Collections : [Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library]

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 Board of Trustees records contain minutes, agendas, correspondence, reports, subject files, committee files, recommendations, resolutions, and the oath book.

This collection consists of a scrapbook kept by Washington and Lee University student, Charles H. Hamilton, between 1923-1926. The contents include photographs, issues of the student newspaper, newspaper clippings, letters, programs (events, athletics), broadsides, and other ephemera. Subjects include fellow students, campus buildings, athletics, social life, and campus events such as Fancy Dress and Junior prom. There is ephemera items related to the Troubadours, Fancy Dress, Junior Prom, the Cotillion Club, and fraternity initiation banquets. The scrapbook also includes menus for restaurants in Staunton, Va. There was a pocket of loose items that have been foldered for both preservation and access.

This collection consists of items compiled by Henry J. Heymann primarily during his time while attending Washington and Lee University. The collection includes photographs with the subject matter primarily related to student life, activities, and the campus, issues of "The Southern Collegian" which include Heymann's drawings, event programs, and ephemera.

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 item was written by Washington College students in response to events that eventually led to the War of 1812. It begins, "Preamble. At this eventfull [sic] crisis of our affairs when other nations are deluging each others fair field with blood and slaughter. We have no longer a right to rely on the God of heaven to avert from us three evils which from the very nature of things and the general constitution and nature of man they are all indiscrimination [?] subjects." There are 10 articles described in the document followed by the names of the officers and soldiers. There is a post script underneath the names that states, "The above company (the "Washington Juvenile Volunteers") paraded July 4, 1811 completely equiped [sic], & rec'd the praise of a large concourse of people, after having paraded one of the members (Gustavus A. Jones) delivered an oration in the Court House of Lexington, which was universally admired by all that could crowd to the C. House to hear it." The back of the last page has a list of expenditures that have been crossed out and appear unrelated to the rest of the document.

This record group contains papers and projects created by students as part of their coursework, such as honors theses and capstone papers.

This collection consists of a soft bound composition book that served two purposes. During the 1893-1894 Washington and Lee University academic year, it served as a register of students and where they boarded. The students are listed alphabetically by last name. Also included is the name of their parent or guardian, the primary residence, the initials of their advisor, their studies, hours per week (academic?), and the name of the boarding house they were staying at, usually a person's name. Of particular note is that Lexington photographer, Michael Miley, allowed students to board at his house this particular year.

This collection includes two items. The first is the Theta Nu Epsilon Alpha Sigma Chapter charter issued on January 30, 1894. The charter is on parchment and includes ribbons and a skull and crossbones with the word ONE across the top of the skull. The other item is a photograph of chapter members from the 1893-1894 session. They are identified by last name and are seated or standing in front of a backdrop that includes the skull and crossbones with ONE across the skull.

This collection contains letters written by Washington and Lee student Thorns Craven to his family, letters he received while at school from family and friends, as well as other materials associated with his time at Washington and Lee as a student and as an alumnus. Subjects include fraternity rushing, Sigma Nu fraternity, student life, and social activities.