Collections : [Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library]

Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Special Collections and Archives
James G. Leyburn Library
Washington and Lee University
204 W. Washington Street
Lexington, VA 24450
Primary Collecting Areas:
American and Virginia history, regional genealogy, history of propaganda, Southern literature, theater, local and regional portraiture, landscapes and architecture, late 19th-century travel
Description:

The Washington and Lee University Special Collections and Archives Department houses over 1,000 unique manuscript collections including those of the Rockbridge Historical Society, The American Shakespeare Center, and the Mountain Valley Preservation Association. These collections vary greatly in size, format, and scope. Subjects covered within the collections are diverse and include concentrations in American and Virginia history, regional genealogy, history of propaganda, Southern literature, and theater.

It also houses over 10,000 photographs and prints. Beyond our photograph and print collections, which include scrapbooks, images can also be found within the manuscript collections and University Archives described above. Our photographic holdings vary greatly in size and include numerous formats representative of the evolution of the photographic process. Strengths are local and regional portraiture, landscapes and architecture, W&L University history, including athletics, and late 19th-century travel.

POC: Tom Camden
Phone: (540) 458-8649
Phone: (540) 463-8109
Fax: (540) 463-8964
Start Over Repository Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library Date range 2016
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Henry Strouss Performing Arts collection

15 Cubic Feet
Top 3 results view all 110

2016 Richard Tucker Gala 1 Files Box 7, Folder 32

Carnegie Hall Playbill & separate Richard Tucker Foundation program included

  1. Carnegie Hall
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Academic Departments - Record Group 9

x Linear Feet

This record group contains materials created by individual academic departments.

Top 3 results view all 30
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Lenfest Center for the Performing Arts collection

7 Box

This record group contains the official publications of the Lenfest Center and records of the center's administration.

Top 3 results view all 11
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Washington and Lee University and Regional Virginia History Research Collection

12 Linear Feet
Top 3 results view all 7

Josephine H. McCown collection 38 Item Box 7, Folder 22

A photo as baby included and letter from Sears, Roebuck and Co. announcing Josephine as one of the winners of a baby contest.

  1. Biography
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Business Office Record Group

1 Item
2 results

Business Office website

The Business Office created a webpage detailing its personnel, activities, and policies. The University Library captures this webpage using Archive-It.

Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Center for Global Learning and Office of International Education - Record Group 45

X Linear Feet
1 result

Center for International Education website

The Center for International Education created a website detailing its activities. The University Library captures this site using Archive-It.

Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Walker-Wood families papers

1.5 Linear Feet 3 document cases

This collection includes photographs, ephemera, clippings, correspondence, and printed material created and/or acquired by members of the Walker and Wood families, specifically Harry L. and Eliza Walker and their daughter Nannie and her husband Clarence. Subjects include the Walker-Wood Brothers meat and grocery business, the family home Blandome, properties owned by the families, First Baptist Church, and social organizations in Lexington and Roanoke such as the NAACP and the Virginia Federation of Colored Women. Several of the photographs date to the late 19th century and feature multiple generations of both families. Of particular note are photographs of Freedman's Hospital nurses and a unit of Buffalo soldiers. The families were very active in advocating for the education of African American children in Lexington, and this collection reflects that. The collection includes documents related to the advocacy for and development of Lylburn Downing School and the organization of the Home and School League.

Top 3 results view all 5

Clippings Box 3, Folder 13

Several of the clippings are specific to family members and/or events documented elsewhere in the collection.

  1. Other Files

First Baptist Church: Ephemera Box 3, Folder 4

Includes bulletin, funeral programs, a church manual, a Thanksgiving souvenir, cantata program, a broadside for Congressman Oscar De Priest event, and broadside for a musical and vocal contest

  1. Churches
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Rockbridge SPCA collection

0.01 Linear Feet 1 folder

This collection contains official records of the organization, such as annual reports, as well as various papers, including event invitations, mailed pamphlets, the organization's newsletter, and photocopies of newspaper articles. It also contains two envelopes of animal photographs, some of which are used in the mailed pamphlets. Also included is the July 27, 2022, News-Gazette obituary for Jane Cornett, who was the Executive Director of the SPCA for many years.

2 results

Collection Box RHS Small Collections Box 2, Folder 12

Rockbridge SPCA collection 0.01 Linear Feet 1 folder

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Rockbridge, Va.)

This collection contains official records of the organization, such as annual reports, as well as various papers, including event invitations, mailed pamphlets, the organization's newsletter, and photocopies of newspaper articles. It also contains two envelopes of animal photographs, some of which are used in the mailed pamphlets. Also included is the July 27, 2022, News-Gazette obituary for Jane Cornett, who was the Executive Director of the SPCA for many years.

Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Jefferson Davis Futch, III collection

1 Box

This collection contains WLU alumnus Michael Barr's collection of letters and recorded lectures of WLU Professor Jefferson Davis Futch, III. It also contains an undated audiorecording of WLU alumnus, Dr. Ward W. Briggs remarks about James Graham Leyburn. Briggs'remarks were likely given at an alumni event on the subject of liberal arts education and Greek philosophy.

1 result
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Shields Family Papers

1 Box

This collection contains the papers of the Shields family from 1832-1990 including business documents, family genealogy notes, correspondence, photographs, and William R. Shields poetry.

1 result

Control Folder Box 1, Folder 0

This folder contains the inventory of the rest of the collection.

Content Warning

ARVAS is an aggregator of archival resources. ARVAS does not have control of the descriptive language used in our members’ finding aids.

Finding aids may contain historical terms and phrases, reflecting the shared attitudes and values of the community from which they were collected, but are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical or mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Many institutions and organizations are in the process of reviewing and revising their descriptive language, with the intent to describe materials in more humanizing, inclusive, and harm-reductive ways. As members revise their descriptive language, their changes will eventually be reflected in their ARVAS finding aids.