Eva May Foster Photograph Album

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 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.

Terms of access:

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

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Eva May Foster Photograph Album, 1934-1941, SC 0308, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
0.16 cubic feet 2 folders
Creator:
James Madison University. Centennial Office and Foster, Eva May, 1915-2001
Abstract:
The Eva May Foster Photograph Album, 1934-1941, comprises a disbound photograph album of black-and-white photographs documenting Foster's time as a student at the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg. Loose photographs are also included.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Eva May Foster Photograph Album, 1934-1941, SC 0308, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The Eva May Foster Photograph Album, 1934-1941, comprises a disbound photograph album of black-and-white photographs documenting Foster's time as a student at the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg. The album includes Foster's annotations describing the photographs including classmates names. The album is largely complete with only a few missing photographs.

The photographs document Class Day 1935; May Day events; snowscapes and students with skis; a camping trip to the university farm and other outings (including a photograph of horseback riding on "Miss [Margaret Vance] Hoffman's horses"); commencement and graduation; views of the quad and the campus gates; campus buildings including Wilson Hall, Junior Hall (now Cleveland Hall), the old Dining Hall located in Harrison Hall, Alumnae Hall, and the Practice House. Dormitory interiors are also heavily documented. Many of Foster's classmates are identified by name in the photographs.

While the photographs are largely informal and candid, a few portrait photographs of Foster and her classmates are included. A portrait photograph of Foster, circa 1940, includes an annotation suggesting that she either studied or worked at Virginia Tech. The back of the photograph describes Foster as a home demonstration agent for Charles City and New Kent Counties.

Biographical / historical:

Eva May Foster (1915-2001), originally of Blackstone, Virginia, matriculated into the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg in the fall of 1934. Foster is listed in the 1935 and 1936 yearbooks. She is pictured in the 1937 yearbook as part of the junior class, but she is not present in any subsequent yearbooks or commencement programs making it unclear if she ever graduated. While a student at the State Teachers College, Foster resided in Johnston Hall and Junior Hall, and likely studied home economics.

An inscription on the back of a circa 1940 portrait photograph of Foster (along with her marriage certificate) confirms that she was employed as a home demonstration agent in Charles City and New Kent Counties.

She married Walter Marion Foster in 1948.

Acquisition information:
The photograph album and loose photographs were part of a larger transfer of alumni materials made by the Centennial Office to Special Collections in July 2008.
Custodial history:

Accroding to a sticky note that accompanied the photograph album, the album was contributed by the estate of Eva F. Foster to the Centennial Office at an unknown date. Ten loose photographs were donated with a similar note.

Processing information:

According to a student practicum paper dated November 2018, during initial processing the photograph album was disbound due to it being "on the verge of physical decay." The loose album pages were numbered and housed in two folders according to their original order.

Arrangement:

The disbound photograph album is housed across two folders and according to its original order. The ten loose photographs are housed in folder 2.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard