Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Shaver and Schaeffer Family Collection
Ms.2023.097
3.5 Cubic Feet
5 boxes
1872-1977
The Shaver and Schaeffer Family Collection consists of a variety of materials, which range in dates from 1872 to 1977. The collection includes photographs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute memorabilia, printed materials, such as coupons, advertisements, and pamphlets, ledgers, scrapbooks, correspondences, diplomas, certificates, family papers, ephemera, publications, newspaper pages, newspaper clippings, calling cards, pay stubs, church offering stubs, and additional materials collected by the family. The collection also has a copied written piece by Dewey M. Shaver recalling her life in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The collection includes five series: Correspondences, Ephemera, Family Papers, Photographs, and Printed Materials.
Materials in this collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of individual items in this collection may vary. 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], Shaver and Schaeffer Family Collection, 1872-1977, Ms2023-097, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The collection was gifted to Special Collections in May 2016.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Shaver and Schaeffer Family Collection was completed in September 2023.
Scope and Content
The Shaver and Schaeffer Family Collection consists of a variety of materials, which range in dates from 1872 to 1977. The collection includes photographs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute memorabilia, printed materials, such as coupons, advertisements, and pamphlets, ledgers, scrapbooks, correspondences, diplomas, certificates, family papers, ephemera, publications, newspaper pages, newspaper clippings, calling cards, pay stubs, church offering stubs, and additional materials collected by the family. The collection also has a copied written piece by Dewey M. Shaver recalling her life in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The collection includes five series: Correspondences, Ephemera, Family Papers, Photographs, and Printed Materials.
The Correspondences include letters ranging from 1872 to 1964. The letters have been organized in folders by year, and within the folders, they have been organized by date. One folder includes undated letters that do not include a year. Another folder contains envelopes that do not have a corresponding letter. Most letters include the original envelope.
The Ephemera include many different materials. The box contains buttons, cufflinks, cuffs, 3 black ink tablets, a thimble, two keys, a VPI glass, a fan (very fragile and missing pieces), two straight razors, fare coins, caffeine tablet container, and many other small items.
The Family Papers include multiple types of materials related to the family. The calling cards include 7 cards. The cards consist of two dog license cards/tags and a Future Homemakers of America card. The Certificates consist of academic certificates for performing well in classes and school. The checks have dates from 1908, 1910, and 1920. Church offerings are forms notifying a monthly subscription offering to the church and include dates from 1903 to 1919. Confederate Documents consist of two copies of a poem by E. S. Fagg for the Confederate Veteran's Reunion 1922, a poem by E. S. Fagg for another Confederate Vertan's Reunion, a program for the United Confederate Veterans Parade in 1919 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, a form stating that C. H. Schaeffer is in good standing with the Confederate Veterans of Blacksburg, Virginia, registration cards for the 1914 and 1919 Confederate Reunions, and a tag for a Gettysburg reunion. Copied papers consists of a handwritten document written by Dewey M. Shaver detailing her memories and life and a program for her funeral. Handwritten notes includes leaflet papers with notes written on them for a range of topics and a notebook for a math class. The notes include an art piece of frogs playing instruments with the text "Cosmic Opera" and handwriting on the back. Pay stubs includes a pay stub from 1960 and pay stub envelopes from 1953. Postcards include a range of postcards, such as ones of Norfolk, Virginia; St. Patrick's Day celebrations; Arlington, Virginia (including the Confederate Memorial at the Arlington Cemetery); Sunbury, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Nashville, Tennessee; the Cumberland Gap Historical Park; Duff's Rebel Restaurant in Winchester, Virginia; and Jamestown, Virginia's exposition with an image of an African American man portraying an enslaved man, Alfred Leigh. The postcard portraying Alfred Leigh focuses on the family of Judge Thomas Leigh of Halifax County and his wife's family's ties to the Craddock-Terry Company in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Duff's Rebel Restaurant postcard includes a false portrayal of the surrender between Grant and Lee at Appomattox Courthouse, and the postcard portrays a narrative that Grant surrendered to Lee. Railroad Freight Bills and Tickets consist of punch tickets for trains and freight bills from 1907-1921. Receipts consist of many receipts from 1900 to 1921. The scrapbooks and ledgers are located in Box 3 together. The scrapbooks consist of 3 books. The first is a travel scrapbook with primarily postcards and travel brochures. The second includes clippings of poetry. The third has name cards for graduating classmates. There are 12 ledgers, and some include drawings from a child on the pages.
Photographs include photographs of Shaver and Schaeffer family members, photos of Blacksburg's downtown and Virginia Tech campus, and oversized images of people, including a glass portrait of William Henry Harrison. The glass portrait has broken, sharp edges and corners and is located in Box 1 Folder 28.
Printed Materials include other materials collected by the family. Advertisements consist of coupons and broadsides. Advertising companies include: Arm &smp; Hammer Soda, Dana's Stock Labels, Earle Chemical Company, G. R. Clare Company, Mendets, National Trailways Nationwide Service, People's Supply Company, J. W. Chapman &smp; Company, Star Super Edge Blades, Stonewall Distilling Company, Sub-Rosa Tobacco and Cigarettes, and Turner's Penetrating Balm. Calendars include three calendars from the National Bank of Blacksburg; the 1973 and 1976 calendars include historical photographs of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Virginia Tech campus, and the 1978 calendar has sketches of local sites in Montgomery, Roanoke, and Giles Counties. Newspapers has 3 copies of newspapers, one from the Thrice-A-Week World in 1906, and two for the Blacksburg News in 1908 and 1909. Newspaper clippings include multiple clippings, with many focusing on Confederate veterans. Notices has two documents with information about smokeless coal in the Co-Ordinator and another document on labor rights. Stamps includes 6 stamps. There is also a 1900 map of the coalfields in Montgomery County, Virgini, located in Box 5.
Separated Materials
This collection also included more than 10 books. As part of processing, these were removed and cataloged for the Rare Book Collection. Catalog records include the manuscript collection name and number (Shaver and Schaeffer Family Collection, Ms2023-097) and can be located by searching for that phrase
Arrangement
The collection is organized by material type and in chronological order, if applicable.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Shaver and Schaeffer Family Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Montgomery County (Va.)
Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
University History
Correspondence
Pamphlets
Advertisements
Advertising cards
Trade cards
Postcards
Photographs
Religion
Confederate States of America
Series I: Correspondences1872-19641872111888121890131891141892151894161898171899181904191909110191011119111121916113192011419541151964116Undated117Envelopes118Series II: Ephemera4BibliographyButtonsCaffeine tablet containerCuffsCufflinksInk tabletsEmbroidered and crocheted VPI football player, ca. 1918 (placed in Oversized-Box 5, Folder 1)FanFare Coins for Johnson City, TennesseeKeysStraight razorsThimbleVPI GlassAdditional itemsSeries III: Family PapersCalling Cards119Cards120BibliographyDog License CardDog License TagFuture Homemakers of America CardCertificates51Checks1908-1920121Church Offerings1903-1919122Confederate Documents1914-192221Copied Papers1953-1960123Handwritten Notes124Ledgers3BibliographyPay Stubs125Postcards126Railroad Freight Bills and Tickets1907-192122Receipts1900-1921127Scrapbooks3BibliographyTraveling Scrapbook (postcards, brochures)Poems Old and New Scrapbook (clippings of poems)Classmate Album (cards with classmates' names)Series IV: PhotographsFamily Photographs (Small/Medium)128Downtown and Universityca. 1910s - 1930s129Oversized53Series V: Printed MaterialsAdvertisements23BibliographyArm & Hammer Soda "Receipt Book" Conservation by the use of Advertised Food ProductsCouponDana's Stock LabelsEarle Chemical Co. CouponEsterbrook's Little Gem PenFountain Pen - G. R. Clare CompanyMendetsMilkmaid Receive One From CowNational Traiways Nationwide ServicePeople's Supply CompanyThe Roanoke Cook, J. W. Chapman & Co. Star Super Edge BladesStonewall Distilling Co.Sub-Rosa Tobacco and CigarettesTurner's Penetrating BalmThe Youth's CompanionCalendars1973, 1976, 1978130Newspapers1906-190952BibliographyThe Thrice-A-Week World, Friday, April 2, 1906 Blacksburg News, Thursday, December 3, 1908Blacksburg News, Thursday, December 16, 1909Newspaper Clippings24Notices131BibliographyThe Co-Ordinator. Published by Smokeless Code Authority Bureau (1934)Information About Your Reemployment Rights Under the Selective Service Act of 1948. Published by the U. S. Department of Labor (1948)Program1977132BibliographyVirginia Tech vs. Texas A&M: Lane Stadium: Septembner 17, 1977: Official program $1.00Stamps133