Black Section of Union Cemetery, Waterford, VA 2003

Access and use

Location of collection:
Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Alexandra S. Gressitt
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195
Restrictions:

Open for research

Terms of access:

No physical characteristics affect use of this material.

Preferred citation:

Black Section of Union Cemetery, Waterford, VA (SC 0006), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Summary

Creator:
Adam Anderson
Abstract:
The collection contains the results of research performed by Adam Anderson as an Eagle Scout Service Project in 2003. The purpose of the project was to map the "black section" of Union Cemetery in Waterford, VA and to record the information inscribed on the tombstones.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Black Section of Union Cemetery, Waterford, VA (SC 0006), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains the results of research performed by Adam Anderson as an Eagle Scout Service Project in 2003. The purpose of the project was to map the "black section" of Union Cemetery in Waterford, VA and to record the information inscribed on the tombstones.

Graves showed births from 1776 and deaths until 1941

  • 5 pages describing the scope of the project
  • 4 pages of pictures of the "black section" of the cemetery
  • 3 pages documenting approval of the project, materials used, and names of persons who helped with the project
  • 6 pages of pictures as the work was being performed
  • 1 page showing approval of the completed project
  • 1 page of graves located in Section 1 of the cemetery. The seven names and inscriptions had not been previously recorded in records of the cemetery.
  • 1 page of inscriptions on graves in Section 2.
  • 1 page of inscriptions on graves in Section 3
  • 3 pages of inscriptions on graves in Section 4.
  • 1 page showing grid of the graves in the "black section" of the cemetery.
Biographical / historical:

Waterford, Virginia was founded by Quakers who moved from Pennsylvania. Although Quakers did not believe in slavery, the Union Cemetery in Waterford laid out in the early nineteenth century was strictly segregated.

The "black section," located at the rear of the cemetery has some fine marble headstones, but many graves are marked with field stones. The wooden markers sometimes used have rotted away, leaving gaps in the rows of graves. Much of the cemetery has fallen into disrepair and many of the headstones (or footstones) have become almost unreadable. The graves of seven individuals not previously documented were found in section 1.

Acquisition information:
Adam Anderson, Lovettsville, VA
Processing information:

Processed by Rebecca Ottinger, 5 June 2006

Accruals:

2004.0059

Physical description:
26 pages