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This collection includes early Washington and Lee University papers and miscellaneous materials supplementary to the university's trustee's records, faculty meeting minutes, and treaurer's records. Much of this collection was found over decades from various locations on campus and housed in the Treasurer's Office.

The Alexander Lockhart Nelson Papers consist of materials related to Nelson's life as mathematician at Washington and Lee University; Nelson, Guy, Matthews, Archer, and Rennick family genealogy; an address by Nelson on his teaching experience during Robert E. Lee's presidency of Washington College; some family and miscellaneous correspondences; and photographs. Included and, perhaps, the primary aspect of the collection is Nelson's notebook used during his time as both student and professor of mathematics during the mid through late 19th century. The notebook also contains a range of content unrelated to his career as mathematician such as an extensive family tree, a journal/day book which includes details about weather from December 1880 through March 1881 in Lexington, Va.; a pencil drawing of his property and its improvements in downtown Lexington; and notes about payments made to a hired laborer for his Lexington home and grounds. There is an albumen photograph of a group of young girls of the Ann Smith Academy in Lexington – including an image of Nelson's daughter Evelyn. The collection is in two series – each formerly a unique accession from unique sources and different dates. The collections have recently been combined. Each series includes a control folder explaining its provenance. Series two includes a letter from WLU student Jack C. Desha in 1871 to his father Lucius Desha of Kentucky. In the letter Jack shares his travel experiences from Cincinnatti, Ohio to Lexington, Va., including an overnight visit in Washington DC. Series two also includes student Randolph Preston's (WLU class of 1902)typescript reminiscence of his Washington and Lee University student experience fifty years earlier.

This scrapbook was compiled by Jacob Fuller while serving as Secretary to the Washington and Lee University Board of Trustees. He chose original university records, such as evidence of early fundraising and the university's relationship with the Society of the Cincinnati, and other items he felt belonged together in this scrapbook. Most of the items were removed from the Board of Trustees records by Fuller.

This collection contains five certificates of distinction awarded to James Harvey McCown by Washington and Lee University in 1872 and 1874. They were for the study of French, Latin, rhetoric, mathematics, chemistry and geology.

This collection contains a certificate of distinction for study in mathematics awarded to J. H. Lee Holcombe by Washington and Lee University on June 27, 1872.

This collection contains a certificate awarded to Leonidas Beverly Chaney by Washington and Lee University for proficiency in French on June 27, 1872.

Matriculation books document the enrollment of students at the university. The earliest matriculation signatures available for Washington and Lee University are from June 1805. From the 1805-1813, the pages include the student's signature and then a sequential number after each name documenting the order that they signed. Please note that there is at least one page missing from 1805 as the numbering of student signatures begins with 42. Starting in 1814, the matriculation pages include the names of the students, the sequential number that follows the order in which the students signed, the names of parents or guardians, and the place of residence of parents or guardians and later the post office location including city, town, county, and state.

This record group contains archived materials about and created by Washington and Lee University's museums, comprised of Lee Chapel and Museum, the Reeves Collection, and the university's art collection, during the course of its regular business, such as official publications and records of its management.

This collection contains certificates issued to donors who financially sponsored scholarships to aid students attending Washington and Lee University post-Civil War. The donors were from various states, including Louisiana, Missouri, and Florida. Two of the donors were women. Several certificates still have coupons that were associated with their gift of supporting students. All of the certificates have been cancelled, which presumably means the funding ended. Some certificates have a red seal that includes the date 1782.

This collection contains the Bachelor of Arts diploma of William Saville issued by Washington and Lee University in 1872. The diploma is rippled.