Johnston-Wright Ledgers and Papers 1858-1900

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Johnston-Wright Ledgers and Papers, Accession 38-8, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Creator:
Frank E. Johnston
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Johnston-Wright Ledgers and Papers, Accession 38-8, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

This collection of account books and business papers, containing about 625 items, 1858-1900, originated in Albemarle County, Virginia. Most of these papers concern Robert G. Wrightof North Gardenand James Johnstonof Hardware.

Johnston was postmaster of Hardwareca. 1885-1890, a general merchant dealing in general merchandise, and a miller who operated the Green Mountain Mill. One receipt (April 17, 1875) indicates that he also rented a place called Coles Millfor his milling business. His business papers, 1868-1899, reflect his mercantile activities and his post office business.

James Johnstonapparently ran the store at Hardware, Virginia, for his brother-in-law, Bob Wright, secretary of the Waynesboro Company. Much of the business correspondence for 1890-1891 contains Wright's pleas for Johnston to accept only cash payments for goods, to collect on bad debts, and to furnish him with inventories and orders for goods so that he could meet his own obligations.

The few pieces of personal correspondence, 1873-1892, are chiefly from Johnston's sisters Mollie [?] and Sallie (Johnston) Wright, concerning family matters but they also include a letter from Thomas E. Locke, a minister, about his services and salary (July 14, 1891) and a letter from William Garlandto Joshua Martin(October 31, 1885) concerning the arrival of a "carpetbagger," termed a "Yanke Mahone Emmissary," in the black community.

The miscellaneous papers contain undated poems and an invitation to the graduation exercises of Valley Seminary(1888) at Waynesboro, Virginia. Printed material consists of the by-laws of the Scottsville [Masonic] Lodge(1872) and a catalog of farm machinery (1900).

The account books include: ca. fifty small personal account and memorandum books, chiefly of James Johnston, 1873-1897; ledgers, a journal, and a daybook of Johnston's for the Green Mountain Millin Albemarle County; other ledgers, a journal and a daybook concerning the general store at Hardware; and an account book for "Eldon Plantation" of expenses kept by W. E. Sims.

Acquisition information:
These papers and ledgers were lent to the Library in 1931, and title donated on September 26, 1974, by Frank E. Johnston of North Garden, Virginia.
Processing information:

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Physical location:
Physical description:
ca. 625 items