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The collection contains 26 maps of the New World, dating 1541-1778, which illustrate the progression of European geographic knowledge about Virginia and North America from the 16th through the 18th centuries

Richard G. Joynt's collection of British manuscripts, from the 15th to the 20th century, of 88 letters and documents, 41 cut signatures, and many book engravings. The authors and signatures include kings, queens, prime ministers, nobles, military officers, authors, and other dignitaries. Personal matters, military orders and letters, religion, treaties, politics, intrique, and much more are covered in these letters, often interwoven with current events.

Correspondence, speeches, and newspaper clippings of a West Virginia Republican chairman, U.S. senator (serving in 1958), and member of the 1960 Republican National Convention platform committee.

The papers of A. E. Dick Howard reflect his academic and professional endeavors. The archives have received five installments of papers from Professor Howard, plus an entire collection: The Papers of A. E. Dick Howard for the Virginia Commission for Constitutional Revision, received in 1981, MSS 81-4. Papers related to the nomination of Judge Robert Bork to the Supreme Court: these files consist of some reports and statements in relation to the nomination of Judge Robert H. Bork to the Supreme Court. Professor Howard was a commentator on the McNeil/Lehrer NewsHour during the confirmation hearings. Bill O'Brien, a student assistant, helped him to collect all of the information. Addendum [a]: Central and Eastern European New Constitutions: these files relate to Howard's involvement on the writing of new constitutions in Central and Eastern Europe at the collapse of the Soviet Union. The files were processed trying to convey their original organization and consist of correspondence, memoranda, working papers and numerous printed materials.

The Thruston family commonplace book (1604-1925; 0.03 cubic feet) documents the family history of the Thruston family of Bristol and Virginia, with early records concerning Martin's Hundred, Virginia, a plantation on the north shore of the James River, first settled in 1638. The manuscript opens with an "Epistle dedicatory" dated 25 October 1628 by Abell Louering, addressed to Robert Rogers, Esq., whose wife was present at the baptism of John Thruston's son John. The manuscript then passes to John Thruston, Chamberlain of Bristol (1606-1675), son of Malachais Thurston of Wellington. Thurston had 16 children with his first wife, Thomasine Rich. Their various births, deaths, and marriages are recorded here, including the birth of son Edward in 1638. Dr. Edward Thurston began writing in the book in 1666, and his entries contain the first reference to Virginia in the manuscript.