Collections : [University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.]

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
Primary Collecting Areas:
American literature, antiquarian and contemporary, American history (Southeastern United States), Virginiana, British literature, Sporting books and manuscripts, World War I, Bibliography, the book arts, history of the book and typography
Fine press and artist’s books, Pop-up books, Victorian publishers bindings, Typography, Archives of the University of Virginia
Description:

The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library administers over 13 million manuscripts, 3.6 million items in the University archives, and 325,000 rare books, as well as approximately 5,000 maps, over 4,000 broadsides; more than 250,000 photographs and small prints; over 8,000 reels of microfilm; and substantial holdings of audio recordings, motion picture films, and ephemera.

The major emphasis of the Department’s collections are American history and literature, with additional substantive collections in Virginiana, British literature, African-American history, book arts, the history of sporting and World War I, among others. In addition, the library serves as the University Archives, holding records of historic significance to UVA.

POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Start Over Repository University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept. Subjects Children

Advertising pamphlets for child products (toothpaste, rennet powder, milk) (Addition 16) 2023-0143 0.04 Cubic Feet Box 8, Folder 1

Addition 16 of MSS 16758, The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building, contains three advertising pamphlets that pertain to parents purchasing products for their children. "The Tinies that Live in a Tube" advertises toothpaste, "Flibitty Jibblit" advertises rennet powder, and "The New Boss in the House" promotes the Pittsburgh District Dairy Council. Each uses imagery of children and parents utilizing the respective product.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building.
  3. Series 3. 1900-1980

African American girl's birthday photograph album .03 Cubic Feet 1 letter folder

This collection contains a photo album containing fifteen original black-and-white photographs from the 1960s of a birthday celebration of a young Black girl and her family.Exceptional depiction of an 11 year old's birthday party with all of it's innocence, happiness and absence of the racial world that lives outside the doors of their grandmother's nice home.The children are wearing cone hats and there is dancing, presents, game playing, a birthday cake, blowing out candles, and an abundance of playfulness.The photographs, 3.25" x 3.25", are in plastic sleeves in a contemporary square, spiral-bound, blue leatherette album.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.

Child scroll of cartoons 0.12 Cubic Feet One flip-top print box

This collection contains a scroll of cartoon characters drawn by an unknown child, likely from sometime in the 1940s to the 1950s. The manila paper scroll is 3.25 inches in width and approximately 70 feet long. The outward-facing side of the scroll has about 250 individual illustrations depicting mid-century characters like Elmer Fudd, Dick Tracey, Archie, Popeye, and Donald Duck, as well as other characters from comic books, Sunday strips, television, and movies. The reverse is blank. The majority of the drawings are completed in graphite and colored pencils

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.

Fourteen pamphlets on subjects ranging from family planning, women's reproductive health, contraception, childhood, disease prevention, nutrition, gender, religion,education, and history Addition 69 (2024-0141) 0.04 Cubic Feet 14 pamphlets Box 13, Folder 7

This addition (69) to MSS 16758, The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building, contains fourteen pamphlets on the subjects of family planning, women's reproductive health, contraception, hildhood disease prevention, gender, religion, education, history published between 1892 and 1973. Many of these pamphlets were distributed as promotional materials by insurance or healthcare companies.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building.
  3. Series 2. 1800-1971

Hand-painted postcards, drawn in black ink, depicting children playing outside (Addition 2) 2023-0064 0.04 Cubic Feet legal size folder Box 2, Folder 5

Addition 2 of MSS 16758, the University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building, contains seven hand-painted postcards presumably created by Elisabeth, the sender. The postcards, drawn in black ink, depict children playing outside: a child pushing another child's sled; two children talking under a tree in spring/summer; two children playing with a balloon; a girl having a picnic with a bunny; one older and one younger girl in the snow; an older girl on a swing; and a girl on a dock by a body of water.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building.
  3. Series 3. 1900-1980

Judy's Neighbors: Negro Family: set of wooden African American figures and stands (Addition 26) 2023-0195 1.28 Cubic Feet Extra large OS box 23x31x3 Flat_Box 2

This addition to MSS 16758, The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building, contains a game titled "Judy's Neighbors: Negro Family." It includes two dimensional pressed wood figures of an African-American family including mother, father, daughter, and two sons. There are also stands for the figures. Judy's Neighbors was released sometime between 1963 and 1964.This was part of a series and was sold individually and in sets. Teachers used the game to encourage racial diversity.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building.
  3. Series 4. 1950-2014

Kiddie flowers: sample book of floral fabric potentially for children's clothing (Addition 38) 2024-0061 0.04 Cubic Feet Box 10, Folder 7

This addition to MSS 16758, The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building, contains a sample book titled "Kiddie flowers" consisting of eight mounted samples of floral fabric potentially for children's clothing.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building.
  3. Series 3. 1900-1980

Pamphlets on Child Welfare including government and charitable programs (Addition 1) 2023-0050 Box 1, Folder 4-11

This addition 1 of the collection includes sixty-six pamphlets, advertisements, correspondence, programs, postcards, ephemera, and literature on children's welfare, including government and charitable programs.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building.
  3. Series 2. 1800-1971

Pamphlets on Child Welfare including government and charitable programs (Addition 1) 2023-0050 0.016 Cubic Feet 4 legal size folders Box 2, Folder 1-4

This collection includes sixty-six pamphlets, advertisements, correspondence, programs, postcards, ephemera, and literature on children's welfare, including government and charitable programs.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building.
  3. Series 2. 1800-1971

Publications, advertising trading cards, volvelle (color wheels), and posters about Mothers and Children (Addition 11) 2023-0119 0.032 Cubic Feet 8 legal size folders Box 3, Folder 1-8

This addition 11 of MSS 16758, The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building, contains publications, metamorphic trading cards, volvelle (color wheels), and posters. Topics include motherhood, instructional materials on children's behaviour, toilet training, adolescent health, soil conservation for children, and a book about the the education for blind children.

  1. University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
  2. The University of Virginia Collection on the History of Childhood, Parenting, and Family Building.
  3. Series 2. 1800-1971

Content Warning

ARVAS is an aggregator of archival resources. ARVAS does not have control of the descriptive language used in our members’ finding aids.

Finding aids may contain historical terms and phrases, reflecting the shared attitudes and values of the community from which they were collected, but are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical or mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Many institutions and organizations are in the process of reviewing and revising their descriptive language, with the intent to describe materials in more humanizing, inclusive, and harm-reductive ways. As members revise their descriptive language, their changes will eventually be reflected in their ARVAS finding aids.