Collections : [James Madison University]

James Madison University

Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Primary Collecting Areas:
JMU History, Local history, Shenandoah Living Archive, Shenandoah National Park Oral Histories, Pulp Fiction Collection, Artists' Book Collection, Juvenile Collection, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Description:
JMU Special Collections documents the central Shenandoah Valley region as well as the history of James Madison University. Special Collections includes strong collections of Pulp Fiction magazines, Artists' Books, and a Juvenile Literature collection created in support of JMU's history as a teacher's college. Special Collections collaborates with faculty, alumni, liaison librarians, and community members in identifying and collecting rare and historic materials for use in instruction and research.
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Start Over Repository James Madison University Names Lucy F. Simms School (Public school) Level File

James Curry interviewed by Inez Ramsey, 1978

Records the reminiscences of Mr. James Curry of Harrisonburg, Va., custodian of Spotswood Elementary School and first black deacon of the Mennonite Church in Va. Describes childhood including life on the farm, discipline of children, education (Effinger and Lucy Simms schools), childhood games; his family; black churches including the Broad Street Mennonite Church, Pleasant Hill AME Church; black communities (Port Republic, Bridgewater, Red Hill in Harrisonburg); black businesses (carpenter shop, taxi business, the candy man/Dixie Williams' Store), professional teachers (Lucy Simms, Jeannie Francis) and doctors (Dr. Dickerson and the flu epidemic); home remedies; Madison College as a women's school; Harrisonburg as a small town (ex. watching horses being driven thru town, brick/cobblestone streets); reminiscences of WWI (changing of German St. to Liberty St.) and WW II (rationing, black soldiers); and general relations between blacks and whites. Recorded at the home of Mr. James Curry's son, Harrisonburg, Va. on Aug. 2, 1978.

  1. James Madison University
  2. African Americans in Harrisonburg oral histories, 1978/1979

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