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These papers contain correspondence, photographs, business papers, artifacts, certificates, and other materials related to Charles Edward Gary, Jr. Mr. Gary was a prominent African American business owner in Williamsburg, operating for decades the West End Valet Shop off Prince George Street. The collection comprises business ledgers and other West End Valet Shop records over several years, as well as legal documents pertaining to the Valet Shop and Gary family estates such as leases and deeds. Personal materials pertain especially to Mr. Gary's schooling, his miltiary service during World War II, family photographs, and some of Mrs. Zelda Gary's personal papers. An active member of the Williamsburg community, Mr. Gary served in several civic, fraternal, and religious organizations. Centering on his involvement in local baptist churches and in the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World - Old Capitol Lodge, Mr. Gary's papers include speeches he prepared for religious and I.B.P.O.E.W. meeting touching on religion, family, and race issues in America. The collection thus contains materials relevant to the study of twentieth-century Williamsburg history and African American history.

This colllection consists of certificates, citations, commissions, and similar documentation associated with VMI alumni, faculty, staff, or VMI as a whole. The collection does not include VMI diplomas or literary society certificates, which are filed separately.

Scrapbooks, correspondence, business papers, and memorabilia of a prominent Charleston family that were long time owners of the Charleston Gazette. There are papers of W. E. Chilton, Sr., and for his son and grandson, W. E. Chilton, Jr. and W. E. Chilton, III. The papers of Chilton senior include some correspondence, but mostly land papers documenting the coal mining district in Webster and Braxton Counties. There are also scrapbooks, and contracts pertaining to the family newspaper business; and volumes on the education of W. E. Chilton, Jr. at Woodberry, VA Forest School, and at Yale. The military service of the Chiltons is documented by the service papers, photographs, and other material for W. E. Chilton, Jr. and W. E. Chilton, III in World War (WWI) I and World War II (WWII) respectively.

*Note: The diary is available digitally: the link is located further down under "Digital Material."

Papers documenting Clifford Condon's career as a Navy pharmacist, especially his service and internment as a POW during World War II in the Philipines. Includes correspondence with his wife, Eva Limerick Condon, clippings, photographs, three medals, and certificates. A 15-page letter of November 2, 1944 to his wife, Eva, just prior to his removal to a POW camp in Japan, details his experiences subsequent to his capture by the Japanese in December, 1941. Official correspondence documents the status of Condon as a prisoner of war, his death in a Japanese POW camp, burial in Arlington National Cemetery, the posthumous awarding of the Bronze Star, and financial compensation for Eva L. Condon.