound volume ; 31 cm.

See also John L. Beard Ledger (Mss. MsV Ac2).

Ledger of John L. Beard, cabinetmaker of Middlebrook, Augusta Co., Va. which includes formulas and directions for the making of glue and wood finishes; and contains measurements for certain pieces of furniture. Beard also made coffins. The volume contains minutes of the Nestorian Debating Society. 71 p. : bound volume ; 31 cm.

See also John L. Beard Daybook (Mss. MsV Ac1).

Papers (including correspondence) of Eva V. Beard, Nannie S. Beard, and John Link Beard of Augusta County, Virginia. Includes letter, 1843, of J. E. Carnes describing a trip by land and river boat from Augusta County, Virginiaa. to Licking County, Ohio (describing Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio, particularly Cincinnati); a portion of John L. Beard's account book, 1834-1865, listing coffins made; and an order for exchange of Civil War prisoners at Richmond.

A 271 page dairy written by Beatrice E. Smither, a young woman working at the law firm Williams and Mullen in Richmond, VA. Over the year of 1925, Smither writes about a variety of topics including work, civic and church clubs, politics, family, friends, as well as her romances with two separate men, Cy and George.

A large majority of the diary is written in longhand, but there are some passages in shorthand as well.

Content warning for mentions of alcholism.

Account books of Beauregard Furnace located in Wythe County, Va. which was under contract to supply pig iron to Tredegar Iron Works during the American Civil War.

Journal and ledger, 1817-1820, of Bedinger & Forman, millers, Berkeley County, Va. [W. Va.] which contains grist mill accounts, 1817-1820, and includes a copy of the constitution, 1850, of the Altonian Debating Society and minutes of the meetings.

Receipt book for accounts paid by Henry Bedinger of Berkeley County, Virginia, 1789-1801.  Also contains accounts of a private school with teachers and pupils, 1848-1849  (5 pages at end of book), farm memoranda and accounts of an unknown person with farm laborers (including a list of negroes hired for manual labor) and household servants, 1856-1873.  182 pages.

Manuscript draft, dated October 30, 1864, written by Henry Ward Beecher comparing Abraham Lincoln to Wendell Phillips, being particularly praiseworthy of Phillips. Typescript included.

This collection contains a list of lots in the first district of Virginia with their improvements, dwelling houses, and enslaved persons. The lots were owned by Joseph Bell and Andrew Kincannon, Jr. They were located at Cripple Creek, Wythe County, Virginia, on the south side of Lick Mountain and the north side of Iron Mountain. Included in the list are iron furnaces, forges, houses, barns, and fourteen enslaved men valued at $5,600.

Business ledgers of receipts and expenditures for Dr. Baxter I. Bell for Bell Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia and one folder of loose business papers (25 items). 1926 to 1970. (Acc. 1995.61 and 1999.11)

The John Newton Bell papers includes personal and professional correspondence from relatives, business associates and religious figures throughout Virginia and the greater Appalachia. Letters document subject areas including the Civil War, the hospitalization of women in mental health facilities, agricultural issues, and religious matters related to the Presbyterian Church.

Edward Belvin's Collection of Williamsburg and James City County, Virginia material. Includes copies of wills and death certificates, correspondence and certificates.