Collections : [Virginia Union University]

Virginia Union University

L. Douglas Wilder Library
Virginia Union University
1500 North Lombardy Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Primary Collecting Areas:
The Archives collects historical records of the campus, and the Special Collections endeavors to collect the history of African American Richmond. The Archives and Special Collections houses the personal papers of L. Douglas Wilder, Virginia's 66th Governor (1990-1994) and first elected African American governor in the United States.
Description:

We are proud of our history as one of the nation's older historically black colleges (HBCUs), founded in 1865. Our library was formerly the William J. Clark Library located in the historic landmark Belgian Friendship Building given to the University by the government of Belgium in 1941.

In 1997 we relocated to a new facility on campus named after Virginia Union's most celebrated alumnus: L. Douglas Wilder, humanitarian, civil rights leader and the first elected African-American governor (1990-1994) in the nation. The library houses The Wilder Collection which is a very popular national and international attraction.

POC: Selicia Allen
Phone: (804) 278-4117
Fax: (804) 257-5818
Start Over Repository Virginia Union University Level Subseries
Virginia Union University

1867-1899

Most of the school's early records have not survived. This is most likely a result of storage problems such as fires and floods on campus. Others were possibly removed by departing administrators and faculty who viewed them as personal documents. The records described here constitute the extant records of the school from its founding in 1867 until its merger in 1899.

Top 3 results view all 36
Virginia Union University

The Records of Community Learning Week 1979-1998

These records reflect the activities and events of Community Learning Week (CLW) at Virginia Union University and in the Richmond community. CLW was organized in 1979 by the Richmond Committee of Black Clergy and the Office of Student Development at Virginia Union University. Rev. T.C. Milner headed the clergy group and Dr. Grace Pleasants directed the Virginia Union University office. The intent was to bring together the community to honor the memory and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pleasants served as program coordinator with Milner assisting until 1983 when Milner became program director. The week-long celebration includes a Community Leaders Breakfast and educational and cultural events throughout the city.

Top 3 results view all 538
Virginia Union University

The Records of the President's Office, Virginia Union University 1934-1999

These records reflect the administration of the university as well as the president's outreach activities such as alumni relations and speaking engagements.

Top 3 results view all 796
Virginia Union University

The Records of the Speech & Drama Department in the University Archives Virginia Union University, 1934-1993

2 boxes; 1 oversize folder

These records reflect the performances and activities of the Speech and Drama Department at Virginia Union University. The bulk of the collection is performance programs and photographs of the University Players. The Administrative file contains very limited correspondence (mostly congratulatory letters) and press releases.

3 results
Virginia Union University

John Malcus Ellison Papers 1941-1979

This collection contains the administrative and personal records of John Malcus Ellison as president of Virginia Union University (1941-1955), chancellor (1955-79), minister, teacher, author and editor. The bulk of the collection is from the early years of his presidency, 1941-1945, with very few materials from the later years or during his tenure as chancellor. Although most of the collection is correspondence conducted in his official capacity as president, because these materials were received from his family, the Ellison Papers are organized as a manuscript collection.

2 results

Subseries 5.1. General Writings

The smaller books and tracts are filed here, some with the original manuscript. The miscellaneous files are partial writings or those that were not published. The correspondence is between Ellison and his publishers regarding his writings.

  1. Series 5. Writings 1945-1978

Subseries 5.2. History of Virginia Union University

One of Ellison's retirement goals was to write a definitive history of Virginia Union University and he amassed a wealth of research information in preparation. He began by subdividing his work into decades of history and collecting clippings, photographs, programs, personal histories that he recorded and books written at the turn of the century about African American progress after slavery. Several articles were among his book notes as well as hand-written notes. There is a separate folder of distinguished alumni news. The chapters he used as file labels do not signify actual chapters, but notes and research material related to proposed chapters. Included in chapter one is a typed manuscript of what appears to be chapters one and two.

  1. Series 5. Writings 1945-1978

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.