Judy Gochenour Collection, 1870/1920

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
Terms of access:

This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. Researchers must register and agree to all copyright laws and archives policies before using the collection. Please contact the Shenandoah County Library before visiting to use this collection.

Preferred citation:

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

Summary

Extent:
1.5 Linear Feet One legal-sized box and one 8x10 print box.
Abstract:
Photographs and a limited amount of paper material related to the Sheetz family who lived near Woodstock, Virginia.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

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

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains 19 sleeves of images, 2 of a stretcher restoration and 17 of local sites/individuals, and 9 folders of smaller photographs of local sites/individuals. There is one folder of historical information related to the Sheetz Mill.

The bulk of the material within this collection are photographs of members of the Sheetz family, businesses they owned, and agricultural scenes on farms owned by the Sheetz family. These include images of a taxidermy business managed by Asa Sheetz, the Sheetz Mill near Woodstock, Virginia, and the Asa Sheetz Orchard near Woodstock.

Two images are related to the "Stonewall Stretcher" shows a stretcher restored by Ralph Sheetz, a carpenter. The stretcher was utilized after the shooting of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson.

All materials appear to be from Shenandoah County excluding images of "Big Schloss."

Biographical / historical:

The Sheetz family came to Shenandoah County ca. 1760. A portion of the family lived west of Woodstock near the Calvary community.

In the 19th century this family was involved in several commercial operations, including a mill which operated alongside Narrow Passage Creek.

The bulk of the material present in this collection is associated with Asa Sheetz and relatives who lived in the area during the late 19th century. Asa was born in 1852 and became a farmer near Calvary along with his wife Mary and their nine children. In addition to farming, Asa was a trained taxidermist. He died in 1927.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Judy Gochenour on March 28, 2022.
Processing information:

Materials were originally donated in a plastic bag with no original order retained.

Items were processed individually unless multiple items were found with a proven connection/identical subject. Some items with common subjects were processed individually due to the size of the materials.

All photographs were placed in appropriate photograph sleeves and then either foldered or placed in paper sleeves for organizational purposes. Written materials were foldered.

Material related to "Stonewall Stretcher Rehabilitation" were mounted on foam core and this was retained.

Photographs with identified subjects were titled with the original names when appropropriate. These original titles are denoted by quotation marks ("").

Arrangement:

Folders are arranged chronologically within the Finding Aid with older dates appearing first and undated materials in the rear. Physical order of the box may be different.

Materials are arranged by size and material type within each box. Photographs larger than 8x10 inches are stored in Box 1 and items smaller than 8x10 inches are stored in Box 2.

Physical location:
Shenandoah County Library, Truban Archives