{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Nottoway+County+%28Va.%29+John+Mitchell%2C+Jr.+Campaign+Button%2C+%0Aundated","last":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Nottoway+County+%28Va.%29+John+Mitchell%2C+Jr.+Campaign+Button%2C+%0Aundated\u0026page=1"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":1,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}},"data":[{"id":"vi_vi01647","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated","creator":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi01647#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Nottoway County (Va.) Circuit Court\n","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi01647#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eJohn Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated, is a one-inch diameter button featuring a photographic portrait of John Mitchell, Jr. and the phrase \"For Supreme Chancellor, John Mitchell Jr.\" This button was probably used as publicity for Mitchell's campaign to become head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, an African American benevolent association.The reverse of the button states that it was made by the Whitehead and Hoag Company of Newark, NJ. \u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi01647#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"vi_vi01647","ead_ssi":"vi_vi01647","_root_":"vi_vi01647","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi01647","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi01647.xml","title_ssm":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated"],"title_tesim":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1172999\n"],"text":["1172999\n","Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated","African American fraternal organizations--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Campaign insignia.","Buttons (informational artifacts)--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Local government records--Virginia--Nottoway County.","1 item (1 button)"," This item is shelved in the Vault.\n","Biographical Information:  John Mitchell, Jr. was born July 11, 1863 in Henrico County, Virginia to slave parents. He graduated from Richmond High and Normal School in 1881 and pursued a career as a teacher for several years. In 1884, he became the second editor of the newspaper the Richmond Planet, a black weekly paper founded by former slaves in the city of Richmond in 1883. He remained its editor for forty five years during which time he used his position and his paper to protest all forms of racial discrimination, prejudice, and hypocricy, especially lynching, earning for himself the title of \"the fighting editor.\" By 1887, the paper was one of the largest circulating black newspapers in the South. Mitchell was prominent in the Virginia Republican party and served as Jackson Ward's delegate to Richmond City Council from 1888 to 1896. He ran for governor of Virginia on an all-black ticket in 1921. He founded the Mechanics Savings Bank in 1902 and was head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, a benevolent association. His bank failed in 1922 after accusations of mismanagement and he died a short time afterwards on December 3, 1929. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. \n","Historical Information: The Knight of Pythias was a fraternal benevolent association founded in 1864. In 1870, a white chapter refused to admit African American members although after years of petitioning, some light-skinned African Americans were accepted. One of these men, Dr. Thomas W. Stringer of Mississippi, later formed what is often referred to as the Colored Knights of Pythias although their official name was The Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The Colored Knights had many chapters throughout the United States. The organization provided community services such as insurance, burial services, and other welfare functions. The Colored Knights suffered a decline in membership after the Depression and does not survive much today. In Richmond, Virginia, the Pythian Hall was for many years located in the same building as the Mechanics Savings Bank founded by John Mitchell, Jr.\n","Lost Locality Note:  Many records were destroyed or heavily mutilated in 1865 by Union troops during the Civil War. A few volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.\n","This item was digitized by request under the Photolab number 07_0034_0206.tif. "," See also: T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson, Etc. vs. Administrator of James F. Jackson, Etc.[Chancery Cause 1937-001] in  Nottoway County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1818-1968 (bulk 1900-1952).","Nottoway County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Nottoway County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the  Lost Records Localities Digital Collection  available on the library of virginia website.\n","John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated, is a one-inch diameter button featuring a photographic portrait of John Mitchell, Jr. and the phrase \"For Supreme Chancellor, John Mitchell Jr.\" This button was probably used as publicity for Mitchell's campaign to become head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, an African American benevolent association.The reverse of the button states that it was made by the Whitehead and Hoag Company of Newark, NJ.\n "," The button was used as a fastener for some papers in the Nottoway County (Va.) chancery cause T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson and others versus Administrator of James F. Jackson and others (1937-001) to which it is entirely unrelated.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Nottoway County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Knights of Pythias (Richmond, Va.)","Mitchell, John. 1863-1929.","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1172999\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated"],"collection_title_tesim":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated"],"collection_ssim":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Nottoway County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Nottoway County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Nottoway County.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African American fraternal organizations--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Campaign insignia.","Buttons (informational artifacts)--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Local government records--Virginia--Nottoway County."],"access_subjects_ssm":["African American fraternal organizations--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Campaign insignia.","Buttons (informational artifacts)--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Local government records--Virginia--Nottoway County."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["1 item (1 button)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e This item is shelved in the Vault.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions\n"],"accessrestrict_tesim":[" This item is shelved in the Vault.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e \u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eBiographical Information:\u003c/emph\u003e John Mitchell, Jr. was born July 11, 1863 in Henrico County, Virginia to slave parents. He graduated from Richmond High and Normal School in 1881 and pursued a career as a teacher for several years. In 1884, he became the second editor of the newspaper the Richmond Planet, a black weekly paper founded by former slaves in the city of Richmond in 1883. He remained its editor for forty five years during which time he used his position and his paper to protest all forms of racial discrimination, prejudice, and hypocricy, especially lynching, earning for himself the title of \"the fighting editor.\" By 1887, the paper was one of the largest circulating black newspapers in the South. Mitchell was prominent in the Virginia Republican party and served as Jackson Ward's delegate to Richmond City Council from 1888 to 1896. He ran for governor of Virginia on an all-black ticket in 1921. He founded the Mechanics Savings Bank in 1902 and was head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, a benevolent association. His bank failed in 1922 after accusations of mismanagement and he died a short time afterwards on December 3, 1929. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e \u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eHistorical Information:\u003c/emph\u003eThe Knight of Pythias was a fraternal benevolent association founded in 1864. In 1870, a white chapter refused to admit African American members although after years of petitioning, some light-skinned African Americans were accepted. One of these men, Dr. Thomas W. Stringer of Mississippi, later formed what is often referred to as the Colored Knights of Pythias although their official name was The Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The Colored Knights had many chapters throughout the United States. The organization provided community services such as insurance, burial services, and other welfare functions. The Colored Knights suffered a decline in membership after the Depression and does not survive much today. In Richmond, Virginia, the Pythian Hall was for many years located in the same building as the Mechanics Savings Bank founded by John Mitchell, Jr.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e \u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Note: \u003c/emph\u003eMany records were destroyed or heavily mutilated in 1865 by Union troops during the Civil War. A few volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Biographical Information:  John Mitchell, Jr. was born July 11, 1863 in Henrico County, Virginia to slave parents. He graduated from Richmond High and Normal School in 1881 and pursued a career as a teacher for several years. In 1884, he became the second editor of the newspaper the Richmond Planet, a black weekly paper founded by former slaves in the city of Richmond in 1883. He remained its editor for forty five years during which time he used his position and his paper to protest all forms of racial discrimination, prejudice, and hypocricy, especially lynching, earning for himself the title of \"the fighting editor.\" By 1887, the paper was one of the largest circulating black newspapers in the South. Mitchell was prominent in the Virginia Republican party and served as Jackson Ward's delegate to Richmond City Council from 1888 to 1896. He ran for governor of Virginia on an all-black ticket in 1921. He founded the Mechanics Savings Bank in 1902 and was head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, a benevolent association. His bank failed in 1922 after accusations of mismanagement and he died a short time afterwards on December 3, 1929. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. \n","Historical Information: The Knight of Pythias was a fraternal benevolent association founded in 1864. In 1870, a white chapter refused to admit African American members although after years of petitioning, some light-skinned African Americans were accepted. One of these men, Dr. Thomas W. Stringer of Mississippi, later formed what is often referred to as the Colored Knights of Pythias although their official name was The Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The Colored Knights had many chapters throughout the United States. The organization provided community services such as insurance, burial services, and other welfare functions. The Colored Knights suffered a decline in membership after the Depression and does not survive much today. In Richmond, Virginia, the Pythian Hall was for many years located in the same building as the Mechanics Savings Bank founded by John Mitchell, Jr.\n","Lost Locality Note:  Many records were destroyed or heavily mutilated in 1865 by Union troops during the Civil War. A few volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated. Local government records collection, Nottoway County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219. \n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated. Local government records collection, Nottoway County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219. \n"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis item was digitized by request under the Photolab number 07_0034_0206.tif. \u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information\n"],"processinfo_tesim":["This item was digitized by request under the Photolab number 07_0034_0206.tif. "],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e See also: T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson, Etc. vs. Administrator of James F. Jackson, Etc.[Chancery Cause 1937-001] in \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi02917.xml\"\u003eNottoway County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1818-1968 (bulk 1900-1952).\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNottoway County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Nottoway County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available on the library of virginia website.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":[" See also: T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson, Etc. vs. Administrator of James F. Jackson, Etc.[Chancery Cause 1937-001] in  Nottoway County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1818-1968 (bulk 1900-1952).","Nottoway County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Nottoway County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the  Lost Records Localities Digital Collection  available on the library of virginia website.\n"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJohn Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated, is a one-inch diameter button featuring a photographic portrait of John Mitchell, Jr. and the phrase \"For Supreme Chancellor, John Mitchell Jr.\" This button was probably used as publicity for Mitchell's campaign to become head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, an African American benevolent association.The reverse of the button states that it was made by the Whitehead and Hoag Company of Newark, NJ.\n \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e The button was used as a fastener for some papers in the Nottoway County (Va.) chancery cause T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson and others versus Administrator of James F. Jackson and others (1937-001) to which it is entirely unrelated.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated, is a one-inch diameter button featuring a photographic portrait of John Mitchell, Jr. and the phrase \"For Supreme Chancellor, John Mitchell Jr.\" This button was probably used as publicity for Mitchell's campaign to become head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, an African American benevolent association.The reverse of the button states that it was made by the Whitehead and Hoag Company of Newark, NJ.\n "," The button was used as a fastener for some papers in the Nottoway County (Va.) chancery cause T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson and others versus Administrator of James F. Jackson and others (1937-001) to which it is entirely unrelated.\n"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions\n"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions.\n"],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia\n"],"names_ssim":["Nottoway County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Knights of Pythias (Richmond, Va.)","Mitchell, John. 1863-1929."],"corpname_ssim":["Nottoway County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Knights of Pythias (Richmond, Va.)"],"persname_ssim":["Mitchell, John. 1863-1929."],"language_ssim":["English\n"],"total_component_count_is":0,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T08:45:40.501Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi01647","ead_ssi":"vi_vi01647","_root_":"vi_vi01647","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi01647","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi01647.xml","title_ssm":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated"],"title_tesim":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1172999\n"],"text":["1172999\n","Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated","African American fraternal organizations--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Campaign insignia.","Buttons (informational artifacts)--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Local government records--Virginia--Nottoway County.","1 item (1 button)"," This item is shelved in the Vault.\n","Biographical Information:  John Mitchell, Jr. was born July 11, 1863 in Henrico County, Virginia to slave parents. He graduated from Richmond High and Normal School in 1881 and pursued a career as a teacher for several years. In 1884, he became the second editor of the newspaper the Richmond Planet, a black weekly paper founded by former slaves in the city of Richmond in 1883. He remained its editor for forty five years during which time he used his position and his paper to protest all forms of racial discrimination, prejudice, and hypocricy, especially lynching, earning for himself the title of \"the fighting editor.\" By 1887, the paper was one of the largest circulating black newspapers in the South. Mitchell was prominent in the Virginia Republican party and served as Jackson Ward's delegate to Richmond City Council from 1888 to 1896. He ran for governor of Virginia on an all-black ticket in 1921. He founded the Mechanics Savings Bank in 1902 and was head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, a benevolent association. His bank failed in 1922 after accusations of mismanagement and he died a short time afterwards on December 3, 1929. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. \n","Historical Information: The Knight of Pythias was a fraternal benevolent association founded in 1864. In 1870, a white chapter refused to admit African American members although after years of petitioning, some light-skinned African Americans were accepted. One of these men, Dr. Thomas W. Stringer of Mississippi, later formed what is often referred to as the Colored Knights of Pythias although their official name was The Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The Colored Knights had many chapters throughout the United States. The organization provided community services such as insurance, burial services, and other welfare functions. The Colored Knights suffered a decline in membership after the Depression and does not survive much today. In Richmond, Virginia, the Pythian Hall was for many years located in the same building as the Mechanics Savings Bank founded by John Mitchell, Jr.\n","Lost Locality Note:  Many records were destroyed or heavily mutilated in 1865 by Union troops during the Civil War. A few volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.\n","This item was digitized by request under the Photolab number 07_0034_0206.tif. "," See also: T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson, Etc. vs. Administrator of James F. Jackson, Etc.[Chancery Cause 1937-001] in  Nottoway County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1818-1968 (bulk 1900-1952).","Nottoway County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Nottoway County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the  Lost Records Localities Digital Collection  available on the library of virginia website.\n","John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated, is a one-inch diameter button featuring a photographic portrait of John Mitchell, Jr. and the phrase \"For Supreme Chancellor, John Mitchell Jr.\" This button was probably used as publicity for Mitchell's campaign to become head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, an African American benevolent association.The reverse of the button states that it was made by the Whitehead and Hoag Company of Newark, NJ.\n "," The button was used as a fastener for some papers in the Nottoway County (Va.) chancery cause T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson and others versus Administrator of James F. Jackson and others (1937-001) to which it is entirely unrelated.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Nottoway County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Knights of Pythias (Richmond, Va.)","Mitchell, John. 1863-1929.","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1172999\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated"],"collection_title_tesim":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated"],"collection_ssim":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, \nundated"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Nottoway County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Nottoway County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Nottoway County.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African American fraternal organizations--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Campaign insignia.","Buttons (informational artifacts)--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Local government records--Virginia--Nottoway County."],"access_subjects_ssm":["African American fraternal organizations--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Campaign insignia.","Buttons (informational artifacts)--Virginia--Nottoway County.","Local government records--Virginia--Nottoway County."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["1 item (1 button)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e This item is shelved in the Vault.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions\n"],"accessrestrict_tesim":[" This item is shelved in the Vault.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e \u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eBiographical Information:\u003c/emph\u003e John Mitchell, Jr. was born July 11, 1863 in Henrico County, Virginia to slave parents. He graduated from Richmond High and Normal School in 1881 and pursued a career as a teacher for several years. In 1884, he became the second editor of the newspaper the Richmond Planet, a black weekly paper founded by former slaves in the city of Richmond in 1883. He remained its editor for forty five years during which time he used his position and his paper to protest all forms of racial discrimination, prejudice, and hypocricy, especially lynching, earning for himself the title of \"the fighting editor.\" By 1887, the paper was one of the largest circulating black newspapers in the South. Mitchell was prominent in the Virginia Republican party and served as Jackson Ward's delegate to Richmond City Council from 1888 to 1896. He ran for governor of Virginia on an all-black ticket in 1921. He founded the Mechanics Savings Bank in 1902 and was head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, a benevolent association. His bank failed in 1922 after accusations of mismanagement and he died a short time afterwards on December 3, 1929. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e \u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eHistorical Information:\u003c/emph\u003eThe Knight of Pythias was a fraternal benevolent association founded in 1864. In 1870, a white chapter refused to admit African American members although after years of petitioning, some light-skinned African Americans were accepted. One of these men, Dr. Thomas W. Stringer of Mississippi, later formed what is often referred to as the Colored Knights of Pythias although their official name was The Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The Colored Knights had many chapters throughout the United States. The organization provided community services such as insurance, burial services, and other welfare functions. The Colored Knights suffered a decline in membership after the Depression and does not survive much today. In Richmond, Virginia, the Pythian Hall was for many years located in the same building as the Mechanics Savings Bank founded by John Mitchell, Jr.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e \u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Note: \u003c/emph\u003eMany records were destroyed or heavily mutilated in 1865 by Union troops during the Civil War. A few volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Biographical Information:  John Mitchell, Jr. was born July 11, 1863 in Henrico County, Virginia to slave parents. He graduated from Richmond High and Normal School in 1881 and pursued a career as a teacher for several years. In 1884, he became the second editor of the newspaper the Richmond Planet, a black weekly paper founded by former slaves in the city of Richmond in 1883. He remained its editor for forty five years during which time he used his position and his paper to protest all forms of racial discrimination, prejudice, and hypocricy, especially lynching, earning for himself the title of \"the fighting editor.\" By 1887, the paper was one of the largest circulating black newspapers in the South. Mitchell was prominent in the Virginia Republican party and served as Jackson Ward's delegate to Richmond City Council from 1888 to 1896. He ran for governor of Virginia on an all-black ticket in 1921. He founded the Mechanics Savings Bank in 1902 and was head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, a benevolent association. His bank failed in 1922 after accusations of mismanagement and he died a short time afterwards on December 3, 1929. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. \n","Historical Information: The Knight of Pythias was a fraternal benevolent association founded in 1864. In 1870, a white chapter refused to admit African American members although after years of petitioning, some light-skinned African Americans were accepted. One of these men, Dr. Thomas W. Stringer of Mississippi, later formed what is often referred to as the Colored Knights of Pythias although their official name was The Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The Colored Knights had many chapters throughout the United States. The organization provided community services such as insurance, burial services, and other welfare functions. The Colored Knights suffered a decline in membership after the Depression and does not survive much today. In Richmond, Virginia, the Pythian Hall was for many years located in the same building as the Mechanics Savings Bank founded by John Mitchell, Jr.\n","Lost Locality Note:  Many records were destroyed or heavily mutilated in 1865 by Union troops during the Civil War. A few volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated. Local government records collection, Nottoway County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219. \n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Nottoway County (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated. Local government records collection, Nottoway County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219. \n"],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis item was digitized by request under the Photolab number 07_0034_0206.tif. \u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information\n"],"processinfo_tesim":["This item was digitized by request under the Photolab number 07_0034_0206.tif. "],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e See also: T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson, Etc. vs. Administrator of James F. Jackson, Etc.[Chancery Cause 1937-001] in \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi02917.xml\"\u003eNottoway County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1818-1968 (bulk 1900-1952).\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNottoway County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Nottoway County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available on the library of virginia website.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":[" See also: T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson, Etc. vs. Administrator of James F. Jackson, Etc.[Chancery Cause 1937-001] in  Nottoway County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1818-1968 (bulk 1900-1952).","Nottoway County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Nottoway County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the  Lost Records Localities Digital Collection  available on the library of virginia website.\n"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eJohn Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated, is a one-inch diameter button featuring a photographic portrait of John Mitchell, Jr. and the phrase \"For Supreme Chancellor, John Mitchell Jr.\" This button was probably used as publicity for Mitchell's campaign to become head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, an African American benevolent association.The reverse of the button states that it was made by the Whitehead and Hoag Company of Newark, NJ.\n \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e The button was used as a fastener for some papers in the Nottoway County (Va.) chancery cause T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson and others versus Administrator of James F. Jackson and others (1937-001) to which it is entirely unrelated.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated, is a one-inch diameter button featuring a photographic portrait of John Mitchell, Jr. and the phrase \"For Supreme Chancellor, John Mitchell Jr.\" This button was probably used as publicity for Mitchell's campaign to become head of the Virginia chapter of the Knights of Pythias, an African American benevolent association.The reverse of the button states that it was made by the Whitehead and Hoag Company of Newark, NJ.\n "," The button was used as a fastener for some papers in the Nottoway County (Va.) chancery cause T.P. Jones, Administrator and Administrator of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson and others versus Administrator of James F. Jackson and others (1937-001) to which it is entirely unrelated.\n"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions\n"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions.\n"],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia\n"],"names_ssim":["Nottoway County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Knights of Pythias (Richmond, Va.)","Mitchell, John. 1863-1929."],"corpname_ssim":["Nottoway County (Va.) 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