Crowder Family Papers, 1876-1976 (bulk 1920-1960)

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Papers, 1876-1976, of the Crowder family of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, and Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York. Includes correspondence, subject files, Crowder Brothers store records, papers relating to Elizabeth (Crowder) Vaill Harlow's work as a microbiologist and real estate broker, publications, and newspapers. The bulk of the collection covers the period 1920 to 1960.

Biographical / historical:

Bouldin Crowder was born on 7 December 1879. He was the son of Nelson Harper Crowder (1848-1923) and Angelina Dabney Bouldin (1847-1929). He married Elizabeth McLean on 30 August 1905. She was born on 8 April 1884 in Charlotte County, Virginia, and was the daughter of Dr. E. Patrick McLean (1843-1905) and Annie Cunningham (1845-1928). Bouldin and Bess Crowder lived in Clarksville, Mecklenburg County, Virignia where he owned and operated clothing and general store with his brother under the name "Crowder Brothers." They had three children: Elizabeth Bouldin Crowder (1908-1998) married 1) Charles B. H. Vaill (1904-1953) in 1937 and 2) Ralph Leroy Harlow (1885-1960) in 1958. Eleanor Marian Crowder (1911-1995) married Louis Napoleon Moore, Jr. in 1935 in South Hill, Virginia. Bouldin MacLean Crowder (b. 1913) married Mary Elizabeth Ward (1914-2009) in 1940. Bouldin Crowder died in July 1967. His wife Bess died on 9 December 1964. They are buried in Oakhurst Cemetery in Clarksville, Virginia.

Acquisition information:
Gift of the Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, CT.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • I. Correspondence.
  • II. Subject Files.
  • III. Crowder Brothers Store Records.
  • IV. Microbiology Files.
  • V. Real Estate Broker Files.
  • VI. Publications.
  • VII. Newspapers.
Physical description:
16.5 cubic feet (37 boxes)