Nick Racey Collection, 1766/1941

Access and use

Location of collection:
Shenandoah County Library
Shenandoah County Library
514 Stoney Creek Blvd.
Edinburg VA, 22824
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Zachary Hottel
Phone: (540) 984-8200
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item] Nick Racey Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia, USA.

Summary

Extent:
24.5 Linear Feet 4 x 1 linear feet, legal size flip top document boxes 1 x 1.5 linear feet, legal size flip top document box 2 x .5 linear feet, legal size flip top document boxes 3 x 3 linear feet, print boxes 3 x 2 linear feet, deep lid print boxes 1 x 6 linear feet, print box
Abstract:
Documents, photographs, and ledgers from the northern portion of Shenandoah County collected by Nick Racey. Materials are created from the late 18th through the mid 20th century and include personal papers and business records.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item] Nick Racey Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia, USA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains material collected by Nick Racey. It primarily focuses on the northern portion of Shenandoah County, including the Towns of Strasburg and Toms Brook.

A variety of materials are present, but include business records of several stores, personal papers, legal records, the religious publication "The Old Paths," and a small variety of photographs.

Materials related to the Fravel and Stickley families of Shenandoah County, Virginia.

Items include documents, legal records, and business ledgers.

Materials in this series related to Nathaniel Funkhouser and his family.

They include documents, correspondence, and some farm records.

Editions of "The Old Paths," a Baptist-affiliated church publication, dated from 1891-1900. Mailed to "Miss Laura Bowman."

This series contains Volumes I, II, IX, and X of the publication.

This series contains images, prints and photographs from within Shenandoah County and related to Shenandoah County families.

Photographs showing members of the Pratt Family. It appears some images are from Strasburg, Virginia, Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia, and from Patterson, New Jersey.

Photographs showing members of the Ludholtz/Crabill families of Shenandoah County Virginia or images related to those families.

Documents collected by Nick Racey.

Materials genrally are not connected, aside from the collector.

Sub-series contains invoices retained by Snarr and Miley Store in Toms Brook, Virginia. Invoices were stored originally in a letter box in chronological order. Folder titles and the sub-series title are those of original labels.

Sub-series contains invoices retained by Snarr and Miley Store in Toms Brook, Virginia and dated January 1 to July 1, 1939. Invoices were stored originally in a letter box in chronological order. Folder titles and the sub-series title are those of original labels.

Sub-series contains invoices retained by Snarr and Miley Store in Toms Brook, Virginia and labeled "June 1, 1941-". Invoices were stored originally in a letter box in chronological order. Folder titles and the sub-series title are those of original labels.

Sub series containing financial records from the Snarr and Miley Store, including ledgers, day books, sales accounts, and bank statements.

Biographical / historical:

As of 2024 Nick Racey was a resident of Strasburg Virginia. He has a long time interest in the community's history and served as a member of the Strasburg Heritage Association and Sons of Confederate Veterans.

These materials are a portion of his personal collection obtained from various sources.

Nathaniel Funkhouser was born August 8, 1845 and died March 13, 1898. A lifelong resident of Shenandoah County, he lived near the Mount Olive community west of the Town of Toms Brook. He spent his life as a farmer and was married three times to Annie Beydler, Rebecca Saum, and Mary Hammon.

"The Old Paths" was a Baptist-affiliated publication edited and published by J.B. McInturff of Strasburg, Virginia and printed by Henkel & Co., printers in New Market, Virginia. It was first published in January 1891 and continued printing through at least December 1900.

Snarr and Miley Store (also known as Snarr & Miley Co.) operated in Toms Brook, Virginia during the early to mid-20th century (from at least 1925-ca. 1950).

The store sold a variety of merchandise and is sometimes referred to as a general store. It was located adjacent to the railroad tracks on what is now Hilltop Drive in Toms Brook. The building still stands and is used as an apartment building.

Acquisition information:
Donation from Nick Racey.
Processing information:

Items in this collection were originally stored horizontally in boxes by the donor. Some were were interleaved by acid free paper between individual items.

Materials were removed from original containers and rehoused. Documents were foldered and boxed. Photographs were sleeved, foldered and boxed. Books and ledgers were wrapped and boxed, housed horizontally.

One ledger from an unidentified store in Strasburg Virignia did contain dried mold spores. Collection had been quarintined and no spread was evident. Ledger was dusted and vacuumed to remove spores and is boxed individually.

Name of this series is based on a note identifying materials produced by the donor.

Arrangement:

Limited original order was retained following donation.

Series and sub-series arrangement was developed based on how items were presented in donation and stored by the donor.

Folder withing each series are arranged chronologically with undated items in the rear of each series.

Physical location:
Shenandoah County Library, Truban Archives