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This series encompasses materials and artifacts documenting Mr. Gary's active civic life in the Williamsburg area community. In addition to serving on a citizen advisory committee, the Williamsburg James City County Chamber of Commerce, and the Virginia State Board of Elections, Mr. Gary participated in the services of several local baptist churches and was a member of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (Old Capitol Lodge No. 629) for over 70 years. The bulk of this series relates to church and Order of Elks service. Of note are several typescripts and handwritten drafts of speeches delivered by Mr. Gary in those contexts. Most are unsigned but accompanied of the official service programs listing speakers.

This series contains legal and business records documenting the operations of Mr. Gary's tailoring and dry-cleaning business, the West End Valet Shop, as well as family estates. Detailed business ledgers survive for the years 1944 to 1953. Legal documents comprise leases and deeds signed by Mr. and Mrs. Gary, as well as deeds, plats, and other materials about estate settlements concerning the related Gary, Randall, Parker, Peagley, Baker, and Outten families.

Organized thematically, this series comprises documents relating to Mr. and Mrs. Gary's schooling, letters sent to Mr. Gary by relatives and friends during World War II, other wartime documents, numerous family photographs and negatives, as well as other miscellaneous materials. Again following a thematic organization, the vast majority of photographs feature unidentified individuals and are undated. When found inside an annotated or dated photo developing envelope, photographs and negatives have been kept together. A nitrate negative, an informal portrait of two men, has been placed in special storage for preservation reasons; consult SCRC staff member.