Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Roy Jay Holden Papers
Holden, Roy Jay, 1870-1945
Ms.1982.014
6 Cubic Feet
6 boxes
1904-1945
Please note: This collection is in off-site storage and requires 2-3 days notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives for more information.
The Roy Jay Holden Papers include field notes, charts and maps, and geological surveys and research results, covering the history of mineralogy and geology, especially in Virginia, including work at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) Engineering Experiment Station. In addition to detailed materials on iron ores in Virginia, especially west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are reports on mines and furnaces in twenty-five counties of the state. The collection also contains Holden's notebooks, copies of addresses and speeches he made, and records from the VPI Geology Department, where Holden (1870-1945) taught from 1905 until his death.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Roy Jay Holden Papers, Ms1982-014, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The Roy Jay Holden Papers were acquired by Special Collections in February 1982.
Processing Information
An inventory of the Roy Jay Holden Papers was completed after their donation. Additional description was completed in January 2011, when the finding aid was created.
Biographical Note
Roy Jay Holden was born to Harvey Jay and Sarah Diana (Danforth) Holden on October 21, 1870 in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. He married Elizabeth Evans (1888-1967), and they had several children: Virginia S., Elizabeth F., and Roy Jay, Jr..
Holden earned B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin in 1900 and 1915, respectively. He joined Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (VPI) as an associate professor of Geology and Mineralogy (sometimes called Mining Geology) in 1905, becoming a professor in 1908. He served as the head of the department from 1908 until his death. Holden died on December 16, 1945, and is buried alongside his wife in the Westview Cemetery in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The Mineral Industries Building at VPI was renamed Holden Hall in honor of Holden in 1949.
External source:
U.S. Federal Census, 1880, 1920-1940
"Roy Jay Holden", Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69582162/roy-jay-holden, accessed April 22, 2024.
"Holden Hall", Virginia Tech, https://www.vt.edu/about/locations/buildings/holden-hall.html, accessed April 22, 2024.
Roy Jay Holden death certificate, in the Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/2373370:9278, accessed April 22, 2024.
Scope and Content
The Roy Jay Holden Papers include field notes, charts and maps, and geological surveys and research results, covering the history of mineralogy and geology, especially in Virginia, including work at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) Engineering Experiment Station. In addition to detailed materials on iron ores in Virginia, especially west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are reports on mines and furnaces in twenty-five counties of the state. The collection also contains Holden's notebooks, copies of addresses and speeches he made, and records from the VPI Geology Department.
Arrangement
Materials are organized into three series:
Series I: Professional Papers includes notes, manuscripts, Geology Department records, and a CV.
Series II: Subject Files contains materials collected on various topics relating to geology and mines, particularly in Virginia.
Series III: General Files includes correspondence, notes, and information on individuals and companies.
Related Archival Materials
VT Special Collections and University Archives also maintains the papers of Holden's son, Roy Jay Holden, Jr. Papers, Ms1991-023.
Additional records from the Geological Sciences Department are available in Record Group 15/12. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for more information.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Roy Jay Holden Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Faculty and staff
Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
Science and Technology
University History
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (1896-1944)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)
Series I: Professional PapersCurriculum Vitae; Bibliography1History of Geology; Geology Department1Addresses & Radio Talks4Scope and Content
- Africa
- "Aladdin Was a Piker"
- "Algonkian Formations in the Blue Ridge of Virginia"
- "Animals of the Past"
- "Appalachian Alluvial Diamonds"
- Aurora Borealis
- Automobile Touring--1930, 1936, 1937
- Canadian Northland, Tales of, 1938
- "Touring in Ontario" (Canada)
- Coal: "Origin of Coal"
- Coal: Coal Map of Virginia, Discussion of, for Virginia Planning Board
- Coal: "A Visit to a Coal Mine," 1931
- Coal: Underground trip--Pocahontas Fuel Co.
- Commencement address, 1945: "To Think or Not to Think"
- Colorado River, The
- Columbia Lavas, The, 1930
- "Conservation of Natural Resources," 1932
- "Dust" (Atmospheric), 1933
- "Earth, Looking into the," 1930
- Earth, Tales of the
- Fenstreams
- First Families of America
- F.F.V.
- Geology Recitations, 1933: What is geology? (Ja. 12): Piedmont Section of Virginia; (Mar. 9): General questions about geology; (May 11): "How do mountains grow?" etc.; (June 8): Geology trip.
- Gas Well, Virginia's First (4 pp.), 1932
- Gems
- Genesis vs. Geology
- Glacier National Park, 1930
- Gold, 1935, 1938
- Helictites in Virginia
- Imperial Valley, The (Southern California) (3 pp.)
- Iron in Virginia, Mining & Manufacturing of (4 pp.), 1931, 1944
- Iron Gate Gap (4 pp.), 1932
- Inorganic Resources of Virginia, Utilization of, in Chemical Manufacture (Arsenopyrite; Portland & Natural Cements; Lime; Gypsum; Salt; Sulphuric Acid; Manganese; Ceramic Materials; Nitrate; Copper; Lead & Zinc) (5 pp.)
- Magmatic Carbonation - Carbothermal Metamorphism
- Metallic Resources of Virginia
- Natural Bridge National Forest, 1931
- National Resources, Conservation of, 1932
- Narrows, The (3 pp.), 1931
- New River ("Our Oldest River"), 1931
- Non-Ferrous Metals in Virginia, 1931
- "Origin of Life"
- Petroleum in Virginia, 1930
- Phi Kappa Phi, Talk before, 1936
- Piedmont, Virginia, Geology of (8 pp.), 1933
- "Plant Life Though the Ages" (8 pp.)
- Prehistory (13 pp.), "Measuring Prehistoric Time," 1937
- 'Punch Jones' Sparkler
- Rocky Mountains, The
- "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi" (7 pp.), 1943, Phi Kappa Phi
- Stamp Collection, The Hobby of, 1936
- Starch Manufacture in Virginia, 1931
- Underground trip--see Coal (above)
- Water (& chlorine)
- Water Power, Virginia (4 pp.), 1932
- Water, Yellow Sulphur Spring, Origin of the Sulphate
- Miscellaneous
Manuscripts of Original Work on Iron Ores5Scope and ContentHistory of the Iron Ore Industry of the United States (typescript of Holden's doctoral dissertation for the University of Wisconsin, 1915; 506 pp.)
Field Notes1905-19295Scope and Content30 small notebooks, many dealing with Virginia Geological Survey, including:
- 1905: #1-3, 5
- 1906: #4, 6, x
- 1907: #7, x, Carnegie work
- 1908: #1
- 1909: #3-7, 7a, x
- 1910: #8, 10-11
- 1912: Zinc
- 1914: #12
- 1919: #13
- 1929: "Red notebook"
- History notes 1-3
- Ore & furnaces
- Historical notes
Duplicates of Field Notes (see list of folder above)5Miscellaneous Typescripts and Manuscripts6Geology Departmental Records6Scope and Content
- Before 1920
- 1920-1923
- 1924-1928
- Requisitions, 1926
- 1929
- Requisitions, 1934
- Requisitions, 1939
- Requisitions, 1943
- Appropriations & Budgets, 1909-1936
- Appropriations & Budgets, 1938-1945
- Payrolls, 1909-1945
- Expense Accounts
Series II: Subject FilesIron Ores in Virginia1History of Development of Oriskany Iron Ore1Iron Ore23Scope and Content
Box 2
- Alleghany Ore & Iron Company
- Analyses--List of samples tested
- Analyses--Penniman & Brown
- Appalachian Iron Company, Big Stone Gap
- Bibliography of Virginia Iron Ores
- Cacapon Sandstone as an Iron Ore
- Catalog of State Reports
- Chemistry of Virginia Iron Ores
- Douthat Survey
- Field note, VGS 1906-1911 (Virginia Geological Survey)
- Geological Survey letters--Bevan, McGill, Giles, Nelson, Warwick
- Iron Ores (Virginia)
- Iron Ores in Virginia & Iron Ores West of the Blue Ridge
- Iron Sulphate
Box 3
- Manganese Ore in Virginia & West Virginia
- Manganese
- Metallic Mineral Resources of Virginia
- Methods of Analyses
- Norfolk & Western Railway
- Oriskany Ore and Iron Company
- Pulaski Iron Company
- Reports
- Robinson, Heath
- Solution of the Iron
- Specular Ores (Historical)
- Virginia Railway
- Walker Mountain--Pulaski (Caldwell, J. E.)
Lime3Scope and Content
- Tests on Burning Limestone
- Laws on Lime (Agriculture)
- Letters, miscellaneous
- Samples, list of contributors
- Marl
- Methods
- National Lime Association
- Reports
- Riverton
- Sample Numbers
- Sizing Tests
- Temperature Test
- White Rock Quarry Company
- Analyses
- Bags
- Weight Experiment
- Weights of Lime in Storage
Mines in Virginia, A-F3Scope and Content
- Andis
- Arcadia
- Austinville
- Australia
- Back Valley
- Bailey Crockett
- Barber
- Bare Bank/Crozier/Blue Bank/Red Mountain
- Barren Springs and Bertha
- Bess
- Big Hill
- Black Rock
- Boyer
- Bozoo Well Samples
- Callie
- Camp Prospect
- Carter Bank
- Charter Oak
- Chestnut Knob (Henry County)
- Circle
- Clarke Bank
- Clayton (Pulaski County)
- Coffee
- Columbia and Liberty
- Crawford
- Crescent
- Crimora
- Dixie Limonite
- Dolly Ann
- Douthat Survey (Haynes & Moore tract, Alleghany County)
- Estelline
- Eva
- Farris
- Fenwick
- Ferrol
- Foster Falls
Mines in Virginia, G-R; References; Reports4Scope and Content
- Gannaway
- Garrison
- Given
- Hannah Forrer
- Hematite
- Henderson
- Henrietta
- Hepler
- Hiden
- Home Bank (Musser Bank, Buchanan, Wynne)
- Hurst of Buckeye
- Indian Camp
- Iron Mountain
- Ivanhoe
- Jackson
- William Jackson
- Johnson
- Kennedy
- Kimball
- Kunkle (Augusta County)
- Liberty (Shennandoah County)
- Lignite
- Little Wythe
- Locust Hill
- Longdale Iron Co. (houses Low Moor)
- Low Moor
- Martin Bank
- McCormick
- Merica
- Merrimac (Montgomery County)
- Mills Bank
- Mine Run (Shennandoah County)
- Morris
- Mount Torry
- Norma
- Oriskany
- Patterson
- Percival
- Pit Spring
- Poplar Camp
- Porter Bank
- Porter
- Posey
- Princess Furnace Co. (Glen Wilton)
- Pulaski
- Red Hill
- Red Mountain
- Reed Island
- Rich Hill
- Rich Patch
- Rileyville
- Roaring Run
- Rumsey
Mines in Virginia, S-W4Scope and Content
- Sanders
- Simmerman
- Smyth
- Spec
- Stack
- Swecker
- Tipton
- Under Rock
- Van Buren
- Vaughn (Shennandoah County)
- Walton
- White Rock
- Wilton
Mineralogy4Minerals in Virginia4Scope and ContentBasalt; Bauxite; Clays; Copper; Dufrenite; Feldspar; Franklinite; Gold; Ilemite; Pegmatite-Moorefield; Pheancite in Amelia County; Platinum; Potash; Quartz; Spessarite; Staurolite-Fairy Stone; Tantalite; Titanium; Vanadium; Viviante; Waverlite; Zinc.
Mineral Statistics4Oil Shale4Geographic distribution (3 folders)5Series III: General FilesA-C1Scope and Content
- Anderson, William A.
- Appalachian Geology
- Augusta Mill & Merchantile Co.
- Blacksburg, Town of
- Bockee, John J.
- Bomb (to test the stability of natural silicates in iron furnaces)
- Brown, J. Wilcox
- Calcite & Aragmite Experiements
- Campbell, M. R.
- Caves
- Cement
- Cement--thesis
- Charts & Maps
- Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co.
- Cline, W. S.
- Clippings (newspaper) re: cement, lime mortar
- Curd, William C.
- Curve (results of carbonation of limestone)
D-L1Scope and Content
- Daily, D. T.
- Dams, Damsites & Reservoirs
- Dillon's Sons, E.
- Echols, W. M.
- Engineering Experiment Station
- Experimental Results (Lime)
- Field notes
- Firmstone, H.
- Fischer, Alfred George
- Forrer, Samuel
- Fossils
- Geological Survey (Virginia) letters
- Goshen Iron Co.
- Graham, David
- Harvey, A. W.
- Index to manuscript--Industrial Development
- Jones, Catesby (chief chemist, state)
- Jordan, S. H.
- Jung, E. L.
- Kimbalton Lime Co.
- Letters, miscellaneous
- Letters from outside the state of Virginia
- Low Moor Iron Co.
M-R2Scope and Content
- Manuscript--cutlines for figures
- Matthews, A. L.
- Meteorites
- Miscellaneous
- Newport News Ship & Dry Dock Co.
- Patents
- Pechin, Edmund C., report
- Persinger, A. W.
- Pulaski Fault
- Punch Jones Diamond
- Raymond, R. W.
- Riley Bill 1943
- Roanoke Cinder Block Co.
- Rocks
S-W2Scope and Content
- Sinking Creek
- Skyline Parkway
- Soils & Soil Conservation
- Springs (mineral)
- State Planning Board--discussion of map
- Stratigraphy
- Virginia Elements of Natural Environment
- VPI&SU
- Vulcanism
- Water (Springs & wells)
- Watson, Dr. T. L.
Counties2Scope and Content
- Alleghany
- Augusta
- Bath & Bedford
- Botetourt
- Bland
- Buchanan & Dickerson
- Clarke
- Craig
- Frederick
- Giles
- Highland
- Lee
- Montgomery
- Page
- Pulaski
- Roanoke
- Rockbridge
- Rockingham
- Russell
- Scott
- Shennandoah (& Warren)
- Smyth
- Tazewell
- Washington
- Wise
- Wythe
Furnaces, Data on2Scope and Content
- Grace Furnace
- Princess Furnace Co.--Botetourt County
- Van Buren Furnace
- Vernon Furnace (Grottoes Iron Co.)
- Virginia Iron & Coal Co.