Born in Norge, VA, in 1907 to Charles Edward Gary Sr. (1871-1929) and Georgia Parker Gary Randall (circa 1886-d.1958), Charles Edward Gary Jr. attended the James City County Training School, followed by the Hampton Institute. He graduated in 1931 with a degree in tailoring and dry-cleaning, having as well played on the baseball team from 1928 through 1931 and joined Phi Alpha Kappa. In 1933, he additionally completed a degree in mortuary science from Frelinghusen University in Washington DC.
A longtime resident of the Williamsburg area, Mr. Gary owned and operated the West End Valet Shop, a tailoring and dry-cleaning service, for decades. Mr. Gary opened his business in 1934 and worked as the Williamsburg Inn's first valet from 1937 to 1949. He was then responsible for pressing clothing and cleaning employee uniforms. The West End Valet Shop, long situated at 607 Prince George Street, remained in full operation until 1973. Mr. Gary also worked as a notary public for several years.
Mr. Gary actively participated in the civic life of the Williamsburg community and of baptist churches in the area. He was a member of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (I.B.P.O.E.W.), an African American fraternal order, for more than seventy years, being especially involved in the Old Capitol Lodge no. 629. Mr. Gary once served as the lodge's Exalted Ruler. Among many others, organizations in which Mr. Gary served include the Williamsburg James City County Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Board of Elections, the Shiloh Baptist Church, the Colonial Youth Center, the boy scouts, and the Frontiers Club.
In May 1944, Mr. Gary married Zelda DeBerry (d. 2010), a native of North Carolina and daughter of Rev. William DeBerry and Fanny Hammond DeBerry. Mrs. Gary studied nursing at Augustine College in Raleigh, NC, and anesthetics at Cook County Graduate School of Medicine, IL. She worked in Williamsburg for the Blayton clinic and the Williamsburg-James City School System.
Acc. 2015.150 was found on college property and was received by Special Collections on 6/5/2015.
Accessioned and minimally described by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, in June 2015. Fully processed and described by Eve Bourbeau-Allard, graduate assistant in June 2015.
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Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Gary Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries
Organized thematically, the collection contains three series: Personal and Family Papers, Legal and Business Records; and Civic Life.
These papers contain correspondence, photographs, business papers, artifacts, certificates, and other materials related to Charles Edward Gary, Jr. Mr. Gary was a prominent African American business owner in Williamsburg, operating for decades the West End Valet Shop off Prince George Street. The collection comprises business ledgers and other West End Valet Shop records over several years, as well as legal documents pertaining to the Valet Shop and Gary family estates such as leases and deeds. Personal materials pertain especially to Mr. Gary's schooling, his miltiary service during World War II, family photographs, and some of Mrs. Zelda Gary's personal papers. An active member of the Williamsburg community, Mr. Gary served in several civic, fraternal, and religious organizations. Centering on his involvement in local baptist churches and in the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World - Old Capitol Lodge, Mr. Gary's papers include speeches he prepared for religious and I.B.P.O.E.W. meeting touching on religion, family, and race issues in America. The collection thus contains materials relevant to the study of twentieth-century Williamsburg history and African American history.
Organized thematically, this series comprises documents relating to Mr. and Mrs. Gary's schooling, letters sent to Mr. Gary by relatives and friends during World War II, other wartime documents, numerous family photographs and negatives, as well as other miscellaneous materials. Again following a thematic organization, the vast majority of photographs feature unidentified individuals and are undated. When found inside an annotated or dated photo developing envelope, photographs and negatives have been kept together. A nitrate negative, an informal portrait of two men, has been placed in special storage for preservation reasons; consult SCRC staff member.
Includes a photocopy of label on original frame, which was removed for preservation purposes.
Two photographs of Mr. and Mrs. Gary's nieces inserted.
Copy of letter sent by Mr. Gary to Mrs. Elizabeth W. Crichlow in Boston
Two letters written by Cordelia to Charles found in the same envelope. In one, dated 1943, Cordelia says she is glad Charles adapts well to army life, compared to her brothers' negative experiences. In the second letter, Cordelia reflects on happiness and their past. Also includes a birthday card from Cordelia. An additional letter from 1944, signed by E. C. Broadus, was found in an envelope bearing the same Washington D.C. adress as Cordelia's envelopes. Broadus discusses office work as an inventory clerk suplying furniture for a division at the Pentagon building, and her/his experience as an African American clerk supervising a white employee. Touches on race, education, and the meaning of the war.
Writing to Charles from Chicago, Zelda talks about her feelings for him and her thoughts about him joining the army. 3 letters and a valentine card.
Writing to Charles from Williamsburg, Zelda gives news of her errands and friends, and of Charles' family members and shop. 3 letters.
Letters and forms related to Wallace Randall Parker's application for soldier dependents' benefits. Charles's uncle, Parker also gives family news.
Two letters to Charles from his mother Georgia Randall giving news of her health and of their relatives. One letter from his niece Audrey Piggott and one from his sister Edith, who conveys news from home and says their mother is worried about him being in the army.
3 Letters and a postcard from a fellow soldier. Kinnamon sends news of Charles' family and shop, which he has visited while on furlough; gives advice on being in the army; promises to keep sending Charles the Virginia Gazette; plans on meeting in Lousiana; and details an itinerary from New Orleans to Williamsburg for Charles' furlough.
Private Carol Carter from the air force, talking about his experience since drafted; Postcard from private Robert Gibson; Richard F. Hammond, writing from the U.S. Naval Mine Depot in Yorktown about his health and advising Charles to seek fellow Elks in New Orleans; Thank you note from Lieut. Byron C. Herbert Jr; Private George M. Jackson, giving news of health and problems with mail; Mary B. King, sending news of Williamsburg's friends and her husband's army address.
Postcard from soldier Randolph; V-Mail from Sgt Allen Vaughn, serving in the Pacific; two V-Mail messages from soldier Edward Ward, asking Charles to visit his girlfriend to bring her news; letters from private Richard "Dick" West about his Texas unit, which is to be broken up soon.
Notebook kept by Mr. Gary, likely while training for becoming an officer. Contains notes on teaching techniques, building morale, crafting lesson plans, analysis skills, map reading, and a diagram of the Allied high command.
Includes a document "Instructions to Port Checkers for Tallying Oversea Shipments Received at N.O.P.E." and an application form for national service life insurance.
Two photographs, one of a couple and one of Mr. Gary and a friend in soldiers' uniforms.
5 items circa 1880s-1910s
Circa 1940s-1950s
4 items in cardboard frames. Signed by Ann Bruce, Betty [niece], Skipper, and Edythe [niece] to Mr. and Mrs. Gary.
One portrait in cardboard frame, to "Nurse Gary" from her nephew Clifton. Frame included other loose school portraits, one identified as Jerome Randolph Jr.
Likely a wedding photograph from circa 1950s. Cardboard frame included 5 loose portraits of children.
Includes one from class of 1980, signed Annette Richard, and one from class of 2005. Most unidentified and undated.
Labeled "Service S[?], Williamsburg VA." Possibly a valet and service team at a Williamsburg hotel.
Most unidentified and undated.
Includes a few matching negatives.
Includes a photocopy of the original envelope labeled "Mrs. Williams Xmas Party Gary." One negative identified as "Little Eddie A. Sasl[is]".
On Duke of Gloucester Street, circa 1970s-1980s.
Features nautical scenes and a show.
Various photographs and negatives found together in photo developing envelopes. Photocopies of original envelope included.
Larger materials
Recognizing two years of membership for Mr. Gary
Hamlet Public School District, NC, 1936; Saint Agnes Hospital Training School for Nurses, NC, 1939; North Carolina Board of Nurse Examiners, 1939; Cook County Graduate School of Medicine, IL, 1944. Folder also includes 3 flower prints kept behind the diplomas in original frames.
Photograph album pages with informal portraits, circa 1940s. Some photographs are identified. The folder also houses several documents relating to Mrs. Zelda Gary that were found loose in the album, including report cards from Hamlet Public Schools for the years 1932-1936, an employment offer, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company documents, a 1976 certificate of service from the Union Batptist Church, as well as loose photographs. Damaged album binding removed for preservation purposes.
Personal artifacts comprise Mr. Gary's World War II dog tag, an Eastern Connecticut State University watch, two address rubber stamps, and a 1933 Maryland Public Schools medal for the Playground Athletic League.
This series contains legal and business records documenting the operations of Mr. Gary's tailoring and dry-cleaning business, the West End Valet Shop, as well as family estates. Detailed business ledgers survive for the years 1944 to 1953. Legal documents comprise leases and deeds signed by Mr. and Mrs. Gary, as well as deeds, plats, and other materials about estate settlements concerning the related Gary, Randall, Parker, Peagley, Baker, and Outten families.
Monthly reports of spendings and earnings at the West End Valet Shop sent to Mr. Gary during his military service by the shop's secretary, H.J. Sasser. Also includes a letter with news of the shop.
Monthly reports from H.J. Sasser kept with two letters about the business and news of Williamsburg connections.
Monthly reports from H. J. Sasser and one letter.
Folder also includes a "Home Plan Service Building Contract," inserted in the binder with the ledger pages. Original binder containing ledger pages from 1947 Oct.-1948 Dec. and the 1948 payroll separated for preservation reasons.
Original binder containing ledger pages for the year 1949 separated for preservation reasons.
Some pages are missing.
Also includes personal spendings and loose computation sheets.
Original binder containing ledger pages from 1951 Dec.-1952 Dec. and the 1952 payroll separated for preservation reasons.
Also includes a loose 1948 check on the West End Valet Shop.
Original binder containing ledger pages from 1953 Jan.-1954 Jan. and the 1953 payroll separated for preservation reasons.
Copies of letters sent by Mr. Gary with information about orders and supplies.
Copies of 3 letters sent by Mr. Gary transmitting information about the shop and proposals for advertisements.
Copies of 3 letters sent by Mr. Gary
Includes a series of photographs of Mr. Gary in his shop and of his equipment taken by a Colonial Williamsburg photographer in 1977, one of which was selected for the newspaper article "A Tailor-made Gift for CW."
Articles "Dry Cleaning Equipment Given to CW" and "A Tailor-Made Gift for CW" regarding Mr. Gary's donation of his 1948 Hoffman dry cleaner to Colonial Williamsburg
Includes, among others, a 1956 guidebook "Laws Relating to Notaries Public" by the Commonwealth of Virginia, and a certificate and membership card from the Notaries Public Association.
Rolled-up and brittle item
Documents found in a folder labeled "Buck Henry Randall Estate," of which Charles Gary was a beneficiary. Randall married Charles' mother Georgia Parker after her divorce with Charlie Gary Sr.
Legal documents concerning Mr. Gary's sister Celestine and her husband.
Documentation about the partition of Mr. Gary's father's property between the related Gary, Peagler, Parker, Outten, and Baker families.
Charles Gary's uncle on his mother's side. Comprises a bill of estate settlement costs and a plat of Parker's estate near Ironbound Rd.
Letter and deeds pertaining to a court case about Randall family property.
Documents found in a folder labeled "Peagler File" pertaining to Mr. Gary's nephew Owen Peagley, including a curriculum vitae (see Civic Life, series 3, box 5, folder 11), notes about a deed and family property transaction, and a survey map of the Charles E. Gary Sr. estate to be partitioned.
Includes inspection reports of the Ironbound Road property and copy of the deed.
Documents found in a folder labeled "Charles Gary Life Estate Parcel 041" from the Virginia Department of Transportation about rights of way for the Ironbound Road property.
Short testimony about the history of businesses at 204 Armistead Avenue, letters, and maps regarding a Williamsburg development project.
Mostly regarding loans and deeds of trust
Donated by Jerry Van Voorhis
Suit label from the West End Valet Shop in Williamsburg, Virginia, circa 1965. The shop was owned and operated by Charles Gary. Mr. Gary made two suits for Mr. Jerry Van Voorhis between 1964 and 1965. This label is from one of those suits which Mr. Van Voorhis' used as his wedding suit in 1966. At the time of the label donation, the suit was still in the possession of Mr. Van Voorhis and was reported to be in excellent condition, a testament to the talent of Mr. Gary and his workmanship.
Added as an addition to the collection in 2022 by Veronica Parker.
Artifacts relating to Mr. Gary's business and professional life comprise four West End Valet Shop rubber stamps, a table bell, a clothing label customized to Mr. Gary, a measuring tape, two signature rubber stamps, a notary public rubber stamp, and a notary public metal stamp.
This series encompasses materials and artifacts documenting Mr. Gary's active civic life in the Williamsburg area community. In addition to serving on a citizen advisory committee, the Williamsburg James City County Chamber of Commerce, and the Virginia State Board of Elections, Mr. Gary participated in the services of several local baptist churches and was a member of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (Old Capitol Lodge No. 629) for over 70 years. The bulk of this series relates to church and Order of Elks service. Of note are several typescripts and handwritten drafts of speeches delivered by Mr. Gary in those contexts. Most are unsigned but accompanied of the official service programs listing speakers.
Certificates highlighting Mr. Gary's involvement and support of various institutions such as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, the National Council of Negro Women, the Williamsburg James City County Chamber of Commerce, the Frontiers of America, and the New Zion Baptist Church.
Mostly from the Order of Elks
1975 voter registration record, and documents pertaining to Mr. Gary's appointment as an officer on the Board, including a 1983 manual "Instructions for Officers of Elections."
Ceremony programs, as well as annotated typescripts and handwritten drafts of speeches given by Mr. Gary during Men's Day services at the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg and Shiloh Baptist Church. Includes welcome addresses and a 1967 speech entitled "The Negro Man and his Family" in which Mr. Gary reflects on the history of African American families in the United States, current social and racial issues, and biblical views on the importance of the family.
Speech delivered by Mr. Gary during a service with the Order of Elks held at Mount Ararat Baptist Church, discussing death, community service, the principles of the order, and the limits of wealth and materialism. Also includes a program of the ceremony.
Delivered at a Brotherhood [Order of Elks?] breakfast. Discusses employer and employee behavior, black and white patronage, racial pride; compares the fate of African American and Jewish businesses in America; and suggests avenues for the future.
Includes service programs, typescripts of introduction speeches, and biographical notes relating to various speakers at baptist churches: Rev. Ed. Bailey, Dr. Ollie Bowman, Dr. George W. Grayson, Rev. J. H. Moody.
Speakers Shade Joseph Palmer, R. G. Parker, and Owen F. Peagler.
Speakers Att. William T. Stone, Rev. James B. Tabb, Alfred K. Talbot Jr., Wilbert Wallace.
Typescripts and handwritten drafts of speeches given during anniversary, appreciation, and dedication services at various baptist churches in the Williamsburg area. Also includes some corresponding service programs.
Photocopy of a typescript of a speech discussing family in the Bible, religion and church in African American communities, family as a social formation in the United States, and the role of men and women in church and family. Undated and unsigned. Clipped to a 1970 note from Ollie M. Bowman, a professor at Hampton Institute and deacon in the Presbyterian church, who was perhaps the author or the sender of the speech.
Five items from different baptist churches in the Williamsburg area.
Found in a folder labeled "Church Paperwork"
Certificate of award, membership card, and undated bank form for deposit by authority of lodge.
36 photographs and several negative slides found in a photo developing enveloped labeled "Elks."
Among other photographs are four formal group portraits.
Found in a photo developing envelope without any annotation, possibly of an Order of Elks ceremony.
Artifacts related to Mr. Gary's civic involvement comprise a 1936 Order of Elks delegate medal, a small Frontiers of America metal pin, another small metal pin with unreadable association, and an Order of Elks Old Capital Lodge rubber stamp.
Textile artifacts relating to Mr. Gary's civic involvement comprise an "I.B.P.O.E. of W." stiched hat, an American Legion of Williamsburg, VA, hat, as well as an Order of Elks ceremonial collar.