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], William W. Hurt Papers, Ms1992-025, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
The William W. Hurt Papers were donated to the Special Collections and University Archives in 1992. The collection was accessioned as the Douglas Land Company Records and was known by that title until 2005, when it was processed and renamed.
The processing, arrangement and description of the William W. Hurt Papers commenced and was completed in April 2005.
William W. Hurt was born in Virginia around 1879. He married Zula Kinzer, and the couple had two sons: William Whitmore (1905-1984) and Fred Kinzer (1910-2003). The family initially lived in Washington County, but some years after becoming general manager of the Douglas Land Company, Hurt moved with his family to Marion (Smyth County), where he maintained an active interest in local affairs.
Many of Hurt's activities centered on his role as manager of the Douglas Land Company and in developing the company's holdings. He supervised the planting and operation of a commercial apple orchard, undertook game and fish conservation measures and built roads. Hurt was also involved in other business enterprises, many of which were probably connected--either directly or indirectly--with the Douglas Land Company. He served on the board of directors of the National Bank of Chilhowie and the Colonial Manufacturing Company; was vice-president of the Damascus Telephone Association and the Elk Garden Company and was president of the Smyth County Fair. Hurt died between 1916 and 1932.
The Douglas Land Company was organized in New York in 1904 to manage the Douglas family estate of Washington, Smyth and Grayson counties, Virginia. Under the management of William W. Hurt, the company developed timber, engaged in mineral prospecting and leased to local farmers lands from the estate, known as "Laurel Farm." In 1910, the company sold 28,000 acres of timberland to the United States government as a forest reserve. Timber from other tracts of land was sold to lumber companies. W. L. Umbarger succeeded Hurt as manager upon the latter's death; Umbarger was later succeeded by H. P. Gills. The company had ceased operation by 1932.
Source:
Wilson, Goodridge,
This collection contains the business and personal financial papers of William W. Hurt, of Washington and Smyth counties, Virginia. Records of the Douglas Land Company, of which Hurt served as general manager, comprise the larger part of the collection. These records consist primarily of lease agreements and deeds, as well as other contracts and legal documents.
The collection also contains records of several other enterprises in which Hurt was involved; at least some of these--such as the Laurel River Farm--were directly connected to the Douglas Land Company. The collection also contains items relating to the Colonial Manufacturing Company, Damascus Telephone Association, Elk Garden Company, Helton Company, Laurel River Lumber Company, and the Smyth County Fair Association.
Of Hurt's personal financial and legal papers, the collection contains several deeds and contracts into which he seems to have entered independent of his position with the Douglas Land Company.
The collection also contains a folder of documents--mostly receipts and doctor's prescriptions--belonging to J. B. Gilliam, a resident of Smyth County. Gilliam's connection to Hurt or the Douglas Land Company could not be determined while processing the collection.
A folder of general materials completes the collection and contains, among other items, various legal documents; 1922-1923 temperature and rainfall statistics for Marion, Virginia; a map showing a Douglas Land Company tract that was burned in a 1910 fire, and a copy of William Hurt's will.
The collection is arranged alphabetically by name of business, with Hurt's personal financial following the files devoted to specific businesses.
The guide to the William W. Hurt Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
[see also Oversize Materials]