John Wells Research Notes, 1871-2006

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
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

John Wells Research Notes, 1871-2006. Accession 43293. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Creator:
John Emory Wells
Abstract:
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

John Wells Research Notes, 1871-2006. Accession 43293. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Research notes, 1871-2006, of architectural historian John Emory Wells (1954-2007) of Richmond, Virginia. The collection is principally comprised of materials collected by Wells from which he used to co-author two biographical dictionaries, entitled The Virginia Architects, 1835-1955 and The South Carolina Architects, 1885-1935. The collection also contains notes on architects who practiced in several other states, these include Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia (DC), Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia. The collection also includes a large extent of notes from the Manufacturer's Record, as well as many other documents, including clippings, correspondence, notes, photographs, and architectural drawings.

Series I. includes lists of architects taken from newspaper clippings, city directories, and other publications. These lists include architects who practiced in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia (DC), Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Series II. Includes clippings taken from the self-titled serial, which documented the development of manufacturing and industry in the South in the early to mid-twentieth century.

Series III. I Includes a variety of materials collected by Wells in his architectural research ventures. These include correspondence, clippings, notes, photographs, etc.

Series IV. Architectural drawings, 1906-1982. Includes drawings mostly drafted by Wells, but contains a few outliers.

Biographical / historical:

Born in Martinsville, Virginia, on August 17, 1954, John Emory Wells (1954-2007), was the son of Rev. Lynwood D. Wells Sr. of Martinsville, Virginia, and Mary Jay Speer Wells. He was a graduate of Martinsville High School and the University of Virginia School of Architecture. Wells was employed by the Virginia Landmarks Division from 1985 to 2000 as an Architectural Historian and by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) as a District Preservation Manager from 2000 until his death in 2007. John Wells also co-authored two books on architectural history, The Virginia Architects, 1835-1955 and The South Carolina Architects, 1885-1935.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Lynwood D. Wells on 28 June 2007
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I. Architect lists and card files, n.d.
  • Series II. Manufacturers Record, 1890-1948
  • Series III. Miscellaneous notes, 1871-2006
  • Series IV. Architectural drawings, 1906-1982

Arranged alphabetically by architect within each state.

The majority of this series is arranged alphabetically by state. Boxes 16-20 are arranged chronologically.

Arranged alphabetically.

Arranged alphabetically.

Physical description:
26.7 cu. ft.