Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Dorothy McCombs Collection,
McCombs, Dorothy F., 1923-1990
Ms.1995.006
8.6 Cubic Feet
19 boxes
1970-1989
The collection contains personal research notes, subject files, and writings; materials relating to the Virginia Tech University Libraries; course notes; dissertation research; work on textiles and arts & crafts history; genealogy notes; brochures on historic sites around Virginia; and maps collected by Dorothy McCombs. Materials date from about 1970-1989.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Dorothy McCombs Collection, Ms1995-006, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The Dorothy McCombs Collection was donated to Special Collections prior to 1995.
Processing Information
Some initial description was completed in 1995. The majority of the processing, arrangement, and description of the Dorothy McCombs Collection was completed in October and November 2014.
Biographical Note
Dorothy McCombs graduated from VPI in 1976. She went on to work in the libraries as a reference librarian and Appalachian history bibliographer until 1990. Over the course of her career, she researched genealogy, local history/Appalachian history, textiles, and more.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains personal research notes, subject files, and writings; materials relating to the Virginia Tech University Libraries; course notes; dissertation research; work on textiles and arts & crafts history; genealogy notes; brochures on historic sites around Virginia; and maps collected by Dorothy McCombs. Materials date from about 1970-1989.
Although materials cover a wide range of topics and regions, particular emphases include research notes on Appalachian textile production, information on historic Blacksburg and Montgomery County, notes on the Preston family and the Smithfield Plantation, and local/regional genealogy. There are also papers relating to McCombs tenure as a reference librarian at Virginia Tech.
McCombs extensively researched textiles, of which she published "National Context and the Local Experience of Domestic Textile Manufacture in Montgomery County, VA 1776-1830." Several other publications found in this collection include "Local History and Genealogical Research in University Libraries," and her thesis, "Virginia Cloth, Early Textiles in Virginia: Particularly in the Backcountry between the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains until 1830". There is also a copy of her unpublished manuscript, "Virginia Cloth: Early Textiles in Montgomery County, 1776-1830" in the collection as well.
Arrangement
The Dorothy McCombs Collection is organized into nine series by material type. Series include: Brochures; Maps; Subject Files; Publications (in two suberies--Publications by McCombs and Publications by Others); Notes; Census Records; Textiles/Arts & Crafts; Library Materials; and Professional and Personal Papers.
Within each series, materials are arranged alphabetically by folder title. Whenever possible, original folder titles, created by McCombs, were retained. Unfoldered materials were described by Special Collections staff.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Dorothy McCombs Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Blacksburg (Va.)
Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
Montgomery County (Va.)
University History
Faculty and staff
Students and alumni
Preston family (Montgomery County, Va.)
Smithfield Plantation House (Blacksburg, Va.)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)
Series I: BrochuresCharlottesville-- Brochures 312Fredericksburg, Virginia-- Brochures, Slides 59Georgia-- Brochures 516Kentucky-- Brochures619Lexington, Virginia-- Brochures 622North Carolina-- Brochures 123Pennsylvania-- Brochures1212Richmond, Virginia Brochures 144Roanoke, Roanoke Valley Brochures145Smithfield-- Brochures 1411Tennessee-- Brochures 1510Virginia-- Brochures 173Washington County, Virginia-- Abington Brochures1712West Virginia-- Brochures 183Series II: MapsBlacksburg-- Maps 213Maps86Maps--Travel87Series III: Subject FilesAds12Aldridge-- IRA1805-186714Alexandria-- Pamphlets and Fliers15American Association for State and Local History 16Appalachia-- Clippings and Articles18Appalachian Studies19Appalachian-- Studies Conference1988110Appalink-- Newsletter1988111Appalachian-- Solitude1984-1989112Appraisals by Appointed Neighbors-- Inventories of Sales1808113APVA1987-1988114APVA1967-1989115APVA-- Montgomery County1880-1881116Asche-- Volunteerism 198721Association for the Bibliography of History (1/2)199022Association for the Bibliography of History (2/2)1983-198623Black Family and VPI notes24Blacksburg25Blacksburg, Virginia-- Articles 26Blacksburg-- Calendars with Pictures and Prints of Blacksburg and Montgomery Country 1980, 198627Blacksburg-- Churches, Religion 28Blacksburg-- Clippings29Blacksburg-- History 210Blacksburg, Virginia-- Information 211Blacksburg-- Landscapes212Blacksburg-- Pictures214Blacksburg-- Regional Art Association 215Blacksburg-- Residents, 1940194031Blacksburg, Virginia 32Blacks of Blacksburg 33Bowden, Mitchell
9-1-703
PO Box 1904
Roanoke Valley Historical Society
Center in the Square, Roanoke VA 24008198834Breckinridge, Lucy-- Journal of a VA Girl1862-186435Bronson J+R-- The Domestic Manufacturer's Assistant,194936Christiansburg, Virginia,1988313Colonial Virginia/Appalachia-- Manufacturing and History 314Conference on the Appalachian FrontierMay 1985315Committees-- Legislative,198741Committees Landmark,198742Craft Schools, Folk Schools44Crossnore School c. 197645Delaware Woolen Industry46Delta Kappa Gamma,198847Distinguished Virginia Women by Gertrude Blair48Draper's Meadows, Virginia 49Eastman411Eaton, Allen-- Mountain Handicrafts,1930412Ferrum College-- Blue Ridge Institute 53Fireside Industries 54Fitness Connection 55Flax56Folk Songs57Folk Tales/Oral History58From Assoc. to Rev. 510From Patrick County Project Blue Ridge Mission School 511Gandhi1975512Gazeteers of Virginia Including Giles and Montgomery 513Genealogy514Genealogy-- Orientation 515Germanicus A. Kent517Giles County518Giles County 519Giles County-- Historical Society 520Greenfield61Historic Blacksburg-- Assorted Copied Pictures 63Historic Preservation 64History-- Appalachian 65History-- Bibliography/Library 66History-- Houses67History-- Preston68History-- Social 69Home Life in Colonial Days-- Alice Morse Earle1931610Home Manufactures 611Illustrations 612"In Old Blacksburg" by Dr. (W.B.) Conway1975-1977613James Miller Oral History 616Keep617Kegley-- Family Institute,June 1988618Landis Valley Farm Museum, Pennsylvania 620Lewis, Mrs. Letita Preston (Floyd) Letters and St. John's Catholic Chapel621LFA--Visiting Scholar 1981623Local History 81Local History and Genealogy 82Lynchburg 83Mabry Mill, Floyd County84MacMillan85Mary Draper Ingles88Miller, Lewis1010Mills-- Fueling 1011Minutes1012Montgomery County1013Montgomery County1014Montgomery County-- Articles111Montgomery County-- Clippings 112Montgomery County-- Historical Inventory 113Montgomery County-- History of114Montgomery County-- Information 1879, 1876, 1890115Montgomery County-- Miscellaneous 116Montgomery County-- 120th Anniversary Clippings from News Messenger 117Morgan, Clarita118Mountain Lake119Museum of the American Frontier 1110Museum of American Frontier Culture 1111National Archives1112Newbern, Virginia1113New River Historical Society 1114New River and New River Valley 1115New River Valley Preservation League Documents 1116New River Valley Preservation League Newsletter1117New River Valley Preservation League Stationary 1118New River Valley Preservation League1119New River Valley Travel121NRHS124NRVPL125Outline Manufacturing Research-- Colonial 126Patrick County127Patrick County Project
128Patrick County Project-- Oral History Collection 129Patrick Henry 1210Pictures 1213Preservation Alliance of Virginia September/December 19871214Preservation-- OtherOctober 19881215Prestons-- Articles and Biographies 1216Prestons-- Clippings131Prestons-- Family Cemetery 132Prestons-- Family Papers133Prestons-- Guide to Preservation of Virginia Antiquities 134Prestons-- Information from Bolar News Service135Prestons-- Inventories and Wills 136Prestons-- Lettersc 1843137Prestons-- Papers and Copies of Letters 1783-1843138Pulaski County c 1988139Pulaski County 1310Radford1976-1985142Reynolds Homestead--
Mary, Dave Britt 8-703-694-7181
Box 21
Critz, VA 24082143Roanoke Valley Historical Society c 1989146Shawsville, Virginia c 1988148Significance of Ingles Ferry and History of Ingles Ferry by Francis Burke Fitzpatrick,1936-1985149Smithfield-- Articles1410Smithfield-- Clippings and Events 1979-19861412Smithfield-- Clippings on History, Restoration, Dedication 1413Smithfield-- Docents1414Smithfield-- Events, Announcements, and Invitations 1979-19811415Smithfield-- Garden Week Tours 151Smithfield-- Pictures152Smithfield-- Tour Plans and Docents 1983-1985154Southland Travel Service Letter from Allen Montgomery c 1987155Southwest Virginia 156Springs in Montgomery County 157Statistics 158Today1612USS Potomac-- Specifications for Materials Correspondence c 19401613Virginia Landmarks 1614Virginia Landmarks Community (also see "Houses")1615Virginia Womens Cultural History Project 1616Valentine Museum c 19741617Vernacular Architecture 1933-19851618Virginia Tech-- Clippings 174Virginia Tech Campus Guides 178Virginia to 1830 179Washington County c 19741711Williams, Brenda and Johnston, Jane c 1987184Word Perfect186Wythe County 1984187Series IV: PublicationsSubseries A: Publications by McCombsMcCombs, Dorothy-- Publication: Local History and Genealogical Research in University Libraries1988102McCombs, Dorothy-- Publication: National Context and the Local Experience of Domestic Textile Manufacture in Montgomery County, VA 1776-1830103McCombs, Dorothy-- Thesis 1/5105McCombs, Dorothy-- Thesis 2/5106McCombs, Dorothy-- Thesis 3/5107McCombs, Dorothy-- Thesis 4/5108McCombs, Dorothy-- Thesis 5/5109Thesis Charts 1610Subseries B: Other PublicationsActivity Report--McCombs,1977-198711The Mountain Laurel168To Carolyn 1611Virginia Tech-- SPECTRUM1982-1989176Virginia Tech-- TECH GRAMMay 1976177Series V: NotesMcCombs, Dorothy-- Note cards811McCombs, Dorothy-- Notes812McCombs, Dorothy-- Notes813McCombs, Dorothy-- Notes91McCombs, Dorothy-- Notes92McCombs, Dorothy-- Notes93McCombs, Dorothy-- Notes on Genealogy 94McCombs, Dorothy-- Research Notes104Shackelford's Notes147Series VI: Census RecordsCensus -- Hamilton Report on Manufactures179037Census181038Census182039Census -- Manufacturing Report 1820310Census1840311Census -- Montgomery County18501015Series VII: Textiles/Arts & CraftsAppalachian-- Arts and Crafts1972-198817Africa- Textiles13Arts and Crafts-- Government1966-1967117Arts and Crafts-- Movement118Cotton43Dyeingc. 1981410Ellis, Asa-- The Country Dyer's Assistant1749416Fabrics- Reproductions 198051Hemp62Irish Spinning, Dyeing, Weaving 1978614Jacquard1976615Linen724McCombs, Dorothy-- Personal Interior Decorating (Samples in separate box)95North Carolina-- Arts and Crafts122Patterns for Woven Goods1211Quilts 1974141Samples of "McCombs Interior Decorating" in Box 9 Folder 519Smithfield-- Textiles 153Tennessee- Crafts 1511Textiles 1512Textiles-- Dyeing1513Textiles-- England and Scotland 161Textiles-- Illustrations 162Textiles-- Manufacturing Appendix/Acknowledgements163Textiles-- Manufacturing Listings 1770-1830, primarily 1810 1770-1830164Textiles-- Miscellaneous 165Textiles-- Spinning 166Textiles-- Spinning, Dyeing, Weaving c 1974167The Virginia Mountain Crafts Guild c 1983169Virginia Textile history, Chapters I-VI with Bibliographies 171Virginia-- Arts and Crafts Councils 172Virginia-- Silk 175Weaving1819-1989181West Virginia-- Arts and Crafts 182Woolc 1947185Textile Samples19Series VIII: Library MaterialsLibrary-- African American History 71Library-- American History, Basic List 72Library-- Appalachian73Library-- Archival Materials Access to ...74Library-- Bibliographies Instruction, History 75Library-- British76Library-- Census77Library-- Civil War78Library-- Compiled Service Records79Library-- Education 710Library-- Government Documents/Historical Research 711Library-- Historical Research 712Library-- Law713Library-- Library Orientation 714Library-- Montgomery County 715Library-- New River 716Library-- Periodical List 717Library-- SW Virginia718Library-- Technology719Library-- The Appalachian Collection 720Library-- United States Constitution 721Library-- Virginia722Library-- Womens Studies 723Series IX: Professional and Personal PapersEDAE/FST 4980 Notes 1/31979-1980413EDAE/FST 4980 Notes 2/31979-1980414EDAE/FST 4980 Notes 3/31979-1980415Faculty Womens Club 198852McCombs, Dorothy-- Articles89McCombs, Dorothy-- Dissertation Paperwork and Letters 810McCombs, Dorothy-- Personal Photographs and Letters101Telephone Numbers and Names 159Vitae/Memorandum of McCombs19891710