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

Panther Gap Sunday school group cabinet photo, 1898/1899 Box 3, Folder 41

Some of the identified idividuals in the group are as follows: Laura Riply, Barbara Ingram, Alice Ingram, Andrew Cameron, Mr. Ray, Bob Ingram, John Fisher, Bob Miller, John Ingram, John Myers, Frank Fisher, Albert Miller, Sadie Miller, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Hepler, and Rev. H. Young.

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

Patton family cabinet photos, 1885/1920 Box 3, Folder 42

The cabinet photos included in this folder are as follows: A photo of "the Haymakers" taken by J. M. Hill, photographer, Bridgewater, Virginia, at the corner of Fairfield Hotel and the old McCauley house in Fairfield, Virginia, circa 1885. J. Patton, H. Wade, and Ed Wallace are identified in this photo. A photo of Will Patton with a large group of young men dressed in suits, taken near the front of the Irvine & Co. Hardware store in Fairfield, Virginia, circa 1890. A photo of J. T. Patton in buggy with horse, in front of the Fairfield railroad station, circa 1905. A photo of Will Patton with a small group of unidentified men in suits, circa 1910. A photo of Will Patton with a small group of unidentified men in suits, taken by Miller of Lexington, Viriginia and Buena Vista, Virgnia, circa 1920.

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

Paxton family cabinet photos and copy print photo, 1873/1934 Box 3, Folder 43

Photos in this folder are as follows: Large individual cabinet photos of Elisha Paxton and his wife, Elizabeth Paxton (E. Hannah White), both taken by photograper D. P. Thomson in Kansas City, Missouri, circa 1873. Small photo of Martha Hamilton Paxton, circa 1892. A cabinet photo of Fred Paxton and Charles Paxton as young boys, taken by photographer T. D. Saunders in Lexington, Missouri, 1888. A cabinet photo of Mrs. Matthew Paxton and Katie Walker on south Main Street in Lexington, Virginia, in buggy with horse "Alice". The Lexington Hotel and Tutwiler buildings are in the background towards the east, circa 1900. A 1989 copy print photo of Matthew Paxton, Sr. (first one), circa 1934.

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

Paxton Family collection, 1847/2023, bulk 1900/1980 2.0 Linear Feet 3 document cases, 1 short box with lid

Paxton, Mary Raine

This collection consists materials compiled and collected by Matthew "Matt" White Paxton, Jr. The primary subject matter of the collection is Paxton family genealogy, the history of the Rockbridge County, Virginia, and related families including Houston, Walker, White, Brockenbrough, Hopkins, Bowyer, Owen, and Braxton. The collection includes original manuscripts, photographs, and secondary source materials such as notes, articles, clippings, pamphlets, and published materials. The photographs are predominately Paxton family members from the late 19th-mid 20th century. There is one photograph of Matthew Paxton, Sr. taken while a student at Washington and Lee University (1873-1874) as well as photographs of his son, Matthew Paxton, Jr. at Fancy Dress and dressed in military uniform in 1918. There are also cased ambrotypes and daguerreotypes of members of the White and Hopkins families. The collection includes a number of photographs from the Michael Miley Studio.

  1. Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Pettigrew family snapshot and copy print photos, 1880/1930 Box 4, Folder 3

The photos in this folder are as follows: James Pettigrew and wife Jane Varner Pettigrew standing in their candy store on Washington Street, circa 1880. Three copy print photos. William Pettigrew and wife Ada Booze Pettigrew individual copy print photos, circa 1895. Unknown Pettigrew, African-American female, who maybe lived on Diamond street and Caruthers street in Lexington, Virginia, possibly related to Frank Dandridge, circa 1900. Unknown Pettigrew, older white man, maybe Joe, standing in the streets of Lexington, Virginia, circa 1930. Three snapshots (1968).

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

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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.

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