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 Places Virginia -- Harrisonburg
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

George Bell Revercomb letters

1 Files

This collection consists of typescript transcriptions of twenty letters from George Bell Revercomb to his future wife, Sarah Elizabeth Wallace, during his service as a Confederate cavalryman during the American Civil War. The letters are written from Gordonsville, Manassas, Winchester, and Harrisonburg, Virginia. His final letter is written from Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, Va in May 1864. In it he mentions his wound in the Battle of the Wilderness, the death of General JEB Stuart, his religion, and wonders about the condition of his friends and brothers in his company.

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George Bell Revercomb letters 1 Files

Revercomb, George Bell, 1831-1898

This collection consists of typescript transcriptions of twenty letters from George Bell Revercomb to his future wife, Sarah Elizabeth Wallace, during his service as a Confederate cavalryman during the American Civil War. The letters are written from Gordonsville, Manassas, Winchester, and Harrisonburg, Virginia. His final letter is written from Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, Va in May 1864. In it he mentions his wound in the Battle of the Wilderness, the death of General JEB Stuart, his religion, and wonders about the condition of his friends and brothers in his company.

Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Postcard of Union Station in Harrisonburg, Virginia

1 Item

This collection consists of a postcard printed by Louis Kaufmann & Sons, Baltimore, Maryland of Union Station, Harrisonburg, Virginia. The image shows men waiting for the train. The station closed in 1941.

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Postcard of Union Station in Harrisonburg, Virginia 1 Item

This collection consists of a postcard printed by Louis Kaufmann & Sons, Baltimore, Maryland of Union Station, Harrisonburg, Virginia. The image shows men waiting for the train. The station closed in 1941.

Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library

Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew Collection

3.25 Linear Feet

The Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew collection includes loose scrapbook pages of correspondence, 1949-1953, newspaper clippings, and photographs, 1935 to 1959. The collection documents a nnumber of tragic drownings of local people during the mid 20th century. Other events documeted are: the fires of Lexington Stuart Building, the Hamric & Sheridan Jewelry store, the W&L chapter of Delta Upsilon fraternity, a Willow Grove home fire, and three Bedford, Virginia stores; a burn victim in Natural Bridge, Va; a Civil Defense drill held in Waynesboro, Virginia in 1958; the Lexington and Maury River Training meeting of 1959; the Lexington, Va. Fire Department's Centennial Celebration on August 24, 1950. Other photographs include, Lewis Watts, Mrs. R. Miller and J. Robinson, Lucy Davis 101, and Mr. Mackey. Newspaper articles cover the Lexington Hose Co. No.2, Rev. Ernest Johnson, Leslie L. Weaver retiring from Lexington Post Office, and B. Lee Kagey. Also included is a booklet entitled, "A Brief History of the Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew, Inc., Lexington, Virginia," loose newspaper clippings 1954-1985, a program booklet for the 34th Annual Convention of the Virginia Association of Rescue Squads August 21, 22, and 23, 1969, Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia, American National Red Cross 1967 certification cards for Dewey W. Burks and Wayne Burks, 51st Annual Convention Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads, Inc. tickets for Wayne and Anne Burks, September 26, 27, 28, 1985, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Friday Night Social and Awards Banquet and Installation of Officers tickets, Virginia Beach Pavillion, and group photos.

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Scrapbook Lexington Life Saving and First Aid Crew loose pages Box 1, Folder 7

This folder includes material on the following: Thank you letters thanking crew for their service; Bedford, Virginia stores fire; group photo of Hose Company No. 4, Harrisonburg, Virginia; brothers Donald Sisk, 20 and Albert Sisk, 23 of Salem, Virginia, both drowned at Rocky Point, Virginia, in the James River, five miles north of Buchanan; Lexington First Aid Crew presented Wheel Chair by the Lexington Lions Club, article and photos; First Aid Crew under sponsorship of the Lexington Fire Department organized in 1935; and a letter to Lexington Fire Department from the President of the Washington and Lee Chapter of Delta Upsilon, concerning their fire.

Content Warning

ARVAS is an aggregator of archival resources. ARVAS does not have control of the descriptive language used in our members’ finding aids.

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.

Many institutions and organizations are in the process of reviewing and revising their descriptive language, with the intent to describe materials in more humanizing, inclusive, and harm-reductive ways. As members revise their descriptive language, their changes will eventually be reflected in their ARVAS finding aids.