PUBLIC "-//Library of Virginia//TEXT (US::Vi::vi04701::A Guide to the Library of Virginia, Public Services and Outreach Division, Highway Historical Marker Records, 1928-1975)//EN" "vi04701.xml" A Guide to the Library of Virginia, Public Services and Outreach Division, Highway Historical Marker Records, 1928-1975 Library of Virginia, Public Services and Outreach Division, Highway Historical Marker Records 27998 Renee M. Savits Library of Virginia © 2019 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved. Machine-readable finding aid created in EAD by Renee M. Savits, 3 March 2019 Description is in English A Guide to the Library of Virginia, Public Services and Outreach Division, Highway Historical Marker Records, 1928-1975 A Collection in the Library of Virginia 27998

Library of Virginia 2019 Renee M. Savits Library of Virginia Descriptive Summary The Library of Virginia Library of Virginia, Public Services and Outreach Division, Highway Historical Marker Records, 1928-1975 27998 19.5 cu. ft. (40 boxes) English Library of Virginia Administrative Information Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Library of Virginia, Public Services and Outreach Division. Highway Historical Marker Records, 1928-1975. Accession 27998. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from Publications and Educational Services Division, The Library of Virginia, 8 March 1973.

Biographical Information

Virginia's historical marker program is the oldest such program in the nation, beginning in 1927 when a handful of markers were erected along U.S. 1 between Richmond and Mount Vernon. Originally the Conservation and Economic Development Commission was tasked with creating historical markers. In 1949, the Virginia Department of Highways was assigned the responsibility for installing and maintaining new markers, and in 1950 the Library of Virginia took over researching and approving new makers. In 1966, management of the highway markers was transferred to the newly created Virginia Landmarks Commission, the predecessor agency of the Department of Historic Resources. Today VDOT (Virginia Dept. of Transportation) retains primary responsibility for installing new markers and maintaining existing ones.

More information on the marker program and an online database search is available at: Virginia Department of Historic Resources Historical Highway Markers

Scope and Content

Records, 1928-1975, including charts and keys, clippings, correspondence, inscriptions, invoices, maps, negatives, notes, photographs, and publications of the Highway Historical Markers program in Virginia. The collection is arranged into two series, Series I: Administrative records and Series II: Marker inscriptions and photographs. These records trace the design, construction, wording, and images of the Highway marker program in Virginia.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I: Administrative records, 1928-1975 Series II: Marker inscriptions and photographs, 1928-1975 Contents List Series I: Administrative records, 1928-1975. 1-12 Extent: 5.4 cu. ft. (12 boxes).

Records, 1928-1975, including charts and keys, clippings, correspondence, histories, invoices, lists, orders, price lists, and publications documenting the administration of the Highway Historical Marker program in Virginia. Included is correspondence with members of the Advisory Committee, including Dr. Thomas Abernathy, Dr. Cannaday, and Dr. Swem; correspondence regarding the research involved in locating historical sites, correct spelling of signs, and the placement and ordering of signs; correspondence from other states requesting information on Virginia's highway marker program; requests and suggestions for signs; and correspondence regarding funding issues throughout the years [including wartime restrictions on materials]. Also included is correspondence with the Highway Department landscape engineers regarding the erection and replacement of various markers. Of note is the folder containing histories, memorandums, and policies of the highway program, 1930-1964.

Included is correspondence and price lists from sign making companies, Lake Shore Markers (Erie, Pa.), and Salem Foundry and Machine Works (Salem, Va.); lists of markers erected, markers needing further work, markers broken, requests for markers, and lists of photographs of markers. Also included are folders relating to the marker coding system and index cards of marker inscriptions, arranged alphabetically. The index cards include the name of the marker, letter code, location, and dates ordered, relocated, photographed, and painted. Some of the index cards include small photographs of the markers.

Of note are the various editions of the State Historical Markers of Virginia publication and the maps of Virginia showing location of markers [oversize bound volume box 39]. While the bulk of the marker inscriptions are in Series II: Marker inscriptions and photographs, researchers should also check this series for information on marker coding, as well as markers erected, as the information is included in both series.

Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Advisory Committee, Abernathy, Dr. Thomas P., 1946-1947 1 1 Advisory Committee, Abernathy, Dr. Thomas P., 1948-1949 1 2 Advisory Committee, Cannaday, Dr. D.A., 1947-1948 1 3 Advisory Committee, Cannaday, Dr. D.A., 1948-1951 1 4 Advisory Committee, Mason, George C., 1936-1951 1 5 Advisory Committee, Miscellaneous, 1944-1949 1 6 Advisory Committee, Swem, Dr. Earl Gregg, 1937-1940 1 7 Advisory Committee, Swem, Dr. Earl Gregg, 1941-1951 1 8 Advisory Committee, Tynes family, 1946-1951 2 1 Clippings, 1932-1951 2 2 Correspondence, 1929-1948 2 3 Correspondence, 1949 2 4 Correspondence, 1950 2 5 Correspondence, 1951 2 6 Correspondence, 1952 January-May 2 7 Correspondence, 1952 June-December 2 8 Correspondence, 1953 3 1 Correspondence, 1954 3 2 Correspondence, 1955 January-May 3 3 Correspondence, 1955 June-December 3 4 Correspondence, 1956 January-May 3 5 Correspondence, 1956 June-December 3 6 Correspondence, 1957 January-May 3 7 Correspondence, 1957 June-December 3 8 Correspondence, 1958 3 9 Correspondence, 1959 4 1 Correspondence, 1960 4 2 Correspondence, 1961 4 3 Correspondence, 1962-1968 4 4 Correspondence, Inquiries about markers program from other states and countries, 1928-1949 4 5 Correspondence, Inquiries about markers program from other states and countries, 1950-1957 4 6 Dept. of Highways, Landscape engineers Turner and Neale, 1948-1949 4 7 Dept. of Highways, Landscape engineers Turner and Neale, 1950 4 8 Dept. of Highways, Landscape engineers Turner and Neale, 1951-1958 5 1 Histories, memorandum, and policies, 1930-1964 5 2 Lake Shore Markers, Inc., Correspondence, 1946-1959 5 3 Lake Shore Markers, Inc., Price lists, 1953-1958 5 4 List of broken and revised markers, 1930-1949 5 5 List of graves of distinguished Virginians, undated 5 6 Lists of markers, 1929-1948 5 7 Lists of markers, 1949-1960 5 8 List of markers erected, 1946-1950 5 9 List of markers requiring further work, 1949 5 10 Lists of payments received for broken markers, 1929-1949 5 11 List of photographs of markers, undated 5 12 Markers code lettering, undated 5 13 Marker inscription index cards, A-V, 6 Marker inscription index cards, W-Z, and Discarded markers, 7 Large Highway maps of Virginia showing location of markers [bound volume] 39 Marker construction, Specifications, 1932-1953 8 1 Marker inscriptions, Tentative, undated 8 2 Marker inscriptions, Various, undated 8 3 Marker inscriptions, Private, 1953-1965 8 4 Marker programs, Other states, List, 1949 8 5 Marker programs, Other states, Alabama-Maryland, 1941-1959 8 6 Marker programs, Other states, Massachusetts-Nevada, 1950-1951 8 7 Marker programs, Other states, New Hampshire-Oklahoma, 1951-1959 8 8 Marker programs, Other states, Pennsylvania-Vermont, 1951-1961 8 9 Marker programs, Other states, Washington-Wyoming, 1951-1965 8 10 Marker requests, Halifax County, 1936-1948 9 1 Marker requests, Lynchburg, 1931-1951 9 2 Marker requests, Various, 1947-1949 9 3 Marker request, Various, 1950-1952 9 4 Marker requests, Various, 1959-1966 9 5 Marker requests, Not under consideration, 1928-1951 9 6 Permits for placing markers, 1941-1947 9 7 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia [Key to Inscriptions on Virginia Highway Historical Markers] , 1st Edition, 1929 10 1 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia [Key to Inscriptions on Virginia Highway Historical Markers] , Col. Bryan Conrad copy, 2nd Edition, 1930 10 2 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia [The Virginia Highway Historical Markers] , First issue, 1930 10 3 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia [Key to Inscriptions on Virginia Highway Historical Markers] , 3rd Edition, 1932 10 4 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia, 4th Edition, 1937 10 5 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia, 5th Edition, Rough draft, 1941 10 6-8 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia, 5th Edition, Daniel's marked copy, 1941 10 9 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia, 6th Edition, 1948 11 1-2 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia, 6th Edition, For printers, 1948 11 3 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia, 6th Edition, Hemphill's desk copy, 1948 11 4 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia, 6th Edition, Official work copy, 1948 11 5 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia, 6th Edition, Additions and revisions, 1948-1958 12 1-2 Publications, State Historical Markers of Virginia, 6th Edition, Additions and revisions, 1960 12 3 Salem Foundry and Machine Works (Salem, Va.), Correspondence and orders, 1948-1950 12 4 Salem Foundry and Machine Works (Salem, Va.), Correspondence and orders, 1951-1954 12 5 Salem Foundry and Machine Works (Salem, Va.), Correspondence and orders, 1955-1959 12 6 Series II: Marker inscriptions and photographs, 1928-1975. 13-40 Extent: 14.1 cu. ft. (28 boxes).

Records, 1928-1975, including correspondence, inscriptions, invoices, negatives, notes, and photographs documenting the historic marker program in Virginia. Subseries A. Marker inscriptions includes correspondence, draft and final wording of markers, invoices, newspaper clippings, notes, purchase orders, and requisitions. Includes correspondence regarding replacement of broken markers, and changes, placement, and suggestions for markers. Also includes notes on when the marker was erected and if it was replaced or broken. Subseries B. Photographs includes photographs and negatives of the markers arranged by marker number.

Arranged by marker number in two subseries : Subseries A: Marker inscriptions and Subseries B: Marker photographs.

Subseries A. Marker inscriptions A1 - A15 13 1 A16 - A30 13 2 A31 - A39 13 3 A40 - A49 13 4 A50 - A62 13 5 A72 - A94, A135 13 6 AL5, AL10, AS1 13 7 B2 - B25 14 1 B26 - BX7 14 2 C1 - C29 14 3 C30 - C90 14 4 CB1 - CL3 14 5 D6 - D30 14 6 E1 - E9 14 7 E10 - E15 14 8 E16 - E25 15 1 E26 - E37 15 2 E38 - E45 15 3 E46 - E50 15 4 E51 - E59 15 5 E60 - E69 15 6 E70 - E90 15 7 EH8 - EP20 15 8 F1 - F12 16 1 F13 - F24 16 2 F26 - F65 16 3 F66 - F98 16 4 FA1 - FR25 16 5 G - GA 16 6 I1 - I10 16 7 I11 - I17 17 1 J1 - J9 17 2 J11 - J17 17 3 J20 - J42 17 4 J60 - J69 17 5 J70 - J78 17 6 J80 - J89 17 7 JD1 - JE6 17 8 JE15 - JJ10 18 1 JJ12 - JT5 18 2 JT6 - JX5 18 3 K1 - K15 18 4 K16 - K30 18 5 K31 - K45 18 6 K47 - K72 19 1 K73 - K95 19 2 K116 - K139 19 3 K140 - K158 19 4 K170 - K210 19 5 K211 - K225 19 6 K226 - K239 19 7 K240 - K244 19 8 K245 20 1 K246 - K255 20 2 K256 - K261 20 3 K262 - K307 20 4 K306 20 5 KA8 - KC10 20 6 KD5 - KG20 20 7 KG21 - KY4 21 1 KV7 21 2 L3 - LT1 21 3 M9 - M25 21 4 M26 - MJ1 21 5 N4 - N21 21 6 N22 - N85 22 1 ND4 - NW15 22 2 Norfolk [City] 22 3 O5 - O25 22 4 O27 - O39 22 5 O40 - O49 22 6 OB2 - OC25 23 1 OC35 - OQ5 23 2 PA2 - PA25 23 3 PA60 - PH6 23 4 Q1 - Q5 23 5 Q6 - Q7 23 6 Q8A - Q8Q 23 7 Q9 - Q11B 24 1 QA1 - QC1 24 2 R4 - R80 24 3 RA4 - RG5 24 4 S1 - S10 24 5 S11 - S25 24 6 S26 - S52 24 7 S53 - S79 25 1 SA5 - SN60 25 2 T1 - T45 25 3 U22 - U60 25 4 U80 - U130 25 5 UC5 - UT28 25 6 V1 - V21 26 1 X6 - X15 26 2 X16 - X30 26 3 XB4 - XP5 26 4 W1 - W15 26 5 W16 - W24 26 6 W25 - W35 26 7 W36 - W49 27 1 W50 - W65 27 2 W66 - W70 27 3 W79 - W88 27 4 W89 - W199 27 5 W200 - W206 27 6 W207 - W218 27 7 WO12 - WP10 28 1 WY5 - WY16 28 2 WY17 28 3 WY88 - WY92 28 4 Z5 - Z98 28 5 Z106 - Z185 28 6 Z187 - Z269 28 7 County line markers (A-Y counties) 28 8 County line markers, Various 29 1-2 Frontier forts 29 3 Norfolk (John Hunter Holt) 29 4 Norfolk's Historic Mace 29 5 Orange County (First German Reformed Church, Germanna) 29 6 State entrance signs 29 7 Unidentified 29 8 Oversize 40 Subseries B. Marker photographs Extra copies, 1951 29 9 Sample markers, 1928 29 10 Sample markers, 1928 29 11 A1 - A10 30 1 A11 - A20 30 2 A21 - A30 30 3 A32 - A45 30 4 A46 - A92 30 5 B2 - B33 30 6 C4 - C22 30 7 C23 - C34 31 1 D30 31 2 E1 - E9 31 3 E11 - E20 31 4 E21 - E50 31 5 E52 - E60 31 6 E62 - E72 31 7 F1 - F20 31 8 F50 - F75; FB2 - FB4 31 9 G10 - GA34 32 1 I1 - I9 32 2 J1 - J15 32 3 J29 - J65 32 4 J66 - J75 32 5 J77 - J87 32 6 JT4 - JT12 32 7 K1 - K20 32 8 K21 - K30 32 9 K31 - K40 33 1 K43 - K75 33 2 K76 - K140 33 3 K206 - K218 33 4 K221 - K239 33 5 K242 - K250 33 6 K251 - K260 33 7 K262 - KC4 33 8 KD5 - KG20 33 9 L3 - LB5 34 1 M10 - M30 34 2 N4 - N17 34 3 N20 - NW9 34 4 O5 - O15 34 5 O17 - O45 34 6 OB2 - OB3 34 7 PA2 - PA20 34 8 PA23 - PA144 34 9 Q 35 1 S2 - S10 35 2 S12 - S20 35 3 S21 - S40 35 4 S41 - S52 35 5 S53 - S70 35 6 S72 - S79; SA5 - SA30 35 7 T3 - T8 35 8 U25, UE5 35 9 V1 - V7 36 1 V8 - V12 36 2 W2 - W10 36 3 W11 - W20 36 4 W21 - W30 36 5 W31 - W39 36 6 W42 - W50 36 7 W52 - W50 36 8 W61 - W90 36 9 W149 - W205 37 1 W206 - W214 37 2 WY7 - WY92 37 3 X6 - XB23 37 4 Z1 - Z22 37 5 Z31 - Z50 37 6 Z51 - Z70 37 7 Z71 - Z85 38 1 Z86 - Z100 38 2 Z102 - Z119 38 3 Z124 - Z150 38 4 Z151 - Z170 38 5 Z173 - Z190 38 6 Z196 - Z218 38 7 Z221 - Z224 38 8 Washington-Rochambeau Route 38 9