The collection is open to research.
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Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Evan J. Will Papers, Ms1989-030, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
The Evan J. Will Papers were donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1989.
The processing and description of the Evan J. Will Papers commenced and was completed in January 2022.
Dr. Evan J. Will (sometimes identified as Evan J. Wills) (1869-1961), son of Jacob and Elisabeth Will, was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia on October 7, 1869. The 1900 federal census shows him living with older brother Garnett Will in Lee District (Shenandoah County) and employed as a veterinary surgeon. By 1910, he was living with business partner William Garber in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He served on the town council of Harrisonburg and was elected to the first city council when Harrisonburg converted to independent city status in 1916. He retired from veterinary practice in 1955. Evan J. Will died on July 12, 1961, and was buried in Saint Lukes United Church of Christ Cemetery, Shenandoah County.
This collection contains papers of Evan J. Will (sometimes identified as Evan J. Wills) (1869-1961), a veterinarian practicing in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The papers all relate to Dr. Will's veterinary practice and include published reports, correspondence, reports, legal and financial documents, and ephemera. The collection contains a typescript summary of the mid-winter 1909 session of the Virginia State Veterinary Association proceedings and Dr. Will's applications for licensing his veterinary practice and feed stable; two postcards from R. S. Rinker of Mount Jackson asking Dr. Will to consult on an ailing horse; and several receipts and invoices. The collection includes two published reports: "United States Department of Agriculture Service Announcements" and "Diseases of the Dog and Their Treatment" by Muller and Glass. Among the ephemera contained in the collection are a program for a 1909 Chicago address by William Jennings Bryan; a 1908 local Southern Railway timetable between Washington D. C. and Bluemont, Virginia; a calling card for veterinarian Robert T. White of Annawan, Illinois; cards advertising stud services of Virginia King No. 2482 of Valley View Stock Farm (Harrisonburg) and Holly Denmark of Rockingham Hackney Horse Copmany (Harrisonburg); and a 1908/1909 class schedule for McKillip Veterinay College (Chicago).
The guide to the Evan J. Will Papers, by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
This collection had been long identified as the Evan J. Wills Collection. An examination of the collection and of primary source documents determined that Evan J. Will Papers would be a more appropriate title.