Sons of Confederate Veterans Collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collection Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Sons of Confederate Veterans Collection, 1896-1964, SC 0132, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
0.4 cubic feet 1 box
Creator:
Sons of Confederate Veterans (Organization) and Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society
Abstract:
The Sons of Confederate Veterans Collection, 1896-1964, consists of documents pertaining to the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) organization at the local, state, and national levels.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Sons of Confederate Veterans Collection, 1896-1964, SC 0132, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The Sons of Confederate Veterans Collection, 1896-1964, consists of documents pertaining to the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) organization at the local, state, and national levels. The papers include letters from the national and state headquarters, many documents from the Harrisonburg SCV, applications for membership in the Harrisonburg SCV, and documents from other camps in Virginia located outside of Rockingham County.

Series 1: National Headquarters Documents, 1912-1964, contains papers which were sent from the main offices of the SCV in Richmond, Virginia. These papers consist of convention notices, dues requests and general orders for all chapters, nationwide.

Series 2: State Headquarters Documents, 1898-1940, is comprised of papers originating in the Virginia Division Headquarters of the SCV in Charlottesville, Va. Once again, the papers are for the most part notices for state conventions and reunions, dues notices and general orders on the state level.

Series 3: D. H. Lee Martz Camp 10, Harrisonburg, 1922-1938, is comprised of documents pertaining to the local camp of the SCV. The series includes membership rosters, dues records, minutes of meetings, letters and various papers all having to do with the maintenance of an active camp of the SCV. Also of interest are a few examples of Apple Blossom Festival stationery.

Series 4: Applications, 1896-1927, contains applications in various forms for membership in Camp 10 and other camps. Included in some of these applications are records of Southern veterans with their rank, company, number of years served, and reason for discharge from the Confederate army.

Series 5: Camps outside Rockingham County, 1899-1923, is comprised mostly of annual reports of camps in Virginia for 1923. Included as well are a few miscellaneous papers from some of the camps. Of particular note is a printed pamphlet "Charter, By-laws, Rules of Order and List of Officers and Members of RE Lee Camp, No. 1...1884."

Biographical / historical:

The SCV is a national fraternal organization established in 1895 for veterans of the Confederate forces and their sons and grandsons, with chapters around the nation. The Harrisonburg chapter was chartered on March 27, 1896 and originally organized as Turner Ashb Camp, No. 10. Members, some of whom served in leadership capacities in the organization, include M. H. Harrison Jr. (adjutant in 1924), J. Robert Switzer (commander in 1927), R. M. Colvin (commander in 1933), Frank C. Switzer (adjutant in 1933, 1936, 1940), A. R. Ruff (treasurer in 1934), W. H. Keister (commander in 1939-1940), and Charles Grattan Price.

Acquisition information:
This collection is on deposit from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society.
Processing information:

In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 3040.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into five series:

  1. National Headquarters Documents, 1912-1964
  2. State Headquarters Documents, 1898-1940
  3. D. H. Lee Martz Camp 10, Harrisonburg, 1922-1938
  4. Applications, 1896-1927
  5. Camps outside Rockingham County, 1899-1923
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard