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The Francis H. Fife papers (1947-2015; 168.4 cubic feet) document the personal and professional life of Mr. Fife with an emphasis on his civic and community interests. Types of materials include reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, memoranda, journals, and some family documents. The collection is organized into three series: Oak Lawn 1, Oak Lawn 2, and Westview.

This collection consists primarly of 26 letters of correspondence between Thomas Garland, his wife Jane Moore Taylor Garland (1810-1861), her father William Day Taylor (1781-1858), and Jane's sisters and sisters(-in-law?) F. A. Taylor (Frances Ann Taylor), Clarissa "Clara" Garland Kean (1816-1845), her husband Dr. Ortho Williams Kean (1813-1865), and Mary Garland from New Kent, British Colonial Virginia (Orange County, Virginia) and other locations including Botetourt County, Goochland, Everettsville, Taylorsville, Boyd's Tavern, and Fredericksburg, Virginia from about 1830-1858. Other family members mentioned in the collection are Angelina "Ange" Fitch Mitchell, William Jacquelin "Jack" Taylor (1815-1854) and Miriam Nones Jacob Taylor. There is a receipt from a D. J. Cauthen and a photograph of Frank Everett Hartmann and family at his graduation from the University of Virginia in 1911.

The Gay family papers (1829-1922; 0.5 cubic feet) document the lives of members of the Gay family of Staunton, Virginia. The collection contains approximately 200 letters written by and to family members, with about one-third of the letters written by Private Charles Wyndham Gay (1841-1862) of the Confederate Army to his parents. Other letters include those from Alexandre Etienne de Clouet, a Louisiana Deputy to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States.

The George Washington Lewis papers consists chiefly of correspondence to and from George Washington Lewis and between other family members, but also includes a few photographs of the Lewis family and the homes of "Claymont", "Shellfield" and "Marmion"; a plat of "Claymont"; newsclippings; notes on Lewis family history and genealogy; and a few financial and legal documents.

The Goss family papers (1820-2014; 4 cubic feet) contain Civil War letters and documents including a pardon for Ebenezer Walker Goss from President Andrew Johnson in 1865, manuscript receipts of goods sold to the Confederate Army, enslaved person receipts, and papers (mostly correspondence) related to their 19th and early 20th century family in Somerset, Virginia. Business records reflect their apple orchard, farming, and dairy business which was maintained by Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1861-1914), and her brother Ebenezer "Lee" Goss,(1863-1934). The family papers also contain correspondence with William and Marion du Pont about horses and dogs. There are also letters from suitors, particularly J. Frank Lobingier, pursuing Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1880-1909), from around the country. Miss Goss lived for a while in Pomona California, and Saltito, Mexico. The family papers also contain photographs and genealogy describing their family history in Virginia.

The Grover family papers (1825-1917; 0.04 cubic feet) also includes papers from the Watts and Harris families. This collection contains receipts, a deed of gift for enslaved people (Dolly, and children Nancy, Elvira, and James from Mary Harris to Rosa M. N. Harris, circa 1845-47), a newspaper clipping of Preston Watt, and ration books of Bettie and William Grover. The papers came in a fabric packet stamped, "The Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance Co. of Richmond, VA" which is included.

The John L. Nau III Civil War History Collection (1806-1988, bulk 1861-1865; 133 cubic feet) contains Civil War-era correspondence, service records, pension records, artifacts, photographs, military records (including orders, requisitions, and correspondence), currency, newspapers, and other print materials.

The Laine family papers (1772-1961; 0.8 cubic feet) contains letters and documents about hiring enslaved people, other family correspondence, and financial and legal papers related to the Laine (sometimes Lane) family in Sussex County, Virginia. There is also a letter and information about the War of 1812. Also of interest is the correspondence and church programs for Amos Lloyd Laine who was a minister in Wakefield, Virginia.