Manuscript Collections
Special Collections contains more than fifty manuscript collections that include correspondence, diaries, legislative and mayoral files, campaign files, family papers, scrapbooks, photographs, business papers, and legal files. Strengths of the collections include materials related to African-American history, The Civil War, local history, Norfolk school desegregation, politics, military history, and Women’s history. The following collections are arranged alphabetically. The descriptions following each collections include brief biographical information of the persons or families represented, types of material included in the collections, and what information the material contains. The dates in parentheses indicate birth and death dates for individuals and the years the collection spans for families and organizations. Enclosed in brackets is the manuscripts or records group number. This number functions as the location code and should be given to the staff when requesting material. Click on the highlighted collections for a more detailed biography and a finding aid. |
Collections
Howard B. Aison (1920-1997). Career Army.
Served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Collection primarily relates to
his service in these wars. Includes correspondence, photographs, citations,
orders, diaries and recollections, unit histories, artifacts, and maps.
[MG 61]
Allen-Johnson Family Papers 1838-1942.
Resided in Maine. Contains correspondence, genealogical material, receipts,
a ledger book, and newspapers clippings.
[MG 48]
American Association of University Women, Norfolk Branch
(AAUW) 1902-1999. The AAUW is a national organization that promotes education
and equity for all women and girls. The Norfolk Branch began as a college
club in 1902, then joined the AAUW in 1921. The collection spans the years
1902 to 1999 and includes meeting minutes, annual reports, publications, information
about branch activities and scrapbooks.
[MG 74]
Mason
C. Andrews (1919-2006 ). Physician, former city council member and mayor
of Norfolk. Served on Norfolk city council from 1974 to 2000 and as the city’s
mayor from 1992-1994. Was instrumental in the development of the Eastern Virginia
Medical School complex and the redevelopment of downtown Norfolk. The collection
includes personal, business, and political papers spanning the years 1932-1997.
[MG 62]
Walter C. Ansel (1897-1977). Career Navy. Served
in World War I and II. Retired from active service in 1949 with the rank of
Rear Admiral. Collection deals primarily with his research on German operations
during the Second World War resulting in two books, Hitler Confronts England
and Hitler and the Middle Sea. Of note is extensive correspondence with
German officers, many of which are in German. See guide to military
history for more detail.
[MG 29]
Peter K. Babalas (1922-1987).
Represented the 5th District in the Virginia State Senate from 1967-1987. Collection
primarily relates to his service in the State Senate from 1972-1979. See guide
to political papers for more
detail.
[MG 17]
Benjamin A. Banks (1884-1974).
Lawyer and prominent member of the Norfolk Jewish community. Served on the Norfolk
Board of Aldermen (1908-1911) and in the Virginia House of Delegates (1911-1913).
Active in local, state and national politics. Includes personal and political
correspondence, scrapbooks, letters to the editor, and photographs. See guide
to political papers for more
detail.
[MG 6]
Dr. Thomas Blossom (1912-1992). Longtime career
as a teacher. Professor of History at Old Dominion University. Collection relates
to his publications, faculty position, classes and students. Of note is material
relating to his research of Central and South American history.
[RG 17-5B1]
Archie L. Boswell 1958-1960. Norfolk
attorney. Represented the plaintiffs in the two cases initiated to reopen the
Norfolk public schools closed to avoid integration, James v. Duckworth and James
v. Almond. Includes correspondence, legal materials, notes, and background material.
See guide to desegregation of
the Norfolk Schools for more detail.
[MG 59]
S. Eliot Breneiser (? -1998) Professor of Music
at Old Dominion University. Collection relates to his position on the Faculty
Senate, Faculty Caucus and University Senate where he served as the Chairman.
Documents date from 1965 to 1974.
[RG 17-B1]
Buck Family Papers 1807-1850. Three letters constitute this collection. The letters are from Solomon Bachus of Granville County, New York, to his brother Herman Hyde of Essex, Vermont, (July 12, 1807); from Arabret Luckland of Bloomingdale to her cousin Louisa Buck of Westford, Vermont (May 24, 1846) and from Rosannah Chen(owitt) of Monroe, Wisconsin, to Miss Louisa Buck of Westford, Vermont (July 28, 1850). The first letter describes the failing health of a family member, slowly dying
of cancer.
[MG 12]
Elizabeth Ann Burton (1968-1990).
The collection includes typed and handwritten drafts of poetry written by Elizabeth Ann Burton, mostly from the late 1980s. Included are the original manuscripts for Burton’s published book of poetry Waiting for the Messiah, as well as the draft of a second book, which was never published. Letters from Elizabeth Burton to Mildred Guilds Peele, donator of the collection, as well as letters written after Burton’s death by Mildred Peele to L. S. Loomer, a potential publisher of Elizabeth Burton’s poetry, and correspondence between Burton’s mother and Peele.
[RG 17-3B4]
Hugh Lee
Butler (1871-1946). Served on the Norfolk City Council from 1902 to
1938. Papers relate to his service on the Norfolk City Council during the Great
Depression and as chairman of Local Draft Board no. 1 during World War I.
See guide to political papers
for more detail.
[MG 58]
Paul G. Caplan (1918-2003). Norfolk pharmacist.
Chaired the board of the Norfolk Port and Industrial Authority, which runs
Norfolk International Terminals and the Norfolk International Airport, for
thirteen years and was a board member from 1962 to 1987. Served on several
political campaign committees, including those of Roy B. Martin and Stanley
Walker. Was very active in civic affairs, including the Norfolk Junior Chamber
of Commerce, Virginia Jaycees, United States Jaycees, Tidewater Chapter of
the American Red Cross, Norfolk Jewish Community Council, and the Virginia
Zoological and Aquarium Society.
[MG 78]
John Paul Carter (1923-1997). Episcopal priest,
active in Virginia Democratic Politics. Served on the Committee for Fair Redistricting,
Airlie Foundation, and the Virginia Political Study Group. Was active in Henry
Howell’s political campaigns. The collection includes papers on political
issues in Virginia during the 1960’s and 1970’s.
[MG 63]
Vivian
Carter-Mason (1900-1982). Founding member of the Women’s Council for Interracial
Cooperation and an active participant in the Civil Rights movement. Contains
transcripts and audiotapes of an interview that documents her life and the Civil
Rights movement in Norfolk. See Women’s Council for Interracial Cooperation below.
See guide to desegregation of
the Norfolk Schools for more detail.
[MG 53]
Clan MacLeod Society of the United States of
America . A Scottish genealogical and historical society. Includes
minutes, proceedings and business papers for the organization.
[MG 41]
Cook Family Papers (1872-1976).
Prominent family of Norfolk for many years. Traces its ancestry to Richard Blow,
a dominant figure in the business life of 18th and 19th century Virginia. Occupied
the famed Boush-Waller-Tazewell House of Norfolk. Bulk of collection consists
of the papers of Allen M. Cook and documents the development of subdivisions
in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and the career of a naval officer from 1899 to
1919. Includes business papers, financial documents, diaries, correspondence,
scrapbooks, and newspaper clippings. Of note are the minutes and proceedings
of the Princess Anne and Norfolk Mutual Building and Loan Association.
[MG 46]
Dudley Cooper (1899-1996).
First college-trained optometrist to practice in Norfolk. Owner of Ocean View
Amusement Park. Includes correspondence, photographs,
legal documents, financial material, brochures, advertisements, news release,
and newspaper clippings primarily relating to the operation of Ocean View Park.
[MG 31]
Lawrence M. Cox (1912-2002). Served as the Executive Director of the
Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NHRA) from 1941-1969 and, thereafter,
as Assistant Secretary for Renewal and Housing Assistance in the Department
of Housing and Urban Development during Nixon’s administration. Collection
chiefly consists of the records accumulated during his service with the NHRA
and HUD.
[MG 38]
Francis Crenshaw (1922-1975). Member of
Old Dominion University’s Board of Visitors, 1968-1976. Material relates to
his service as member and rector of the Board. Also contains papers of his
father, Captain Russell Crenshaw (1886-1975), that chiefly relate to his service
in the navy during World War II.
[RG 1-1B1]
Michael D’Orso (1993-1995). Writer for the Virginia Pilot
Newspaper, author of 13 nonfiction books. This collection contains D’Orso’s
notes and research material collected while writing Like Judgment Day:
The Ruin and Redemption of a Town Called Rosewood. The collection includes
interview tapes and transcripts, photographs, newspaper clippings, and other
research materials.
[MG 67]
Elizabeth Calvert Page Dabney (1812-1943). This collection
contains diaries, personal accounts, certificates, proceedings, receipts, literary
magazines, and newspapers documenting the family history of Ms. Dabney. For
more information see the Guides to Civil War Collections
and Local History.
[MG 95]
Doughty Family Papers (1855-1904).
Letters, paid receipts and household ledgers belonging to William Polk Fitchett,
Eastern Shore plantation owner, and his family.
[MG 47]
William Fred Duckworth (1899-1972). Mayor of Norfolk (1950-1962). Collection consists of memorabilia, photographs, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and artifacts relating to his political, business and civic activities.
[MG 45]
Finlay Forbes Ferguson (1812-1975).
A Norfolk architect. Descendant of longtime Norfolk family. Consists of papers
concerning the restoration of the Willoughby-Baylor House and family papers
documenting the history of Norfolk since the nineteenth century. Includes correspondence,
business papers, ledgers, deeds, genealogical material, newspapers, newspaper
clippings, and photographs. Noteworthy is material relating to New York Life’s
payment of insurance claims after intercourse between the United States and
Confederacy was declared unlawful in 1861.
[MG 50]
Florence Crittenton Home of
Norfolk (1894-1973). Established in 1894 to respond to the needs of
unwed mothers and their children. Contains the institutional records of the
home during their eighty years service to Norfolk. Includes histories, business
and financial records, studies, reports, memorials, testimonials, correspondence,
scrapbooks, and newspapers clippings. Restricted in part.
[MG 13]
Hiram Glazier (? -1862). Contains copies
of letters, dated 1861-1863, sent to and from friends and family during the
Civil War.
[MG 18]
Edythe
C. Harrison (1934- ). Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
(1979-1982), founder and president of the Virginia Opera Association, and unsuccessful
candidate for United States Senator in 1984 against incumbent Republican, Senator
John Warner. The first woman in Virginia nominated by the Democratic Party for
statewide office. Collection primarily relates to her activities in politics
and the 1984 Senatorial campaign. See guide to political
papers for more detail.
[MG 60]
James Bertram Haugh (1975-1978). Old Dominion University
Sociology Professor. Received his Ph.D. from the University of Akron in 1978.
Author of the book, "Power and Influence in a Southern City." Based on his doctoral
thesis, the book explores the power structure of a "Colonial City",
which is actually the city of Norfolk, Virginia. The Collection relates mainly
to his thesis. It includes rough drafts, notes, tapes and transcripts of interviews
with prominent Norfolk figures in 1978.
[MG 70]
Edward F. Hewins (1856-1957). Relates primarily to the
donor’s father Captain Charles E. Hewins (1841-1927), a Union soldier who settled
in Hampton, Virginia after the war. Contains correspondence, and Civil War military
papers documenting his activities in the Civil War
and Reconstruction.
[MG 26]
Hodges Family Papers (1754-1979). Correspondence,
newspaper clippings, genealogical information, scrapbook materials, photographs.
Collection primarily focuses on General John Hodges, William H.H. Hodges, and
Colonel James Gregory Hodges.
[MG 49]
James A. Howard (1918-1996). Member
of the Board of Visitors of Old Dominion University (1962-1971) and the Board
of Directors of the Old Dominion University Intercollegiate Foundation. Consists
of papers accumulated during his service on these two boards. Noteworthy material
includes his service on the Board of Visitors’ Building and Grounds Committee,
the Child Study Clinic, dormitories, the President’s home, the Physical Education
Building, speaker regulations, and student disturbances.
[RG 1-1B2]
Henry E. Howell, Jr. (1920-1997). Served in
the General Assembly and as Lieutenant Governor (1971-1973). Unsuccessful candidate
for Governor of Virginia three times (1969, 1973,1977). Bulk of the collection
deals with his career in politics,
first in Norfolk and, after 1968, on the statewide level. Documents Democratic
Party affairs from 1948 through 1977. Also includes promotional audio and video clips created as part of Howell's campaigns for the Virginia governorship in 1969, 1973 and 1977. Included are radio and television advertisements, speeches and scripted television broadcasts. Finding aid available from Library of Virginia.
[MG 1]
Robert Morton Hughes (1855-1940). Contains
personal and political correspondence regarding his legal practice, involvement
in Virginia politics and his
activities in support of education. Had longtime association with the College
of William and Mary, served on the State Board of Education and the Board of
Directors of the Norfolk Public Library. Significant aspect of this collection
is the papers of his family, Governor John B. Floyd, General Joseph E. Johnston,
and Judge Robert W. Hughes, important public figures before, during, and after
the Civil War. Other papers of
these prominent individuals can be found in the Special Collections of the College
of William and Mary.
[MG 7]
Collection of The Independent Correspondence and Other Materials (1680-1936).
Primarily comprised of correspondence of William Hayes Ward, editor of The Independent, a New York Congregationalist weekly, with notable literary and historical figures including General John Charles Frémont, American explorer and expedition leader; P. T. Barnum, showman; and Asa Gray, the preeminent American botanist of the 19th century.
Other items in the collection include American literature and theater papers; colonial historical manuscripts and documents; and correspondence with the library of Norfolk division of the College of William and Mary (the predecessor of Old Dominion University).
[MG 83]
Alice R. Jaffe (?-1994) Includes assorted reports,
newspaper articles, etc.
relating to Hampton Roads history and the early history of Old Dominion University.
See the Guide to local history for more detail.
[RG 17-2B1]
1907 Jamestown Exposition Photographs. Consists of 21 photographs (14 mounted for exhibit purposes) that depict the Jamestown Exposition of 1907, the tercentennial of the settlement at Jamestown in 1607. The tercentennial was held in Norfolk, Virginia on land that is now part of the Norfolk Naval Base.
[MG 68]
1907 Jamestown Exposition, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (1907-1908). Consists of material related to the first Episcopal Church in North America, which was exhibited in the 1907 Exposition.
[MG 89]
Augustus C. Johnson (1914-2006). Writer for "The Northern Virginia Sun". A collection of columns
written by Johnson from September 1970 through December 1971. The columns
relate primarily to the politics of Virginia’s 10th congressional district.
Personalities discussed in them include Joel T. Broyhill, Henry E. Howell,
George Rawlings, Harry F. Byrd, Jr., William B. Spong, Linwood Holton and
Mills Godwin.
[MG 71]
Dorothy M. Jones (1927-1995). Ms. Jones was a professor
at Old Dominion University from 1954-1976. Jones joined the Norfolk Division
of the College of William and Mary as the Head of the Merchandising Department
in 1954. She left that position to become the Associate Professor of Business
Management in the School of Business, until her retirement in 1976. This collection
deals primarily with Dr. Jones’ career as a professor at the Norfolk Division
of the College of William and Mary. The papers document her studies conducted
through classes for the benefit of local businessmen, business correspondence,
papers and published materials.
[RG 18-4A1]
Dr. Susan Kingsley Kent (1952-2003). Dr. Kent was a professor of anthropology at Old Dominion University from 1986 to 2003. Includes correspondence; Anthropology
course materials; ODU Sociology and Criminal Justice Department minutes,
reports, and other papers; Anthropology and Archaeology articles, papers,
books, and journals; notes from Dr. Kent’s field excursions; and various
other items.
[RG 17-13A1]
League of Women Voters of Hampton Roads
(1956-1999). Includes handbooks, correspondence, newsletters, agendas,
minutes, membership lists, and financial records. Contains information on
the action program, education fund, speakers bureau, voters service, and studies
on various issues. See the Guide to Women’s History
for more detail.
[MG 72]
Everett Parker Lesley, Jr. (1913 - 1982).
Served as Art Professor at Old Dominion University, 1959 - 1979, and served
as co-chairman of the Art Department, 1968 - 1969. He authored one art-historical
handbook for the Norfolk Museum of Art and Science (Chrysler Museum), one
book, two magazine articles and other publications. Collection consists of
a large number of photo-slides related to his expertise in Byzantine Art and
Architecture, also consists of printed material, documentation of travels
abroad, correspondence and photographs.
[RG 17-2B2]
Dorothy Lippincott (1965-1978). One of Old Dominion
University’s most able administrators. Includes the records of Town-N-Gown,
a group dedicated to establishing cooperation between the university, the
city, and the military.
[RG 6-4B]
Captain Samuel J. Major Collection (1861-1865). Documents
the activities of the Left Wing, Army of the Potomac, in November and December,
1863 during the Civil War. Includes correspondence,
orders, dispatches, and operation reports.
[MG 43]
Dr. J. Henry McCoy, Jr. (1918-1976). Material primarily relates to McCoy’s service on the Old Dominion University
Board of Visitors and his relationship with Tidewater Community College.
[RG 1- 1B5]
McCurdy Historical Tapes Collection1977-1979. Dennis
McCurdy was a radio news broadcaster for WPMH News and Public Affairs. Contains
reel to reel audiotapes of interviews, speeches, and events regarding politics.
See guide to political papers
for more detail.
[MG 42]
Thomas R. McNamara (1925- ). Served
in the Virginia General Assembly as a member of the House of Delegates (1968-1971)
and the Senate (1972-1976). Consists of records of his service in the General
Assembly, 1968-1976, including publications of state agencies and correspondence
as member of the State Water Control Board. See guide
to political papers for more detail.
[MG 4]
The Massive Resistance Printed Materials (1958-1960). Consists of 20 folders of regional and national newspaper clippings covering the “Massive Resistance” movement and public reaction to the de-segregation and subsequent closing of some of Norfolk’s public schools. Also discussed are state and local politicians such as Governor Lindsay Almond, Jr., who ordered the closing the Norfolk schools that enrolled African American students, and Mayor William Fred Duckworth, who opposed de-segregating the public schools. Some of the clippings discuss the fate of those students whose graduation was put in jeopardy by the school closing, known as "The Lost Class of ’59."
[MG 98]
Arthur "Bud" Metheny (1915-2003). Coached baseball at
the Norfolk Division and later Old Dominion College and University from 1948
until his retirement in 1980. Also coached the men’s basketball team from
1948 to 1965 and served as Athletic Director from 1963 to 1970. Collection
includes scorebooks, photographs, and baseball records.
[RG 2- 8B1]
Beverly Randolph Middleton (1928-1996).
Engineer and Virginia State Delegate. Served three terms in the Virginia House
of Delegates. Most of the collection pertains to his political career. Also
included is material related to his days as a student athlete at Norview High
School and VPI.
[MG 64]
Zelda J. Miller (1951-1963). Zelda J. Miller was a teacher
at Robert E. Lee School in Norfolk, Virginia during the 1950’s and 1960’s.
The material consists entirely of historical and civic information about the
Hampton Roads area, historical figures, and local industries. A particular
emphasis is on the Virginia colonies and early settlers.
[MG 73]
Norfolk Forum (1935-2004). Established in 1932,
the Norfolk Forum is believed to be the oldest nonprofit, public lecture series
in the U.S. The collection includes Forum business, history, events and event
programs, speaker bios, promotional materials, photographs, oral histories,
and video tapes of some of the speakers.
[MG 77]
Norfolk Museum of Natural History Collection.
Includes 144 photographs that depict the museum’s exhibits, staff, special functions,
and activities.
[MG 66]
Norfolk Nineteen Nineteen Photographic Collection (1919).
A portfolio of 46 prints that depict small shop owners and employees of businesses
in Norfolk, Virginia in 1919. Also, includes a study written by Dr. Peter Stewart,
an Old Dominion University History Professor and local historian, that examines
what Norfolk was like in 1919. This study is located in the collection’s control
folder.
[MG 69]
Norfolk Public Schools Desegregation Papers (1922-2008).
This collection primarily contains material related to the integration of
the Norfolk public schools. The papers include correspondence, court
cases, school board resolutions, inter-district memorandum, press releases,
reports, news clippings and district maps. Subjects covered are the 1958 school
closing to prevent integration, integration progress in the 1960s, busing
to achieve integration in the 1970s and the end of busing in the mid-1980s.
Among the most important historical materials is correspondence between Governor
Lindsay Almond and the School Administration, beginning with the letter ordering
the closing of six Norfolk schools in as mandated by the "Massive Resistance"
law. Other letters during this time period discuss allowing groups to
meet in those schools as long as the schools would not be used for educational
purposes. The donated material also includes school directories from
1922 -1990 and school calendars from 1952 - 2008.
[MG 92]
Our Own Community Press (1977-1998). A collection
of 15 bound volumes that represent 21 years of the paper’s existence. The paper
started in 1976 as a newsletter for the Unitarian-Universalist Gay Caucus of
Norfolk and grew into an institution in the Hampton Roads community. When the
paper folded in 1998, it was one of the country’s oldest gay newspapers.
[HQ75.076]
Owen-Fitzgerald Scrapbook and Autograph Book ( ca 1865 - 1953). A scrapbook of clippings of newspaper clippings with religious themes and an autograph book, both kept by Exilia Owen (Mrs. Alexander H. Fitzgerald).
[MG 88]
George Conoly Phillips (1942-1978). Norfolk City Council
member. Served as President of the United Drug Abuse Council and was active
in the Inter-Christian Fellowship, the Christian Broadcasting Network, and the
United Community Fund. Documents his activities in politics,
business and civic affairs.
[MG 15]
The Papers of Thomas Jackson Reed (1917-) Reed began his career at the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary in 1957 as an Associate Professor in the School of Business Administration. He taught courses in Economics, Business, and Statistics. The collection also documents his academic life and his work as a consultant in urban planning, land use, political re-districting and retail marketing.
[RG18-6B1]
Thomas Joseph Reilly (1915-1976). Political
correspondent for the Norfolk Ledger-Star and Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch for 26
years. Primarily newspaper columns from the Ledger-Star and background material
used to research articles. See guide to political
papers for more detail.
[MG 8]
Carolyn H. Rhodes (1925-). English and Women’s Studies professor at Old Dominion University. The documents include course
descriptions, grant reports, meeting minutes from various women’s groups, information
pertaining to the Title IX hearings, books, journal articles, newspaper clippings,
newsletters and pictures. Other items include award plaques and posters.
[RG 17-28A1]
Colonel James W. Roberts (1891-1977). President
and chairman of Henry B. Gilprin, a wholesale drug firm. Served in the General
Assembly from 1948-1968, holding a powerful position on the Appropriations
Committee. Served on the Norfolk Planning Commission. Collection principally
contains legislative correspondence from 1963-1964. See guide to political
papers for more detail.
[MG 2]
Robert M. Rose ( ? -1830). Business records and personal correspondence
of four Norfolk families, dating from 1809 to 1947. Focal point is the papers
of Commander Robert M. Rose.
[MG 23]
Edward L. Schrock (1941-). Served on the
U.S. House of Representative for the 2nd Congressional District of Virginia
from January 2001 to January 2005. His political and voting record is aligned
closely with the Republican Party. Materials in this collection date from
1999 to 2004. They include constituent feedback in the form of letters, postcards,
surveys, and public opinion ballots. Also included are other correspondence
and reference material related to various issues and legislation and materials
related to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business.
[MG 82]
Paul T. Schweitzer (1903-1976).
Norfolk businessman and member of the Norfolk School Board (1952-1960) and City
Council (1960-1968) during the Massive Resistance crisis. Includes correspondence,
legal documents, newspapers clippings, scrapbooks and photographs that primarily
document his activities during Norfolk’s desegregation crisis. See guide to
desegregation of the Norfolk
Schools for more detail.
[MG 16]
Kenneth G. Servais and Donald E. Terrill (1814-1847).
Primarily business correspondence about banking and other financial transactions.
[MG 22]
W. B. Shafer, Jr. (1895-1990). Long time Norfolk
native. Made his fortune in real estate and spent his life promoting humanitarian
and idealistic causes. Ran unsuccessfully for Norfolk City Council in 1928 and
1966 and lost a bid for the House of Representatives in 1944. Honorary member
of the Veterans of Foreign Affairs in recognition for his successful push to
have bonuses paid to World War I veterans. Author of 3 Books That Made the
South And 1000 Millionaires and 10 Billionaires, Go South Young Man,
and Go South Where God Still Lives. Bought newspaper space to promote his projects
and ideas. Includes correspondence, copies of The Spotlight, newspaper clippings,
rough drafts of his writings, and photographs.
[MG 52]
James W. Singleton (1811-1892). Prominent
Peace Democrat from Illinois during the Civil
War. Served in the United States House of Representatives (1879-1883). Contains
family papers spanning five generations, dating from 1770 to 1975. Includes
correspondence, business papers, military papers, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
[MG 10]
Eloise Word Skewis Collection (1777-1914).
This collection includes correspondence, newspaper clippings, receipts, statement
of accounts, currency, bonds, and indentures. Of note is genealogical material
that relate to the Claiborne and Kilby families of Virginia.
[MG 30]
A.E.S Stephens (1900-1973).
Served in both the House of Delegates (1929-1941) and the State Senate (1941-1952),
and as Lieutenant Governor (1952-1961). Ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic
nomination for Governor in 1961 against Albertis Harrison. Centers around this
unsuccessful campaign and contains papers focusing on the issue of Massive Resistance
to integration, dating to the early 1950s. See guide to political
papers and guide to desegregation
of the Norfolk Schools for more detail.
[MG 19]
Strauss Family Papers (1839-1938). Collected by Arnold
F. Strauss. Includes personal correspondence, diaries and journals, documents
and business papers belonging to the German-Jewish Strauss family. Among the papers are many belonging to Arthur F. Strauss, a respected
and successful doctor in Barmen, Germany. He was also a well known poet, art
collector, and painter, closely aligned with German Expressionism. German language
materials predominate.
[MG 9]
Dr. James Sweeney
This collection includes material related to Old Dominion University and
Hampton Roads history collected by Dr. James R. Sweeney, associate professor
of history and former University Archivist. Included are correspondence, photos,
news clippings, and oral history materials, as well as Sweeney’s notes and
drafts for a book he wrote in 1980 on ODU history. ODU history materials date
as far back as the 1920s; local history material dates from 1905.
[RG 10-4B1]
Samuel Leyens Switzer (1896-1960). Department
store owner in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Includes correspondence, literary productions,
legal documents, newspaper and magazine clippings, maps, memorabilia and photographs,
the bulk of which dates from 1911-1920. Collection amply documents his service
as an artillery officer in World War I. Of note are maps of Europe detailing
battle positions and troop movements in World War I. See guide to military
history for more detail.
[MG 37]
Bertha Fanning Taylor (1883-1980). Came
to Norfolk in 1945 as Curator of the Sloane Collection at the Heritage Foundation
Museum. Taught art courses at the Norfolk Division of the College of William
and Mary until 1951. Includes literary productions, printed materials, correspondence,
photographs, memorabilia, scrapbooks, and charts. A wealth of information
in art and art forms is available in the collection. In addition to the artistic
significance of the papers, the collection documents the history of Norfolk,
especially in the arts.
[MG 44]
Calvert Walke Tazewell (1917-2002).
Retired USAF Lt. Col., author, publisher, local historian. The collection includes
papers from Tazewell’s years as President of the Norfolk Historical Society
and Virginia History Federation. Also included is information on the Boush-Tazewell-Waller
House and papers of Philip Brower, former archivist of the MacArthur Memorial
in Norfolk. Brower’s papers include research on General Douglas MacArthur, personal
papers and papers regarding the MacArthur Memorial Archives.
[MG 75]
Printed Materials of the Tidewater History Collection (1795-1982). Consists of newspaper
clippings, whole newspapers, magazines, and pamphlets related to Hampton Roads facts, history, events, government, culture
and the military, with emphasis on the city of Norfolk.
[MG 91]
Dr. A. Rufus Tonelson (1911- ).
Principal of Maury High School during Massive Resistance crisis. Papers primarily
relate to his teaching experience at Old Dominion College and University.
[RG 19-1B1]
Transatlantic Cable (1858-1959). Small collection of items related to the Atlantic Ocean: A framed segment of cable used in the first transatlantic telegraph connection, 1858; a document certifying the cable’s authenticity; a photograph of the USCG ship Marmer, 1959 and an undated photograph of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s ship Discoverer.
[MG 84]
Admiral John Randolph Tucker
(1812-1883). Commander in the United States, Confederate States and Peruvian
Navy. Papers deal primarily with his service as president of the Peruvian Hydrographical
Commission of the Amazon. Spanish language materials predominate.
[MG 40]
United Community Fund (1923-1953). Formerly known
as the Norfolk Community Fund, United War Fund, Community Chest, and Community
Fund. Includes minutes from 1923 to 1953, reports from the Board of Trustees
and various committees, collection and distribution statements, memorandums,
outgoing correspondence, and scrapbooks. Volume I: minutes for the Norfolk Community
Fund (1923-1928); Volume II: minutes for the Norfolk Community Fund (1929- 1933);
Volume III: minutes for the Norfolk Community Fund (1934-1938); Volume IV: minutes
for the Norfolk Community Fund and the United War Fund (1939-1945); Volume V:
minutes for the United War Fund, Community Chest, and Community Fund (1946-1953).
Scrapbooks are for the years: 1938, 1941-1943, 1966-1970. Index of minute books
available in archives.
[MG 36]
U.S.S. Vulcan (1941-1984). Navy repair
vessel. Served in both the European and Pacific theaters during World War II.
Participated in the Occupation of Japan (1945-1946) and the Dominican Republic
intervention (1965). Contains historical material, memorabilia, crew member
recollections, press releases, newspaper clippings, and photographs. See guide
to military history for more detail.
[MG 57]
Virginia House of Delegates (1982). Contains 78 ¾ inch videotapes dating from January 13 to March 13, 1982, of the House of Delegates in session.
[MG 56]
Virginia Opera (1974-2007). Consists of Virginia Opera programs, guides, newspaper clippings, magazine articles. Also includes organizational documents, correspondence, audio-visual materials, bumper stickers, pins, aprons, and posters.
[MG 85]
Virginia Symphony Archives (1921-2005). Consists of the Virginia Symphony organizational archives, the Virginia Symphony
Board archives, artifacts concerning premières and other notable performances,
and the Virginia Symphony League archives.
[MG 81]
Stanley C. Walker (1923-2001). Served in the
Virginia House of Delegates from 1964 to 1971, and has been a State Senator
since 1972. Papers chiefly relate to his service in the General Assembly, notably
his service as Chairman of the State Crime Commission. See guide to political
papers for more detail.
[MG 28]
Webb Family Papers (1790-1975). Donated
by Lewis W. Webb, Jr., the collection contains documents from the early records
of the Borough of Norfolk (1790-1823), the Gosport Navy Yard (1829-1870), the
Webb Family (1831-1883), 19th century commercial ventures, and the Electricity
Cost Commission (1975).
[RG 2-1B1]
Dr. Forrest P. White (1920-1995).
Pediatrician in Norfolk. Played central role in formation of Norfolk Committee
for Public Schools, which opposed the closing of the city’s public schools during
the desegregation crisis. Bulk of the material concerns the desegregation of
Norfolk’s public schools. See guide to political
papers and guide to desegregation
of the Norfolk Schools for more detail.
[MG 5]
Forrest R. ``Hap’’ White Tapes (1975-1991). Former Budget Director for the Norfolk Public Schools. Fourteen untranscribed cassette tapes contain interviews White conducted with politicians, journalists, police and other city officials from 1975 – 1991 as background for his ODU doctoral dissertation, "School desegregation and urban renewal" and 1992 book, “Pride and Prejudice: School Desegregation and Urban Renewal in Norfolk, 1950-1959”.
[MG 96]
J. Warren White (1916-1985). Represented
Norfolk in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1962 to 1979. Includes legislative
correspondence, records, and reference material relating to his service in the
Virginia House of Delegates from 1974 to 1979. See guide to political
papers for more detail.
[MG 24]
Margaret White (1908-
). Taught in the Norfolk school system off and on since 1930. Involved in
struggle to reopen the public schools during the integration crisis. CBS television
documentary, "The Lost Class of ’59" recorded her efforts. Correspondence and
printed material, the bulk of which dates from 1959-1964, chiefly relates to
the CBS documentary. Member of the Norfolk Committee for Public Schools. See
guide to desegregation of the
Norfolk Schools for more detail.
[MG 20]
William G. Whitehurst (1925-). Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia’s Second District in 1968. Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Committee on Intelligence and Ethics Committee. Consists of nineteen bound Congressional dairies spanning from 1969 to 1986. Six scrap books consisting of newspaper clippings, magazines, pictures and other documents relating to Doctor William Whitehurst’s tenure in the House of Representatives.
[MG 86]
Thom Williamson (1833-1918).
Engineer in United States Navy from 1853 until 1912, when he was relieved
from active duty as a Chief Engineer with the rank of Rear Admiral. During the
Civil War he served on the U.S.S.
Hartford, the flagship of Rear Admiral David Farragut, and was present at the
Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864. Collection consists of general correspondence,
naval correspondence, diaries, and military papers from his service in the navy.
[MG 11]
Women’s Council for Interracial Cooperation
(1945-1960). Founded in 1945 as an interracial organization designed to
address concerns with education, health, and housing among the Afro-American
community in Norfolk. Predecessor to the Norfolk Human Relations Council. Includes
correspondence, newspapers clippings, minutes, reports, pamphlets, and membership
lists. Bulk of the organization’s records are in the archives at Norfolk State
University. See guide to desegregation
of the Norfolk Schools for more detail.
[MG 54]
Joseph D.
Wood (1867-1959). President of the Wood Towing Company (Tugboats). Served
on the Norfolk City Council (1926-1930, 1934-1944) and as Mayor (1940-1944)
during World War II. Collection contains business papers, mayoral files, correspondence
and the papers of his service on the Elizabeth River Tunnel Commission. See
guide to political
papers for more detail.
[MG 3]
World Affairs Council of Greater Hampton Roads (1968-2004).
Includes the records of a local World Affairs Council founded in 1969. The
organization’s statement of purpose states that "The World Affairs Council
of Greater Hampton Roads is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational organization
that promotes a greater understanding and interest in international affairs."
The collection includes business papers, information on programs put on by
the group, meeting minutes, photos, and correspondence.
[MG 65]
YWCA of Hampton Roads (1919-1996).
The YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) is the oldest and largest women’s
membership organization. The YWCA of South Hampton Roads first started as housing
for working girls in 1893. Throughout their history, the YWCA chapters of Hampton
Roads have advanced their purposes of empowering women and fighting racism by
running women’s shelters, camps, workshops, and various other programs. The
collection consists mainly of photos, scrapbooks, and newspaper clippings, as
well as some business and historical records of the organization.
[MG 76]
Revised: 9/9/2008