Robert Young Clay Papers, 1789-2010 (bulk 1920-2007)

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, 1789-2010, of Robert Young Clay (1936-2010) of Richmond, Virginia, including his research on the Clay family and allied lines, subject files, speeches, pension records of soldiers from Smith County, Tennessee, and artwork. The bulk of the collection covers the period 1920 to 2007.

Biographical / historical:

Robert Young Clay was born in Dixon Springs, Smith County, Tennessee on 4 September 1936. He was the son of Robert Bell Clay (1888-1957) and Ruth Young (1906-1951). He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Tennessee in 1960, and a Master of Library Science degree from George Peabody College in 1969. Clay moved to Richmond the following year, where he was employed as a reference archivist at the Library of Virginia until his retirement in 2001. He also had a career as a landscape painter and heraldic artist. Clay died in Richmond on 6 May 2010, and is buried in the Clay family plot in Dixon Springs Cemetery.

Acquisition information:
Gift of the Estate of Robert Young Clay, Dinwiddie.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in the following five series:

  • I. Clay Family Research Files (Subseries a-j).
  • II. Subject Files.
  • III. Speech Files.
  • IV. Smith County, TN Soldiers' Pension Files.
  • V. Artwork.
Physical description:
74.5 cubic feet (171 boxes)