Lee County (Va.) Business Records, 1882-1957

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:

The Benvir Coal Company Payroll Records include private information and are restricted from being served to patrons. The rest of the Lee County (Va.) Business Records are not restricted.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Lee County (Va.) Business Records, 1882-1957. [include volume title]. Local government records collection, Lee County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Lee County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Lee County (Va.) Business Records, 1882-1957. [include volume title]. Local government records collection, Lee County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Lee County (Va.) Business Records, 1882-1957, is comprised of various records created by individuals and companies is pursuit of documenting business activities in and around Lee County (Va.) Represented records largely consist of account books, ledgers, cash journals, check books, balance books, and payroll records.

Biographical / historical:

Context for Record Type: Business Records, both volumes and loose records, are in some cases transferred to the Library of Virginia as components of court record transfers. These business records in some cases were simply stored in the local court building for safe keeping by business owners. In other cases, business records (particularly ledgers, account books, etc.) may have been filed in a court case as an exhibit. These business record exhibits appeared both in chancery causes and in judgments, these records serving as exhibits for business dissolution cases, debut suits, and contract disputes.

Locality History: Lee County was named Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, governor of Virginia from 1791 to 1794. It was formed from Russell County in 1792. Part of Scott County was added in 1823. Its area is 438 square miles, and the county seat is Jonesville.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Lee County under an undated accession.
Processing information:

Prior to 2024, the various business records in this collection were originally described as individual records, but they have been consolidated into one large business record for the locality.

The Benvir Coal Company records were processed by Greg Crawford in 2003. All other records were processed by Bari Helms in 2013. Efforts have been taken to identify chancery causes related to these business records as some of these records were used as evidence in court proceedings.

Encoded by Bari Helms: 2013; updated by J. Taylor: September 2024.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into three series:

  • Series I: Business Records of the Benvir Coal Company, 1934-1957
  • Series II: Business Records of Castleton Wade, 1882-1894
  • Series III: Business Records of Thad Grabeel, 1904-1907

Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
35 volumes; 0.45 cubic feet (1 box).