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The Byers Family Papers include personal and business correspondence; accounts, and business records of the members of the Byers family of Augusta County, Virginia, especially those papers belonging to Joseph Byers, who repaired wells; Samuel C. Byers; and Robert C. Byers. This collection also includes report cards, 1890-1893, of Edwin C. and Howard Byers, and a few letters of James C. Byers, and Leila Byers.

More than 600 items from the period 1757 to 1922, with the bulk falling between 1780 and 1870. Most items reference members of the Wilkin/Wilkins family of Shenandoah County, Virginia, particularly Godfrey, John, Philip, Benomi, and Benjamin Wilkin. Other surnames include Gochenauer, Layman, Funkhauser, Koock, and Miller. Most documents are financial or legal, such as receipts, promissory notes, account statements, and probate records. There is some correspondence, as well as a few documents relating to military service in the Revolutionary period and the affairs of the German Reformed Church. Numerous items are written in the German language.

Papers, 1622-1936, of the Upshur family of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Chiefly the genealogical correspondence and notes of Thomas Teackle Upshur (d. 1910) who was interested in the local history of Northampton and Accomack counties, Va. and in the genealogies of Eastern Shore families. Includes three manuscript volumes (indexed) called "Genealogies of the Kingdom of Accomack." The family papers of the Upshur family includes correspondence, 1786-1910, unpublished writings, accounts, and legal documents. The genealogical notes are arranged by family. The correspondence is arranged chronologically and the surnames of correspondents are given.

Papers, circa 1830s-1950s, of the Wissler, Mayer, and Erb families of Grottoes and Columbia Furnace, Virginia, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Included are photographs, an autograph album, a manuscript cookbook, receipts, two ledgers, a Bible and hymn book, a Wissler family record for the descendants of William Franklin Wissler and Elizabeth Mayer (m. 1890), and correspondence.

Papers, primarily 1770-1907, of the Tucker and Coleman families of Williamsburg, Winchester, Lexington, Staunton and Richmond, including papers of: St. George Tucker (1752-1827), Nathaniel Beverley Tucker (1784-1851), Henry St. George Tucker (1780-1848), Ann Frances Bland (Tucker) Coalter (1779-1813), John Coalter (1769-1838), and John Randolph of Roanoke (commonplace book is in box 64B), as well as other family members.

Papers, 1821-1979, of and concerning Adam Empie, the president of the College of William and Mary and his family. Includes account book, 1829-1831, of Adam Empie and copy of his will as well as four letters, undated, from Sarah Moore Grimke to Anna Eliza (Wright) Empie as well as a commonplace book, undated; poems; engravings; flower illustrations, sketches and silhouettes; and prayers.

Papers (including correspondence) of Thomas Adams, Richard Adams and Richard Adams, Jr., of Richmond, Va. Includes papers concerning the erection of burial monuments for members of the family and a printed bill of complaint concerning the private cemetery of the Adams family which details their genealogy. Includes Thomas B. Adams' receipts and a reward for a stolen horse, 1782, 1787.

The original collection contains a letter (May 22,1778) from John Taylor in Fishkill, New York to William Woodford about Woodford's promotion during the Revolutionary War and his feelings about the war. There is also a biographical sketch of John Taylor, and one of John Penn.