W. W. LaPrade and Brothers Records, 1803-2001 (bulk 1900-1970)

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Records, 1803-2001 (bulk 1900-1970) of W. W. LaPrade and Brothers, certified engineers and surveyors in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The company surveyed land mainly in Chesterfield and Henrico Counties and Richmond, Virginia, although many other Virginia counties are also included. The collection consists of computation books, field books and diaries, and plats and surveys prepared by LaPrade for various companies and land owners.

Series I-V: The bulk of the collection are the plats and property surveys (single, multi-lots, and subdivisions) and consist mostly of mid to late twentieth century material, although throughout the collection a small number of nineteenth century surveys can be found. The collection was housed in either filing cabinets (Vertical files Series I-IV) or map cases (Oversize surveys Series V) and was maintained in its original order. Because of the nature in which the records were kept the researcher must consult BOTH the Vertical files and the Oversize surveys series to find all LaPrade records for any specific location. There is much overlap between these two main series. The collection is not organized chronologically so researchers looking for a specific survey must look in all boxes relating to the specific County and District.

To access the Vertical files series, LaPrade Brothers maintained Index Keys for Chesterfield and Henrico Counties (by magisterial district) and Richmond, Virginia (by district imposed by LaPrade). Chesterfield County districts include Bermuda (map 8), Clover Hill (map 6), Dale (map 7), Manchester (map 10), Matoaca (map 5), and Midlothian (map 9). Henrico County districts include Brookland, Fairfield, Three Chopt, Tuckahoe, and Varina (maps 3 and 4). Richmond is categorized by districts imposed by LaPrade (maps 11 and 12). Researchers must know the County and District for the specific area they are researching. [The Index Keys (maps) can be viewed online at the Library of Virginia's website.] Once the researcher knows the County and District, they must consult the LaPrade Index Keys for that County and District. Each District has been further subdivided by a file numbering system created by the company (i.e. Henrico County, Varina District 2 or Richmond H-22). Researchers must find the specific street area on the Index Key to locate the file number. Once the file number has been obtained the researcher can consult the Vertical series (Boxes 1-43). The Other Counties and Cities Vertical files series do not have index keys and are arranged alphabetically county and then within by folder title.

Similarly the Oversize survey series (Boxes 67-175) is arranged by County and District although it is not further subdivided by Index Keys like the Vertical files series. Researchers only need to know the County and District (or Richmond) to view these records. Because many boxes may exist for a certain County and District, researchers might need to consult several boxes to find materials.

Due to redistricting many of the locations have changed districts, therefore researchers might have to look in several boxes to find all surveys pertaining to a district. Noted in the container listing is not only the current district name but also former ones. For example the container listing might note Chesterfield County, Dale district (also includes former Bermuda, Manchester, and Matoaca districts). The container listing may also include the folder title or a more detailed description of surveys located in the box. Due to the size of the collection an itemized listing of each plat was not possible, but an attempt was made to include some detailed information in the container listing. Index cards are available for some of the Chesterfield County Midlothian districts and also the Miscellaneous files (Misc. 10, 11, 11-2, 12). Some of the files were labeled for example, Clover Hill 8 or Dale Big 6. It is unknown what these mean.

Series VI- IX: Include the files of Ernest W. Brooks, Foster and Miller, Thornton L. Mullins, and Carl Watkins, surveyors who either worked for or their files were obtained by LaPrade. The bulk of the plats and surveys were for land in Chesterfield and Henrico Counties and Richmond. The largest series are the files of Ernest W. Brooks and consists of 7 boxes of plats and surveys of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico Counties and Richmond, Virginia. Also included are a small number of plats for land in Amelia, Caroline, Charles City, Essex, Gloucester, Goochland, King and Queen, New Kent, Powhatan, and York Counties. The Oversize Series (Series V) also includes surveys of Ernest W. Brooks and W. S. Hinton (boxes 93-95). The files of Carl Watkins contain clippings, brochures, newsletters, and reports on a variety of subjects. These files do not contain any plats or surveys. All the records were maintained in their original order.

Series X-XII: Includes field books/diaries, computation books, and volumes. The field books and diaries contain the raw field data and sketches that were used to create the plats and surveys. The computation books contain the surveyors' mathematical calculations for jobs using data that they gathered in the field books. Also included are three plat books created by LaPrade.

Biographical / historical:

The LaPrade family were long time residents of Chesterfield County and served for many years as county surveyors. William LaPrade (1767-1817) was appointed Chesterfield County surveyor in 1801, serving until his death in 1817 when his son, David LaPrade (b. 1799) became surveyor. The job passed on to David's son, Joseph Edgar (1845-1903), and then to Joseph Edgar's sons, David Flournoy (1872-1955), Joseph E. (1876-1945), William Waverly (1878-1952) and Benjamin Watkins (1885-1965). Around 1912 the brothers Benjamin W., Joseph E., and William W. formed the partnership of W. W. LaPrade and Brothers.

David Flournoy LaPrade (1872-1955) was married to Grace Eva Moseley (b. 1877) and had five children: Grace Agnes (b. 1905), David Flournoy (b. 1907), Nettie Mildred, Edmond Moseley (b. 1911), and Ann Augusta. He served as the city engineer for Manchester and later Richmond, when the city was annexed in 1910, until his retirement in 1951.

Benjamin W. LaPrade attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, graduating in 1909 with a degree in electrical engineering. In March 1912 he joined his father's firm in partnership with his brothers, William Waverly and Joseph. He married Francis Elizabeth James (b. 1889) 30 August 1917 in Washington, D.C. From 1917 to 1919 he served as a captain with the Army Corps of Engineering in Panama, returning to LaPrade after the war. In 1955 C. R. Johnson and C.A. Watkins Jr. became partners in the company, along with Joseph LaPrade Jr. and a grand-nephew David.

William Waverly LaPrade attended Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1904. He continued to remain at VPI to teach math until 1907 when he started work the family surveying company of LaPrade. In 1920 he married Evelyn Byrd Warwick. After World War I, he served with the Quartermaster Corps, Virginia National Guard. In 1940 he was assigned to duty as state procurement officer and retired with the rank of general in 1946.

Acquisition information:

Gift of Foster and Miller, Glen Allen, Virginia, August 2002 (Acc. 40031).

Gift of Foster and Miller, Glen Allen, Virginia, April 2007 (Acc. 43183).

Gift of Mrs. Newlon, Richmond, Virginia, April 2009 (Acc. 44221). Additional Thornton Mullins records.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I: Chesterfield County Vertical files
  • Series II: Henrico County Vertical files
  • Series III: Richmond Vertical files
  • Series IV: Other Counties and Cities Vertical files
  • Series V: Oversize Surveys
  • Series VI: Ernest W. Brooks Vertical files
  • Series VII: Foster and Miller Vertical files
  • Series VIII: Thornton L. Mullins Vertical files
  • Series IX: Carl Watkins Vertical files
  • Series X: Field Books/Diaries
  • Series XI: Computation Books
  • Series XII: Volumes
Physical description:
cu. ft. (381+ boxes)