Wise County Photograph Albums ca. 1890-1998

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
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Wise County Photograph Albums, ca. 1890, Accession #11074, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Wise County Photograph Albums, ca. 1890, Accession #11074, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of two bound photograph albums containing 96 sepia-tone albumen prints (19 x 24 cm), ca. 1890, of scenes in Wise County, Virginia, primarily in the immediate vicinity of Big Stone Gap and Stonega. (The dating was partly established by the absence of automobiles or other motor vehicles.) The photographs may have been taken by a photographer or construction engineer for the Southern Railroad (then called the South Atlantic & Ohio), which was completed through Big Stone Gap in 1890. Many of the scenes are of railroads, yards and maintenance facilities, bridges and tunnels, as well as cuts and related geological features. More likely, given the fact that the captions were typed and the photographs professionally mounted and bound, and include the natural beauty, people and industries of the region in general, they may have been prepared as a "promotional video" to attract business and industry. Aside from the captions, which are given verbatim below, there is no identification of the subject matter or the photographer.

Included are a number of photographs of people, both individuals and groups, and including African-Americans. Given the premise above, the people depicted include both officials, workers, and their families, as well as various local business or social groups and organizations. A number of the photographs of people were taken in front of their homes, which affords the opportunity to also study the local architecture and the condition of the housing, as well as personal details such as dress.

Physical description:
There are 2 bound volumes containin 96 sepia-tone albumen prints (19 x 24 cm).