Showing Collections: 1 - 25 of 62
Abraham Family photographs
Collection
Identifier: SC 01862
Content Description
A collection of 27 8x10 silver gelatin prints that includes photographs of Dana Abraham's family. Each photograph is black and white with white borders, and spans from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023. Most of the photographs are of young women and girls of the Abraham family, with some elderly members of the family also included. The photographs are representative of the Abraham family's bond. Statement from creator and donor Dana Abraham: "The bond my family shares is something truly...
Dates:
2022-2023
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
African American Family Photo Album
Collection
Identifier: MS 00229
Scope and Contents
A photo album, circa 1940-1950, of an unidentified African-American family, most likely of Richmond, Virginia. The album contains snapshots of multiple family members, taken at schools and colleges including Maggie L. Walker High School and Virginia Union University. Holiday and other events are depicted in the photographs along with shots of the Bell Tower, Kingsley Hall, Pickford Hall, and Moore Street Baptist Church. Several Richmond streets and landmarks are also featured in the photos,...
Dates:
Circa 1940-1950
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
African American Family Photographs
Collection
Identifier: MS 00230
Scope and Contents
Photographs of an African-American family, circa 1880-1960, most likely of Richmond, Virgina. Included are snapshots, studio portraits and photo postcards of family members and also a postcard of the "Barracks of Colored Recruits, Camp Lee, Petersburg, Va." (addressed to Eliza Chatman, Richmond, Va.). Some photos are identified by first names or location. Names include Pearl, Russell, Constance, Berkley, Allen, Beverley Boxyem, Samuel, Mary, James, Horace, Sarah, Mother Booker, Julie,...
Dates:
circa 1880-1960
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Andrew Reid Record Book
Collection
Identifier: Mss. MsV Lev13
Scope and Contents
Copy of a record book kept by Andrew Reid, clerk of Rockbridge County, Virginia, entitled "For the Registering of Free Negroes [of Rockbridge County] according to the Act . . . of the General Assembly of Virginia, passed January 25, 1803" which includes physical descriptions, ages, information on former owners and record of emancipation. The volume was also used as a registry of boats to comply with An act of the General Assembly of Virginia entitled "an act regulating the navigation of...
Dates:
1803-1828
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Florence Barber Diary
Collection
Identifier: SC 00834
Scope and Contents
This diary was formerly described as an unattributed diary and entitled: Diary (Portsmouth, Va.), 1901, but has now been attributed to Florence Barber of Norfolk, Virginia. In brief daily entries she talks about the weather, chores, and social life, trips to town, church, attending meetings, etc. In August she went to visit churches and schools in Georgia and Alabama, like Atlanta University and Spelman College, both historically black schools. She also mentions teaching music, attending...
Dates:
1902
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Black Education in Williamsburg-James City County, 1619-1984
Collection
Identifier: SC 00395
Scope and Contents
A report sponsored by the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools and the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, "Black Education in Williamsburg-James City County, 1619-1984" by Philip D. Morgan, 1985. 1 item. 76 pp.
Dates:
compiled in 1985
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Dave Brown to Laura Letter
Collection
Identifier: SC 01257
Scope and Contents
Letter from Dave Brown, Williamsburg, Virginia to Laura where he refers to a book, Alone by Marion Harland, describes the negroes and their activities in the area and tells about the sale of a farm, his job and commissions. 4 pp. September 6, 1878. Letter is fragile and in need of repair.
Dates:
1878 September 6
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Bucktrout-Smith Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 00142
Scope and Contents
Papers of Richard M. Bucktrout, merchant and mortician in Williamsburg, Virginia. Includes correspondence, receipts, financial papers, records of soldiers killed at the Battle of Williamsburg and legal papers, dated 1855 to 1869. List of deaths at the Seminary Hospital from July to November 1861 in Williamsburg, Virginia and coffins made for soldiers dying in Williamsburg in July-August 1861.The business papers of Sydney Smith, dated 1874 to 1929.Lists names of people...
Dates:
1855-1929
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Charles Edward Gary, Jr. Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 00017
Scope and Contents
These papers contain correspondence, photographs, business papers, artifacts, certificates, and other materials related to Charles Edward Gary, Jr. Mr. Gary was a prominent African American business owner in Williamsburg, operating for decades the West End Valet Shop off Prince George Street. The collection comprises business ledgers and other West End Valet Shop records over several years, as well as legal documents pertaining to the Valet Shop and Gary family estates such as leases and...
Dates:
circa 1870s-2000s; Majority of material found in 1940-1980
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Civilian Conservation Corps Photographs, Petersburg and Waverly, Virginia
Collection
Identifier: Mss. Acc. 2008.108
Scope and Contents
71 photographs of people, buildings and grounds at the Civilian Conservation Corps camps in Petersburg, Virginia and Waverly, Virginia. The Petersburg Camp, a predominantly white camp, was Company 1364, and the Waverly Camp, a predominantly black camp, was Camp P-55, Company 376. Captain Joseph James Matthews was the commander and responsible for the construction and landscaping of the camp, plus the training of the men.Alice Erickson, the daughter of Captain Joseph James...
Dates:
1933-1939
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Henry Denison Cole Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss. 39.1 C67
Scope and Contents
Included are minutes of the Wise Light Infantry Co. of Williamsburg, 1881-1882; the College of William and Mary Alumni Association, 1906-1917; papers concerning the College of William and Mary including letters, 1873, from Benjamin S. Ewell; the Williamsburg Free School Trustees, 1870-1907; and the Democratic Committee of Williamsburg. Also accounts of the state school funds, 1894-1911; the city school funds, 1906-1911, 1919-1924; Bruton Parish Church 1897-1938; and of Robert F....
Dates:
1786-1939
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Conway D. Whittle letter
Collection
Identifier: SC 01857
Content Description
Letter to Richmond, Virginia slave traders Davis, Deupree and Co., from Virginia physician Conway Davies Whittle inquiring about the rates of sale of 24 enslaved persons owned by Whittle. Age, gender, complexion, and skills are mentioned to describe the enslaved people.
Dates:
1860 November 2
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Cormay Graham and Myrtle Wynter correspondence
Collection
Identifier: SC 01892
Content Description
Correspondence contains fourteen letters sent to and from Cormay Graham and Myrtle Wynter, two African American women attending college including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) during the mid-twentieth century. Cormay Graham attended Bennett College while Myrtle Winder attended King William Training School. The letters contain information about their families, daily lives, and experiences in college. Letters also contain information about their families and friends in...
Dates:
1949-1953
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Gerald Cowden Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss. Acc. 2000.40
Scope and Contents
Research material of Gerald Steffens Cowden from his Ph.D. dissertation on the Randolph's of Virginia, "The Randolphs of Turkey Island: a Prosopography of the First Three Generations, 1650-1806. " Also includes other works and essays from his earlier education, and the research accompanying those essays as well.
Dates:
1965-1982
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Herbert and Doris Crump Rainey Papers
Collection
Identifier: MS 00203
Content Description
This collections consists of photographs and papers primarily belonging to Doris Crump Rainey, but also her husband Herbert Rainey, who both lived in Williamsburg. Doris was involved with a local neighborhood association of women called the Philodendron Club; some local Baptist churches, especially Mt. Ararat Baptist Church; and with her 40th and 50th high school reunion from the class of 1945 Bruton Heights School (BHS). The papers and photos also show that the Raineys were involved in the...
Dates:
Other: circa 1945-2013
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Georgia Ragsdale Curtis Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss. Acc. 2010.500
Scope and Contents
Collection contains printed materials, photographs, and church-related documents related to Georgia Ragsdale Curtis of Roanoke, Virginia and her family including her sister Laura Ragsdale Barnett. The earliest materials include a 1912 handwritten diary of a Ragsdale family member. The papers in the collection include newspaper clippings of family obituaries, family funeral service programs, family photographs, civil rights related papers and magazines, Addison High School and Patrick Henry...
Dates:
1912-2002; Majority of material found in 1930-1975
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Ebenezer Baptist Church
Collection
Identifier: SC 01191
Scope and Contents
Brochures from the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia including the 142nd Anniversary Celebration in 2007 and Services of Installation for Reverend LeRoy Hill, Jr. as the 10th Pastor in 2005.
Dates:
2005-2007
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Edwin Taliaferro Collection
Collection
Identifier: UA 6.116
Scope and Contents
The collection includes two manuscript volumes two and three of "A Rational Grammar of the French Language," written by Taliaferro, circa 1860 (the whereabouts of volume one are unknown), letters, Taliaferro's obituary, and photocopies of manuscripts written by Taliaferro but in private ownership.The first letter is written by Edwin in Williamsburg to his brother, William Booth in Gloucester, and dated January 14, 1866. Edwin is disappointed he wasn't able to visit at Christmas...
Dates:
1860, 1866, 1971
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Employment Contract between Cornelia Brooks and F. C. Twyman
Collection
Identifier: SC 00204
Scope and Contents
Contract between Cornelia Brooks and F.C. Twyman for hiring her son Frank for "the whole of the present year...Twyman agrees to give him for his services his necessary board tgether with one suit of summer & one suit of winter clothes & one pair of winter shoes and she the said Cornelia Brooks (coloured woman) binds herself to live with & work diligently and faithfully for said Twyman during the year - to do necessary housework, cooking...to do what she can to promote the general...
Dates:
1867 January 9
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Farrar Family Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss. Acc. 2008.71
Scope and Contents
The collection includes letters, contracts, deeds, wills, St. Luke Penny Bank medallions, cemetery plot receipts, plans, blueprints, photographs, birth and death certificates relating to members of the Farrar family of Richmond, Virginia. Daniel James Farrar (1862-1925) had a profound effect on the architecture of the city of Richmond. Daniel followed the example of his father, Joseph who was the son of a free black. Farrar was involved with at least 14 buildings in the 1890’s as designer,...
Dates:
1875-1964
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
First Baptist Church collection
Collection
Identifier: MS 00341
Content Description
This collection is formed of materials created by the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, dating from the mid-1800s to the present day. Inculded in this collection are church records such as member rolls, meeting minutes, photographs, bibles, building blueprints, and audio visual materials.
Dates:
1866 - 2017
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Galt Papers (II)
Collection
Identifier: Mss. 78 G13 (II)
Scope and Contents
Papers, 1840-1862, of John M. Galt II concerning his work at the Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia. Includes correspondence, reports, clinical notes, medical diaries, financial papers, and printed material. Two scrapbooks of newspaper clippings were added to the collection in 2011 and are in Box 17. The subject matter is mental health with topics such as insanity, murder, suicide and criminal behavior. Some clippings are about Eastern State Hospital (Virginia...
Dates:
1840-1862
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Jesse Green Affidavit
Collection
Identifier: SC 01570
Scope and Contents
Two page filing with the City of Petersburg regarding the residence, wealth, and suspicious death of Green's sister, Fillis Turner, a free African American who resided with Phil Seward. Within the Affidavit, Green accounts the tumultuous relationship between his sister and her companion, the money she had on hand before her death, and the sudden and suspicious nature of her death. In his affidavit, Green requests a full inquiry of the courts into these matters on behalf of himself and his...
Dates:
1863 August 01
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Thaddeus S. Harris Account Books
Collection
Identifier: MS 00174
Scope and Contents
Three account books of free African American, Thaddeus S. Harris, of Abingdon, Virginia, dated 1855-1861, 1861-1866 and 1868. Goods purchased include items such as tobacco, sardines, cheese, sugar, candy, hair trims and shaves. Some books have an index. Census reports list him as a barber and confectioner.
Dates:
1855-1868
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center
Hart Papers I and II
Collection
Identifier: Mss. 39.1 H29
Scope and Contents
Papers, 1847-1934, including correspondence, essays, articles, and poems by John Hart, a Richmond book seller and poems, short stories, and a novel by his wife, Katherine M. Hart. The papers of John Hart include letters concerning the sale of books and two letters by James Branch Cabell. The collection includes diplomas and certificates awarded by the University of Virginia to his [father ?] John Hart of Louisa County, Va. The Hart Papers (II) series contains 200...
Dates:
1847-1934
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center