Personal and Biographical Papers

Scope and content:

Series 2: Personal and Biographical Papers, 1920-2015, comprise personal papers belonging to Betty and Willis Clemmer as well as personal and family biographies. Materials also relate to Augusta County history.

This series includes photographs - originals and facsimiles - of the Clemmers as well as Ruth Moseley Brown during her high school and college years.

The Clemmers' personal papers include materials and coursework from Betty's time at Madison College, specifically drawings from Basic Art 2 in which she was assigned to draw home furnishings and clothing. Alimae Aiken was Betty's instructor. Willis' transcripts from Lee High School and documents from the Veterans Administration are included.

The series also comprises several Clemmer family biographies, autobiographies, and histories related to Augusta County, Virginia. Willis' reminiscences, written in 1993-1994, document his memories of growing up in Augusta County. A history of Seawright Springs (Mt. Solon) compiled by Augusta County historian Ralph Coffman includes photographs and other materials related to the resort. The Seawright Springs history includes a partial transcript of Alexander Stuart Coffman's 1864 diary and a transcript of a March 26, 1907 letter from Charles Curry (a lawyer in Staunton) to an A. C. Gorden regarding the geography and folklore of specific Augusta County locations.

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
Parent restrictions:
Collection open to 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.
Parent terms of access:
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

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