Collections : [Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library]

Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Special Collections and Archives
James G. Leyburn Library
Washington and Lee University
204 W. Washington Street
Lexington, VA 24450
Primary Collecting Areas:
American and Virginia history, regional genealogy, history of propaganda, Southern literature, theater, local and regional portraiture, landscapes and architecture, late 19th-century travel
Description:

The Washington and Lee University Special Collections and Archives Department houses over 1,000 unique manuscript collections including those of the Rockbridge Historical Society, The American Shakespeare Center, and the Mountain Valley Preservation Association. These collections vary greatly in size, format, and scope. Subjects covered within the collections are diverse and include concentrations in American and Virginia history, regional genealogy, history of propaganda, Southern literature, and theater.

It also houses over 10,000 photographs and prints. Beyond our photograph and print collections, which include scrapbooks, images can also be found within the manuscript collections and University Archives described above. Our photographic holdings vary greatly in size and include numerous formats representative of the evolution of the photographic process. Strengths are local and regional portraiture, landscapes and architecture, W&L University history, including athletics, and late 19th-century travel.

POC: Tom Camden
Phone: (540) 458-8649
Phone: (540) 463-8109
Fax: (540) 463-8964
Start Over Repository Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library Date range 1898

James Ridout Winchester Family photograph album, 1865/1900 0.80 Linear Feet 1 flat box

Butler, Evelyn Lee Day

This collection contains a photograph album of carte de visites and cabinet cards of individuals related to James Ridout Winchester and his wife Eliza Atkinson Lee. Images are of women, men, and children. There is a mix of photography studios represented, including one photograph of a VMI cadet was taken by Michael Miley of Lexington, Va. A small portion of the photographs are inscribed and/or identified. Almost all are studio portraits. There is a cabinet card photograph of a man and a woman sitting in chairs outside of their home. The woman is holding a cat and the man is holding one dog with his left arm while his right arm is around another dog that is sitting on a separate chair. A couple of men appear to be ministers.

  1. Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Jefferson Shields cabinet photos and copy print photo, 1895/1975 Box 4, Folder 31

Photos in this folder are as follows: Two different cabinet photos of Jefferson Shields wearing medals, both by photographer J. L. McCown, Lexington, Virginia. One of these is a gift of Miss Laura Figgat. A copy print photo of Jefferson Shields taken by Andre Studio, Lexington, Virginia, September 11, 1975.

  1. Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library
  2. Rockbridge Historical Society photographs and negatives, 1850/2000
  3. People

Jennie Hopkins photos, 1892/1924 Box 2, Folder 18

Photos included in this folder are as follows: Jennie as a baby cabinet photo, circa 1892 Jennie original and copy print photos of Lexington High School girls basketball? team, circa 1908 by [Miley]. The girls on the team were Edmonia Leech (Mrs. Campbell), Jennie Hopkins, Mary Glasgow (Mrs. Sanford), Mary West (Mrs. Howe), Kate Spencer (Mrs. Tharp), Virginia Barclay (Mrs. Shultz), Frances Howe (Mrs. Moore), Sarah Currell, Sophie Booker (Mrs. Packer), Laura Tucker (Mrs. Fletcher), and Mary Champe (Mrs. Raftery). Jennie copy print photo circa 1924 with two negatives.

  1. Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library
  2. Rockbridge Historical Society photographs and negatives, 1850/2000
  3. People

John DeHart Ross Papers, 1856/1912 30 Item

Ross, Agnes Reid

This collection contains principally wartime correspondence from John DeHart Ross to his wife, Agnes Reid Ross. The correspondence relates to action at the West Virginia front (Cheat Mt. campaign) in 1861-1862, Jackson's Valley campaign in 1862, Gettysburg in 1863, and the siege of Richmond in 1864-1865. It also includes one letter from Samuel McDowell Reid to Agnes Ross and one letter from Ross to his mother. Additionally there are photographs and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings and Ross family memorabilia.

  1. Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

John F. Swayne Papers, 1867/1935, bulk 1867/1869 1 Files

Swayne, John F

This collection consists of Swayne's personal papers from his time as a student at Washington College, including correspondence with E. C. Gordon and Mary F. Dickson, a subscription to the Southern Collegian, and two essays. One letter is a response from the clerk of the faculty to Swayne's notice of withdrawal from the college. One essay entitled 'A trip to House Mountain' was written in 1869; it details a trip made there in the summer of 1867. There is an accompanying note. The other essay is about Alexander the Great. There is also a 1935 newspaper article about his reminisces of his time at Washington College while Robert E. Lee was the university's president.

  1. Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

John Letcher homes, snapshot and copy print photos, 1863/1930 Box 8, Folder 35

The photos in this folder are as follows: A copy print photo of a circa 1863 photo of Gov. Letcher's house on the west side of Letcher Avenue, Lexington, Virginia. There are women standing on the porches and in the yard. A copy print photo, circa 1930, of John Letcher's home while growing up, located at 21 University Place, Lexington, Virginia. A snapshot photo, circa 1930, of the North Main Street home builit for John Letcher's two daughters.

  1. Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library
  2. Rockbridge Historical Society photographs and negatives, 1850/2000
  3. Places

John Lyle Campbell copy print photos, Mrs. John Lyle Campbell snapshot photo, 1886/1908 Box 1, Folder 22

The items included in this folder are as follows: two photos of W&L Prof. John Lyle Campbell by Miley circa 1886, Miley photo of W&L Treasurer John Lyle Campbell 1908, and a group photo at house Stono of Mrs. John Lyle Campbell, Mrs. Townes, Mrs. Burrows, and Mrs. Rutgler circa 1908.

  1. Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library
  2. Rockbridge Historical Society photographs and negatives, 1850/2000
  3. People

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