Leri Melissa Thomas Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk. (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Leri Melissa Thomas Papers, 1926-1995 (bulk 1988-1992), SC 0156, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
0.33 cubic feet 1 box
Creator:
Thomas, Leri Melissa
Abstract:
The Leri Melissa Thomas Papers, 1926-1995 (bulk 1988-1992), consists of one box of files documenting the relationship between Shenandoah National Park (SNP) and residents and officials in several counties adjoining the park, especially Madison, Augusta, and Rockingham counties, Virginia.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Leri Melissa Thomas Papers, 1926-1995 (bulk 1988-1992), SC 0156, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection is composed of one box of files documenting the relationship between Shenandoah National Park (SNP) and residents and officials in several counties adjoining the park, especially Madison, Augusta, and Rockingham Counties, 1926-1995. The documents, which are mostly photocopies, constitute a wide variety of materials, including newspaper clippings, newsletters, correspondence, memos, reports, maps, minutes of meetings, and surveys. Some materials were obtained from SNP and other federal agencies by Ms. Thomas through Freedom of Information Act requests. She has made notes on and/or highlighted many of the materials.

Letters, memos, laws, minutes of meetings, newsletters, reports, and other documents on the adjacent lands study conducted by SNP.

Forms containing survey information for Madison and Rockingham counties.

Letters and other documents concerning SNP acquisitions, and the role of The Conservation Fund in securing those acquisitions.

Letters, memos, surveys, maps, etc., related to SNP interest in the Gore Tract in Madison County.

Documents related to SNP interest in the Rose River Tract in Madison County.

Documents related to SNP interest in the Light property in Madison County.

Documents concerning the Park's interest in several tracts of land in Page County.

Documents concerning Park boundaries and concurrent jurisdiction.

Newsletters and other documents concerned with private property issues in general and specifically as related to SNP, including the pamphlet Us vs. NPS, co-authored by L. Thomas.

Documents concerning formation of an advisory committee to SNP of the eight bordering counties.

Miscellaneous articles related to SNP.

Letters describing several incidents in or near SNP.

A 15 p. report by L. Thomas entitled, "The floods of 1995: a case study of Madisonian attitudes and experiences in the wake of flood relief efforts," which links attitudes and behaviors in response to floods to those concerning SNP. Includes some biographical information on L. Thomas.

Biographical / historical:

In 1979, Leri Melissa Thomas moved to Madison County within five miles of Shenandoah National Park. In the late 1980s, when the park inaugurated a study of its surrounding lands, she became a leader in the private property rights movement that protested the potential expansion of the park. She contacted government officials at all levels and publicized the public concern over the park's Related Lands Study (also known as Adjacent Lands Study) and other activities. Among her neighbors were descendants of people who had been dispossessed by the park in the 1920s and 1930s, when the park was first established.

Acquisition information:
Leri Thomas donated the collection to Special Collections in September 1998.
Processing information:

In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in 2017-2018. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 4015.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged topically into thirteen folders.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Shenandoah National Park (Va.). Related Lands Study
Private property rights movement
Right of property -- United States
Real property -- Virginia
Compensation (law) -- United States
Land use -- Law and legislation -- United States
Land use -- Government policy -- United States
Land use -- Virginia
Land use surveys -- Virginia
Eviction -- Government policy -- United States
Rural-urban migration -- Virginia
Appalachians (People) -- 20th century
Mountain people -- Government policy -- Virginia
Mountain life -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
Hunting -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park
Hunting -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
Poaching -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park
Poaching -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
Floods -- Virginia -- Madison County
Hunting customs -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
Depressions -- 1929 -- United States
National parks and reserves -- Virginia -- History
Environmental monitoring -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park
Research (documents)
Names:
United States. National Park Service
United States. Bureau of Land Management
Blue Ridge Committee for Shenandoah National Park Relations
Places:
Shenandoah National Park (Va.) -- History
Gore Tract (Madison County, Va.)
Light Tract (Madison County, Va.)
Rose River Tract (Madison County, Va.)
Madison County (Va.) -- History
Augusta County (Va.) -- History
Rockingham County (Va.) -- History
Page County (Va.) -- History
Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History -- 20th century