Opal David Papers 1933-1990

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:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Opal David Papers, Accession #10971, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Summary

Abstract:
This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of Opal D. David (1906- ) of Albemarle County, Virginia, including correspondence, explanatory notes concerning the collection, articles, newsclippings, reports, speeches, campaign files, photographs, printed emphemera, transcripts, and political memorabilia.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Opal David Papers, Accession #10971, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of the personal and professional papers of Opal D. David (1906- ) of Albemarle County, Virginia, and contains ca. 2500 items (10 Hollinger boxes, ca. 4 linear feet), 1933-1990, including correspondence, explanatory notes concerning the collection, articles, newsclippings, reports, speeches, campaign files, photographs, printed emphemera, transcripts, and political memorabilia.

Opal David was active in local issues and politics, women's issues, and education. The material in this collection concerns her work as the first woman on the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, the chair of the County Democratic Committee, and liaison to the Planning Committee responsible for the County Comprehensive Plan; her participation in the Commission on the Education of Women (American Council on Education), the President's Commission on the Status of Women, and the Virginia Commission on the Status of Women; David's educational background, and other consulting work, government employment and voluntary activities.

Information on David's personal life and general career can be found in the following folders: biographical information, employment (2 folders), miscellaneous activities, and personal papers (2 folders). Mrs. David has also included explanatory notes on green sheets of paper concerning the collection. These have been placed in a folder at the beginning of Box 1.

David has several files pertaining to her work for the University of Virginia, including the working papers and report for the Self-Study done in 1962-1964; correspondence, working papers, first and second drafts of a report for a Twenty-Year Study initiated in 1967 but not used because of changes in the project design; and the Institute of Government Advisory Committee.

Files on local government issues in the miscellaneous topical series include those on Charlottesville Human Resources; Citizens Committee for City-County Co-operation concerning annexation & revenue- sharing agreement, Buck Mountain Reservoir Site Agreement, the County Police Department, SAFE (Stop Annexation Forever); and the McIntire Public Library. Other files about local issues are located in the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors series and are chiefly concerned with the Comprehensive Plan for the County and the Zoning Ordinance.

Biographical / historical:

Opal David, an Albemarle County (Va.) politician, served as Democratic Party Committee chair, and was the first woman on the County Board of Supervisors. She also served as liason to the Planning Committee responsible for the County Comprehensive Plan, was member of the Virginia Commission on the Status of Women, and served as volunteer or consultant for numerous public service organizations.

Acquisition information:
This collection was given to the Library by Ms. Opal D. David of Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 3, 1990.
Arrangement:

This collection consists of two series, with each series' files arranged alphabetically by subject:
Series I: Miscellaneous Topical Files (Boxes 1-7)
Series II: Albemarle County Board of Supervisors
A. Issues (Boxes 7-9)
B. Campaign Files (Box 10)

Physical description:
2500 items