Collections

The scrapbook is a genealogical compendium of the Welsh family of Rockbridge County, Virginia and their descendants and includes many family photographs and documents.

Letters and business papers, chiefly 1848-1866, of James E. Cooke of Powhatan, Virginia and the Barker family of Fluvanna County, Virginia. Includes letters relating to the hiring out of slaves, plantation operations and the Civil War. Civil War letters are between John H. Barker and Henry J. Dobbs of the 18th Virginia Regiment of the Confederate army concerning the Battle of First Bull Run/Manassas.

Collection contains correspondence, chiefly 1820-1875, of Newman Williamson Barnes and his wife Margaret W.(Tomlin) Barnes of Richmond, Virginia and "Greenfield," Culpeper County, Virginia and to their daughter, Margaret W. Barnes. Letters concern life in Falmouth, Virginia and also concern Fredericksburg, Virginia. Correspondents are members of the Braxton, Coalter, Tomlin and Oliver families. Letters contain social and family news.

Correspondence and other papers, mostly 1810-1860, of the Barraud family of Norfolk, Virginia.

Papers and correspondence of three generations of Samuel Barrons, all of whom were involved in naval affairs. Papers, 1793-1809, of Samuel Barron (1765-1810), commander of one of the Mediterranean squadrons sent to defeat Tripoli. Papers concern naval business and the War with Tripoli. Includes correspondence with his brother James Barron, Stephen Decatur, William Eaton (concerning his controversy with Tobias Lear over the Tripolitan peace settlement), Tobias Lear, Edward Preble, John Rodgers, Robert Smith (Secretary of the Navy), and Thomas Truxton. Includes letters written by Preble and Rodgers on board the USS Constitution and letters concerning the capture of William Bainbridge and the seamen of the USS Philadelphia.

Collection contains various papers from the late 18th to early 19th century. Documents include a warrant, two checks, a U.S. Loan Office certificate, and two colonial notes.

The Ben Benson Collection includes original portrait art of presidents and first ladies by Ben Benson, various formats of printed presidential iconography and related presidential and U.S. political memorabilia from George Washington to Barack Obama.