Collections

This collection predominantly contains the personal papers of William Gregory, including: journals, notebooks, property records, deeds, and family records. Approximately two-thirds of the collection comprise original correspondence, and late 20th century transcriptions of such.

Memoir, "The Birth, Education, Conviction and Conversion of William H. Chapman Up to His Entering the Traveling Connection, etc." written in 1824. Gives an account of his childhood, his training as a carpenter, but mostly concerns his conversion to Methodism and his ordination as a circuit rider for the Methodist Church. He discusses the religious nature of his parents and the conversions of his sisters.

Papers of William Henry DeBell, teacher in Staunton, Va. and Fairfax County, Va.; and deputy superintendent of schools in San Francisco, Calif., 1914-1931. Includes congratulatory letters and testimonials upon his retirement in 1931. Also includes correspondence, 1928-1930, of Mrs. William H. DeBell [Lucy Brockenborough Daingerfield DeBell] concerning the Colonial Dames of America; genealogical material on the Daingerfield family; and a newpaper clipping concerning the diary of John Harrower.

Typescript copy of William Henry Edwards' Autobiographical Notes. Edwards was a naturalist from Coalburgh, W. Va. And is best known for his three volume "The Butterflies of North America" (1879-1897). Earlier he had published "Voyage up the Amazon" (1847).

This collection contains biographical materials; original and photocopied correspondence; sermons, discourses, and publications by Wilmer. An inventory is available in the Special Collections Research Center.

Papers, 1822-1879, of the Weaver and Keeding families. Includes letters and accounts of William H. Weaver; weather records, 1831-1832; diary pages; farm records, 1830's and 1840's; toll receipts, 1871-1873, for use of the Valley Turnpike Road; tax receipts; and the will of Peter Keeding. Papers concern Warren County, Va. and Frederick County, Va.

Ledger, 1802-1859, of William Inskeep, merchant and farmer.

Business letters, 1833-1839, to Major William K. Perrin and 1855, 1860, to his son-in-law Wyndham Kemp, both of Gloucester County, Virginia from Perrin's step-son Robert W. Nicolson in Uniontown, Perry County, Alabama, about the management of a cotton plantation. Letters mention purchasing land, growing and selling cotton, and the management of the enslaved, legal and banking matters and uprising of the Creek Indians. Papers, 1800-1855 and undated, relating to the hiring out and management of enslaved persons in Gloucester County, Virginia by William K. Perrin. Legal papers, 1723-1895 and undated, include indentures, agreements, and lists of debts of William K. Perrin, George D. Nicolson, Sarah T. Nicolson, and descendants of William K. Perrin. Also accounts and receipts, 1806-1902, and undated.

Papers, 1783-1837, of William Langborn and concerning his estate which was administered by Burwell Bassett. Includes letters, 1793-1805, from William Murdock, agent for Langborn in London, Eng. and typescripts of letters, 1790-1791, from William Langborn to William Short; and abstract from the correspondence of William Short concerning Langborn. Subjects discussed by Murdock include Jay's Treaty; and Langborn's rental houses in London.

Fee book, 1800-1818, of William Mann, Marshall [U. S. District Court] of Virginia, listing fees for serving legal papers. The volumes also includes account, 1814-1815, with laborers, a list, 1821, of bonds due to Mann, and notes, 1877, concerning the Gresham family.