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[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Cleveland Family Papers, 1880-1958, SC 0043, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
These items were transferred from the James Madison University Office of Alumni Affairs to the Special Collections Library.
All newspaper clippings were photocopied and originals were retained.
Annie Vergilia Cleveland (1847-1916) and Elizabeth Pendleton Cleveland (1867-1958) were sisters, and they both became faculty members at the State Normal and Industrial School for Women in Harrisonburg, Virginia in 1909. Annie served as an assistant instructor of English and French until her death in 1916. Elizabeth served as the head of the English department and later the French department until her retirement in 1943.
The Cleveland sisters were born in Kent's Store, Virginia to Mary Elizabeth Perkins and Thomas Cleveland. Annie and Elizabeth both attended Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. Before coming to Harrisonburg, Annie taught public and private school in Fluvanna County, while Elizabeth taught at Hollins University and at Central University and Ouachita Baptist University, both in Arkansas. While teaching at the State Normal and Industrial School for Women, Elizabeth earned her master's degree from the University of Virginia (1927) and saw to the founding several long-running student organizations: the Lee Literary Society, Lanier Literary Society, and The Schoolma'am (now Bluestone) yearbook. The dormitory Junior Hall was renamed Cleveland Hall in 1957 in honor of Elizabeth Cleveland.
Neither Annie nor Elizabeth had children, but they did have numerous nieces and nephews. One of whom was Cleveland Sadler, the son of Annie and Elizabeth's sister Mary E. Cleveland Sadler. He is featured with other young relatives in photographs in the collection. Also featured are nieces Vergilia Pendleton Sadler (1890-1965) and Mary Emma Sadler who graduated from the State Normal and Industrial School for Women in 1911 and 1912, respectively. Vergilia Sadler returned to the university to acquire her graduate degree in 1921.
The Cleveland Family Papers, 1880-1958, are comprised primarily of photographs of Elizabeth and Annie Cleveland and other Cleveland family members. Additional materials include documents related to the deaths of Annie Cleveland and Elizabeth Cleveland. Photocopies of box labels pertaining to Cleveland Sadler are also included.
The 16 black-and-white photographs of Elizabeth Cleveland feature professional portraits and group shots. Most of the photographs are undated, but likely date from the late-nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Some photographs feature Elizabeth with family members (Lucinda Gillespie, Margaret Gillespie, Lucinda Shepherd) and others feature her with classmates or colleagues from Hollins University. Many of the photographs are inscribed with the subjects' identities. Other persons featured include Etta Moore, Genevieve Rudd, Roe Hurt, Leila Turner, Joe Turner, Robert Hollins Alberti, Sadie White, and Alice Kelsey. Photograph studios featured include André Studio; Dean's Studio and Gitchell's Studio in Harrisonburg; Maury in Salem, Virginia; Fred Walter in Staunton, Virginia; Thuss and Bingham in Memphis, Tennessee; P. G. Pickerill in Little Rock, Arkansas; and Merin-Baliban in Philadelphia.
A photograph of Annie Cleveland features her seated in a wheelchair surrounded by four children. The inscription on the back of the photograph indicates that these children are her nieces and nephews Vergilia Sadler, Mary Sadler, Cleveland Sadler, and Hugh Sadler. The photograph is undated, but likely dates to the late-nineteenth century. There are also four photographs ranging in date from 1909 to 1954 featuring Vergilia Sadler. In two of these, both dated 1909, Vergilia is dressed as a Brethren minister for the play
Documents related to Annie Cleveland's death in 1916 include one single-sheet program from her memorial service on January 14, 1917, as well as a packet of typed papers and a bound pamphlet recapping the events and speeches delivered at the memorial service. The pamphlet contains speeches delivered by university president Julian Burruss, history faculty member John Wayland, student Zola Hubbard, Reverend W.F. Watson, and Mr. C.A. Mason as well as remembrances by Vera B. Pettit, Floyd W. King, Bettie L. Gray, Emma D. Thomas, Mrs. N.B. Gay, and Willie M. Shiflett. Excerpts from Annie Cleveland's diary are also included in the pamphlet. An 1880 article written by Annie Cleveland entitled "My Father" is also included. Two newspaper clippings of Elizabeth's 1958 obituary are included.
Lastly, the collection contains photocopies of box labels that housed
The collection is arranged topically in four folders.
Two copies of the 1915