Collections

The YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) is the oldest and largest women's membership organization. The YWCA of South Hampton Roads first started as housing for working girls in 1893. Throughout their history, the YWCA chapters of Hampton Roads have advanced their purposes of empowering women and fighting racism by running women's shelters, camps, workshops, and various other programs. The collection consists mainly of photos, scrapbooks, and newspaper clippings, as well as some business and historical records of the organization.

The collection is comprised of two volumes of bound posters and programs pertaining to the State Normal and Industrial School branch of the YWCA, from 1909-1958.

A ten page typescript, "Betty Zane", tracing her life and descendents, prepared by J. Roy Corway (1936); and a five page genealogy of the Zane family in West Virginia, by H. C. Headley (1953). Material covers the years 1747-1899.

This collection contains the working and personal papers of Zelda Fichandler. Items include correspondence regarding productions, staff, finances, playwrights and actors as well as personal matters and speeches and remarks given by Zelda.

Zelda J. Miller was a teacher at Robert E. Lee School in Norfolk, Virginia during the 1950s and 1960s. The material consists entirely of historical, civic, and tourist information about the Hampton Roads area.

Wilson (1918-1996) an architect in Ojai, CA was born in New York City but later relocated to Southern California. She studied at the University of California, Berkeley, 1937-1940; later the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 1941; and graduated with a B. Arch from University of Southern California in 1947. Wilson's collection encompasses three decades of work that range from her academic through professional career—including her experience of operating her own firm. Her collection contains biographical material, professional committee and association work, school work, client correspondence, office promotional materials, time logs, drawings, photographs and manuscript material relating to projects. Materials range in date from 1940-1995 (bulk 1969-1991).

Digital copies of papers of the Zinn family of Preston County, West Virginia, including legal documents and genealogical records. Legal documents include a letter of attorney, indentures, deeds, stock certificates, and surveys of property. Genealogical records include a handwritten record of births, a page from a family bible recording births and marriages, and a typescript regarding the history of the Zinn family. Frequently mentioned names include Isaac Dean and George Zinn. The collection also includes an 1867 letter of commendation to George Zinn; it accompanied a medal awarded for service in the Civil War. This collection consists only of digital scans of the original documents. The collection also includes a digital version of an autobiographical account by Thomas E. Zinn titled "Sea Stories From My Time in the United States Navy" regarding his experiences as a naval and commercial pilot in the period ca. 1950s-1970s.

Papers of the Zion Episcopal Church of Charles Town, WV, including church budgets, programs, and religious pamphlets. There is a minute book (1878-1890) of the Ladies Mexican League of the Zion Episcopal Church and an account book (1904-1943) listing contributions to the Mexican Scholarship. There are also ten postcards of West Virginia scenes addressed to Letitia C. Ambler.

Vestry minutes and parish records of the Zion Episcopal Church of Charles Town. The vestry minutes concern business meetings of the church, ministerial appointments, program scheduling and church maintenance. A detailed account of expenditures and donor bequeathals is included. The parish records contain indexed and unindexed records of birth, marriage, membership and burials as well as ledgers on contributions to theological education, missionary efforts, charity disbursements, church repairs and debts. Of special note are records of funds sent after the Civil War for Southern relief to Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee.