Margaret Hoffman Collection, 1893-1969

Access and use

Location of collection:
Shenandoah County Library
Shenandoah County Library
514 Stoney Creek Blvd.
Edinburg VA, 22824
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Zachary Hottel
Phone: (540) 984-8200

Summary

Extent:
6 boxes, 203 folders
Creator:
Margaret V. Hoffman
Abstract:
A collection of photographs, letters, and ephemera collected by Margaret V. Hoffman. The majority of items date to the 1930s and 1940s. Many are related to Camp Strawderman which Margaret helped operate.
Language:
Materials in this collection are in English .

Background

Scope and content:

The Margaret Hoffman Collection consists of approximately 8 linear feet of material. This includes 160 folders of documents, 48 sleeves of photographs, eight oversize folders, and an assortment of physical objects and class notebooks. They are stored in 3 document cases, a single photograph box, two oversize boxes, and a single oversize folder inside the archive's map case.

The collection is organized into the following five (5) series:

Series I: Correspondence consisting of letters sent by Margaret V. Hoffman (Gouldman) while living in Woodstock and while attending Madison College in Harrisonburg Virginia. The correspondence is dated 1916-1955 and is sorted chronologically.

Series II: Document consists of documents from the Hoffman family, activities in Woodstock Virginia, and activities in Harrisonburg Virginia. The documents are dated 1903-1945 and are sorted chronologically.

Series III: Camp Strawderman consists of documents, booklets, and marketing material from Camp Strawderman west of Edinburg Virginia. The materials are dated 1939-ca. 1960 and are sorted chronologically.

Series IV: Photographs consists of photographs primarily showing events and people at Camp Strawderman. The photographs are dated 1930-1947 and are sorted chronologically.

Series V: Notebooks consists of Camp Strawderman related notebooks and those from Margaret V. Hoffman's time at the Women's College of Frederick Maryland. They are dated 1888-1939 and are sorted by size.

Series VI: Objects consists of physical objects from Woodstock Virginia. They are dated ca. 1940 and are sorted by size.

Series VII: Oversize consists of oversize materials, primarily newspapers. They are dated 1893-1969 and are sorted chronologically.

Biographical / historical:

Margaret V. Hoffman (1889-1986) was the founder of Camp Strawderman, a recreational camp for girls in the Columbia Furnace section of Shenandoah County west of Edinburg. Her father had inherited the farm that is now the camp and she began bringing friends to the area in 1917. In 1929 the camp was officially founded and she remained its director for over 50 years. She grew up in Woodstock Virginia and attended the Women's College of Frederick Maryland. Her parents were Dr. Samuel Joseph Hoffman and Margaret Virginia Rinker Hoffman.

Her niece Margaret V. Hoffman Gouldman (1922-) is the current owner of the camp. She grew up in Woodstock Virginia and attended Madison College (now James Madison University).

Sources:
  • "Our Story," Camp Strawderman, accessed January 10 2019, https://campstrawderman.com/about/our-story/.
  • Stickley, Judy Coffman. Someone You Knew II, Shenandoah County Virginia Necrology 1869-1989, Volume I. Self-Published, compiled 1997. Shenandoah Room, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia, USA.
Acquisition information:
Purchased from the estate of Marguerite Ritenour Hoffman July 25 2018.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into seven (7) series:

Series I: Correspondence, 1916-1955
  • Box 1: Stack 9, Shelf 3 38758101509411
  • Box 2: Stack 9, Shelf 3 38758101509403
Series II: Documents, 1903-1945
  • Box 3: Stack 9, Shelf 3 38758101509395
Series III: Camp Strawderman, 1939- ca. 1960
  • Box 3: Stack 9, Shelf 3 38758101509395
Series IV: Photographs, 1930-1947
  • Box 3: Stack 9, Shelf 3 38758101509395
  • Box 4: Stack 9, Shelf 3 3875801509387
Series V: Notebooks, 1888-1939
  • Box 5: Stack 3, Shelf 7 38758101509379
Series VI: Objects, ca. 1940
  • Box 5: Stack 3, Shelf 7 38758101509379
Series VII: Oversize, 1893-1969
  • Box 6: Stack 2, Shelf 5 38758101509361
  • OVERSIZE FOLDER 1 Map Case Drawer D, Folder 19 38758101161080
Physical description:
.