Galt, Mary Jeffery – Gwathmey Family

Galt, Mary Jeffery, Memoir, ca. 1910. 11 pp. Typescript. Mss5:1G1394:1.
This unfinished memoir by Mary Jeffery Galt (1844–1922) recalls her childhood in Norfolk and Buchanan. She includes her earliest memories of her grandparents, her uncle, the sculptor Alexander Galt (1827–1863), and her father, William Richard Galt (1818–1892). The reminiscence ends with the family's move to Botetourt County in the early 1850s. Genealogical information on the Galt and Jeffery families also appears.

Garland Family Papers, 1818–1907. 91 items. Mss1G1837a. Microfilm reel C458.
This collection contains papers of members of the Garland family of Lynchburg and Amherst County. Issues addressed include the education and socialization of boys and girls in antebellum Virginia, family relationships, and migration. The collection contains letters, 1818–1821, to Sarah Armistead (Garland) Waller (d.1855) from her mother, Jane Henry (Meredith) Garland (1776–1855) (section 13), and letters, 1839–1855, from Samuel Garland, Jr. (1830–1862), to his mother, Caroline Matilda (Garland) Garland (1807–1905) (sections 3 and 5). Also included is a commonplace book, 1837–1842, of writing exercises produced by Samuel Garland, Jr., as well as a composition, 1839, on George Washington (sections 6 and 7). There are letters from family members who emigrated to Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Michigan and a small amount of correspondence of other family members in Virginia (section 15). Typed transcripts exist for Sarah Armistead (Garland) Waller's correspondence.

Garland Family Papers, 1829–1969. 653 items. Mss1G1837b.
This collection centers on Landon Cabell Garland (1810–1895), professor of math, astronomy, and physics at the universities of Alabama and Mississippi and chancellor of Vanderbilt University, and his granddaughter, Mary Lightfoot Garland (1871–1972), of Lynchburg and Richmond, a public librarian who became her family's unofficial historian. Landon Garland's papers consist entirely of typed transcripts and photocopies and include letters, 1830–1893, to his sister, Caroline Matilda (Garland) Garland (1807–1902), and other family members in Virginia concerning his move to Tuscaloosa, Ala., family news, and his career (section 3). A letterbook, 1854–1855, and commonplace book, 1855, document his tenure as president of the North East and South West Alabama Railroad Company (sections 4 and 5). Also included is a cookbook, ca. 1870, kept by his wife, Louisa Frances (Garland) Garland (1812–1889) in Oxford, Miss. (section 6).

Mary Garland's papers contain correspondence, 1890–1969, with friends and family members, including the physician, Rosalie (Slaughter) Morton (b. 1876), of Lynchburg and Winter Park, Fla., about her autobiography, A Woman Surgeon (1937) (section 8). Mary Garland's genealogical files account for two-thirds of the collection (sections 9–10). Included in them are the prayer book of Jane Henry (Meredith) Garland (1776–1855) and two volumes of transcripts. One contains the correspondence, 1874–1891, of Annie Rose (Garland) Fulton (1843–1901) with her parents, Landon Cabell and Louisa Frances Garland. The other consists primarily of letters, 1847–1892, of Louisa Frances Garland and her daughters, Annie Fulton, Caroline Matilda (Garland) Thompson (1855–1881), Louisa Francis (Garland) Humphreys (1843–1901), and Lucinda Rose (Garland) Lewis (b. 1839) to each other. The location of the manuscripts from which transcripts in this collection were created remains undetermined.

Gatewood Family Papers, 1834–1928. 293 items. Mss1G2235a.
Collection contains papers of the Gatewood and related Giltner and Witherspoon families of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Section 1 contains correspondence, 1845–1856, of Lucy Dabney (New) Gatewood of Assumption, La., and later Clinton, Miss., including communications with B. J. Baylor (concerning Christianity; letter of 25 November 1852 discusses the death of Lucy's son, John W. Gatewood); Mary Ann (Giltner) Craig of Assumption, La. (letter of 23 November 1852 concerns the death of Dr. John W. Gatewood), son Richard Henry Gatewood (an otherwise undated letter of 8 June discusses his son Robert Henry Gatewood's recent illness), and daughter-in-law Ellen Spencer (Giltner) Gatewood [later Morton] (letter of 22 September 1854 discusses the birth of an African American child and the health of the mother; letter of 25 October 1854 concerns the death of Ellen's young daughter, Lucy). Section 3 contains correspondence, ca. 1834–1880 (arranged alphabetically), of Ellen Spencer (Giltner) Gatewood Morton of Versailles, Ky., and later Racine, Wis., chiefly between Ellen and her daughter, Mary Frances "Fannie" (Gatewood) Witherspoon of Versailles, Ky. (concerning child bearing, child rearing, family news, Ellen's views on religion, her insomnia; and opium use; letter of 4 May 1870 mentions the death of a friend's thirteen-year-old daughter; letter of 15 July 1880 mentions a Democratic Party barbecue Fannie attended in Kentucky, where there was music and speeches about Henry Clay and John C. Breckinridge).

Section 4 contains correspondence of Mary Frances "Fannie" (Gatewood) Witherspoon of Lawrenceburg, Ky., Ellen's daughter, with cousin Rosa Craig of Linneus, Mo.(letter of 1 March 1881 concerns Fannie's mother's death; letter of 1 February 1918 discusses the departure of Missouri troops to France during World War I), cousin Robert Henry Gatewood of Hillsboro, Scott County, Miss. (letter of 18 January 1875 talks about a drought in Mississippi and his request for a loan from Ellen Spencer (Giltner) Gatewood Morton), daughter Ellen Viley "Ella" (Witherspoon) Shipman of Burkeville (letter of 13 October 1920 mentions a local temperance meeting, prohibition, and women voting; letter of 26 February 1928 mentions Ella reading the children's story "Little Black Sambo" to her grandson David Nelson Sutton, Jr.), and David Nelson Sutton, Jr., of West Point (a Thanksgiving card to Fannie contains a stereotypical depiction of an African American boy chasing a turkey with an axe).

George, Alice B. Payne, Papers, 1855–1875. 32 items. Mss2G2936b.
The collection consists of letters and accounts from three mercantile firms in Richmond to Alice B. (Payne) George (b. 1794), a widow operating a farm in Goochland County. Correspondence concerns the consignment, shipment via the James River and Kanawha Canal, and sale of tobacco and wheat and the purchase of guano and other supplies. Letters comment on the Richmond market, including some information on crop prices, and advise George regarding future crop production.

Gerst, Emanuel, Papers, 1861–1862. 6 items. Photocopies. Mss2G3271b.
Contain letters written to Emanuel Gerst (b. 1816), while serving in the 6th Virginia Cavalry Regiment, C.S.A., by his wife, Mary Wilson (Cunningham) Glenn Gerst (1813–1878) of Glenmary, Halifax County, discussing family news and her management of agricultural operations at Glenmary, including tobacco harvesting and the manufacture of clothing and shoes for slaves. One letter, 9 October 1861, bears brief notes from Mary Gerst (b. 1852?) and Katie Fanduward.

Gilkeson, Helen Blackwood Patterson, Papers, 1908–1910. 5 items. MssG3973a.
This collection of four diaries and a commonplace book of Helen Blackwood (Patterson) Gilkeson concerns the daily life of a young woman in Rockingham County, Va., at the turn of the twentieth century. Entries in the diaries document Helen's education at the Tinkling Springs School, social functions, chores, courting, religious life, family trips, and visitors to her family home. The diaries also contain verses of poetry. The commonplace book contains limericks and addresses of friends.

Ginter, Lewis, Papers, 1849–1970. 27 items. Mss1G4355a.
This collection contains papers of Lewis Ginter (1824–1897), financier, industrialist, and philanthropist, who was originally from New York but spent most of his adult life in Richmond, and his niece and principal heir, Richmond philanthropist Grace Evelyn Arents (1848–1926). His papers contain scattered correspondence concerning world politics, an agreement arranging for the sale of cigarettes and tobacco throughout Great Britain, U.S. passports, newspaper clippings, and genealogical charts (section 1). Arents's papers consist of two travel diaries, 1888 and 1896, kept while accompanying her uncle on a trip around the world and while visiting Great Britain, and a commonplace book, 1868–1876, containing poetry (section 2). The collection also includes a commonplace book of poems that belonged to her sister, Mary Edith (Arents) Young of Bloomfield, N.J. (section 2).

Goddin, Bland Selden Hobson, Memoir, n.d. 1 item. Mss5:1G5415:1.
The collection consists of the memoir of Bland Selden (Hobson) Goddin (1893–1950) concerning her experiences during World War I. She was recruited in Richmond in July 1918 and served initially as a stenographer at Army Base Hospital #45, and later in Toule, France, under the command of Lt. Col. Stuart McGuire.

Goodman Family Papers, 1810–1971. ca. 1,400 items. Mss1G6245aFA2.
The papers of four generations of women in the Nevins family account for about half of this collection; the remainder consists of the papers of Edward Samuel Goodman, a transportation expert in Virginia, ca. 1900–1930 (boxes 4–10). The papers of Hannah (Fayle) Nevins (b. 1787) of Waterford, Ireland, contain letters, 1810, from her future husband, an Irish Quaker; their marriage certificate, 1812; and birth certificates for her children (box 1). The papers of her daughter, Hannah (Nevins) Ions (1821–1905), include correspondence concerning her emigration from Ireland as a single woman (and the disposal of her property there) and information about her widowhood, including an attempt to secure a navy pension (box 1). The papers of her daughter, Leila Nevins Ions (d. 1948), professional nurse and amateur artist, focus on her creative interests and include a sketchbook, three scrapbooks, and a collection of popular poetry and original verse, as well as correspondence about her role in settling her brother's estate (boxes 2–3). Cecile (Goodman) Nevins Ions's (1840–1930) papers contain correspondence with her brother, Edward Samuel Goodman, and an agent who sold her paintings, as well as a sketchbook and a few scrapbooks (box 1). Papers of her daughter, Willoughby Nevins Ions (1881–1977), a noted designer of batik gowns, as well as an artist, writer, and composer, include scattered correspondence pertaining to her social life in Richmond and a few business letters, as well as a 1964 interview concerning her work for the WPA's Federal Arts Project (boxes 10–11). A finding aid is available in the repository.

Goodwin, Mary Frances, Papers, 1931–1932. 3 items. Typescript copies. Mss2G6353b.
Mary Frances Goodwin (1883–1973) was a historian of colonial Virginia history. This small collection consists of a letter, 1932, of Mary Goodwin to George MacLaren Brydon (1875–1963) regarding her research on eighteenth century Virginia ministers's attitudes toward the education of slaves (b2); and a letter, 1931, written by Mary Goodwin while serving as a historical researcher connected with the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg, to Thomas Towles Slaughter (1843–1934) concerning her interest in colonial Virginia houses and grounds (b3). Also, included are copies of letters, 1786–1789, collected by Goodwin, reflecting her interest in the Episcopal Church in colonial Virginia. Written to the Bishop of Virginia, William White (1748–1836), by John Buchanan (1743–1822) of Henrico County and David Griffith (1742–1789) of Fairfax County, they discuss various adminstrative issues in the church (b1).

Gordon Family Papers, 1887–1901. ca. 500 items. Mss1G6596a. Microfilm reels C500–502.
This collection contains letters from Anne Eliza (Pleasants) Gordon (1836–1901), an aging, wealthy widow, to her sons Douglas Huntly Gordon (1866–1918) and Basil Brown Gordon (1860–1901) (folders 3, 4 and 6). There are also a few letters to their wives, Lelia Sinclair (Montague) Gordon Barnett (1871–1959) and Elizabeth Iris Southall (Clarke) Gordon Biddle Gordon (1871–1958) (folder 11). By the 1890s Anne Eliza Gordon and both of her sons resided in Baltimore, Md., but the family continued to own property in Rappahannock County, Va. She travelled widely in Virginia, New York, and New Jersey, but her correspondence concerns the daily lives of a small circle of friends and family and her emotional responses to them. The letters contain few descriptions of her surroundings and most are undated. They illuminate the relationship between mothers and adult sons in the late nineteenth century.

Gordon, Armistead Churchill, Papers, 1705–1957. 19,389 items. Mss1G6532b.
Cheifly papers of Armistead Churchill Gordon (1855–1931) documenting his activities as a student at the University of Virginia; lawyer, mayor, city attorney, and commonwealth's attorney for Staunton; member of the Virginia State Library Board and of the Board of Visitors for the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary; and author. Among Gordon's papers are his correspondence, 1868–1931 (section 10); a letterbook, 1901–1903, concerning his law practice in Staunton (section 11); accounts, 1874–1929 (section 14); and manuscripts written on Virginia and Southern history and biography (sections 29–35).

Early parts of the collection concern Armistead Gordon's parents, George Loyall Gordon (1829–1862) and Mary Long (Daniel) Gordon (1829–1876), and grandmother, Sarah Frances Washington (Stith) Daniel (1809–1895). Sarah Daniel's papers consist of her correspondence, 1868–1893, with family and friends (section 8), and materials, 1852–1868, regarding a controversy between Sarah and the estate of her husband, John Reeves Jones Daniel (1802–1868), involving land in Caddo Parish, La. (section 7). Papers of George L. and Mary Gordon include letters, 1861, written by George, while serving in the 15th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, describing camp life near Yorktown (section 4); their marriage certificate, 1854; poetry written by George for Mary (section 5); and social correspondence, 1848–1869, of Mary Gordon with family members and friends (section 9).

Also, in the collection are papers of Armistead Gordon's wife, Maria Breckinridge (Catlett) Gordon (1860–1930), and daughters, Margaret Douglas Gordon (1891–1931) and Mary Daniel Gordon (b. 1893). Maria's papers consist of her correspondence, 1886–1931, mostly with friends (section 43); and a scrapbook, ca. 1900, containing poetry (section 44). Papers of Margaret and Mary Gordon include materials, 1902–1909, regarding their education at the Virginia Female Institute in Staunton (sections 52 and 49); correspondence, 1895–1931 and 1906–1957, of Margaret and Mary with family members and friends (sections 51 and 48); and scrapbooks, 1920–1931, kept by Mary Gordon containing newspaper articles written by her father (section 50).

Gordon Family Papers, 1844–1951. 3,899 items. Mss1G6596c. Microfilm reels C502–503.
The personal correspondence of Elizabeth Iris Southall (Clarke) Gordon Biddle Gordon (1871–1958) of Baltimore, Md., make up one-half of this collection and includes letters from her young daughters, her sisters-in-law, and other female relatives, as well as courtship letters from rejected suitors and letters from male and female friends (section 15). A few letters concerning her second marriage to J. Wilmer Biddle (d. 1927) of Philadelphia also survive. The exchange of letters, 1893–1918, between Elizabeth Gordon and her first husband, Douglas Huntly Gordon (1866–1918), which began in their courtship and continued until his death, is preserved in his personal correspondence (section 12); it constitutes another quarter of the collection. Also included are letters from his children, family members, and friends. A few household accounts survive for both Douglas and Elizabeth Gordon (sections 13, 14 and 16), as well as a small number of papers, ca. 1908–1914, concerning the education of their children (sections 18, 20, 23 and 25). Invitations, visiting cards, and brochures for schools and summer camps offer insights into the lives of a well-to-do family in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (section 37). The collection also contains a small amount of correspondence of Douglas Gordon's mother, Anne Eliza (Pleasants) Gordon (1836–1901), and of other family members (section 3).

Gordon Family Papers, 1885–1900. 163 items. Mss1G6596b. Microfilm reel C502.
This collection consists primarily of letters from Douglas Huntly Gordon (1866–1918) to his mother, Anne Eliza (Pleasants) Gordon (1836–1901) (folders 2–8). Both resided in Baltimore, Md., but the family also owned property in Virginia, and family members travelled extensively in the East. Douglas Gordon's letters focus on the activities of family members, especially the health and political aspirations of his brother, Basil Brown Gordon (1860–1901). They also include some information on the maintenance of family residences and sources of income (folder 9).

Gordon, Anne Eliza Pleasants, Diary, 1857. 186 pp. Photocopy of typescript. Mss5:1G6532:1.
Anne Eliza (Pleasants) Gordon (1836–1901) kept this journal of her "bridal tour" during the summer of 1857. After a trip to Niagara Falls, she sailed to England with her husband, Douglas Hamilton Gordon (1817–1883), and the couple toured Scotland, France, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland. Her diary contains detailed comments on scenery, geography, and cultural institutions in Europe.

Gordon, Sarah Morgan Groff, Papers, 1798–1954. 147 items. Mss1G6585a. Microfilm reels C104–106.
This collection contains correspondence, notes, scrapbooks, and other writings of Sarah Morgan (Groff) Gordon, mostly concerning her history of the Gerrardstown Presbyterian Church in Berkeley County (now W. Va.) (sections 10–12). Many of the scrapbooks originally served as account books, ca. 1830–1870, of local businesses (section 12). The collection also contains scattered papers of various members of the Park, McKown, Morgan, and Gordon families of Berkeley County, including the correspondence, 1836–1893 (section 2); diary, 1860–1889 (section 3); copybook, 1830–1835 (section 5); and scrapbooks (section 4), of Sarah (Morgan) McKown and the account book, 1898–1905 (section 6), and scrapbooks (sections 7–8) of James Brainerd Morgan (d. 1907), merchant, newspaper editor, and poet, of Gerrardstown.

Gould, Eliza Williams Chotard, Memoir, 1798–1825. 33 pp. Typescript. Mss5:1G7317:1.
This memoir of Eliza Williams (Chotard) Gould (b. 1798), composed in 1868, focuses on the lives of her father, John Marie Chotard LaPlace, and especially her mother, Sarah (Williams) Willis Chotard. Gould's family moved from South Carolina to Natchez, Miss., around 1805, and her mother relocated the family to New Orleans after her husband's death in 1810. Sarah Chotard struggled for years to settle her husband's indebted estate, and at one point persuaded John C. Calhoun to sponsor legislation concerning contested land claims. She helped manage her brother's sugar plantation in Louisiana and became acquainted with Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. The memoir includes a detailed description of life in the city during the Battle of New Orleans. While in Louisiana, Chotard maintained business interests in Alabama; her daughter Eliza later settled in Mobile with her husband, William P. Gould. The memoir was transcribed by George Harrison Sanford King in 1953; the current location of the original remains unknown.

Graham, Minnie Cox, Diary, 1890–1893. 216 pp. Photocopy. Mss5:1G7605:1.
This journal, kept collectively by Minnie Cox Graham (d. 1911) and her male and female friends, documents the social activities of this group of young adults at Algoma in Buckingham County. They maintained a log of visitors to the house and recorded social activities such as hunting, fishing, birthday parties, and attending Sunday School. Entries also note visits to other houses, to the University of Virginia, to Richmond, and to Howardsville. The diary provides insights into the socialization of young men and women in the late nineteenth century.

Graham, Minnie Cox, Diary, 1890–1893. 1 vol. Mss5:1G7605:1.
Kept at Algoma, Buckingham County, by Minnie (Cox) Graham (d. 1911), this diary, 1890 September 9–1893 September 8, chronicles daily activities at Algoma, including farming operations and social visits from family members and friends. Visitors mentioned in the diary include, among others, James Henry Dooley ([1841–1922] pp. 198–199), Kate Virginia (Cox) Logan (1840–1915), Thomas Muldrup Logan (1840–1914), Thomas Nelson Page ([1853–1922] pp. 133, 158–160), and John Sergeant Wise ([1846–1913] p. 181).

Gray Family Papers, 1810–1970. 676 items. Mss1G7955a. Microfilm reel C275.
This collection contains the papers of four generations of Gray and Derby family members, but those of Arthur Powell Gray (1883–1938), an Episcopal minister in Richmond and West Point, and his wife, Elizabeth Stuart (Derby) Gray (1881–1940), account for about one-third of it. His papers contain personal correspondence, 1907–1938, and a commonplace book, 1921–1938, as well as other materials documenting his education and career as a minister (sections 7 and 14). Also included is an essay, "Hinges from Old Houses," co-authored by the Grays for the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 47 (1939): 133–141 (section 12). Her papers contain miscellaneous personal correspondence, 1887–1940 (section 15); a memoir, 1940, of her life (section 16); two travel diaries, 1936 and 1937, documenting trips to Florida (sections 17 and 18); and a few certificates indicating memberships in various organizations (section 19). The correspondence, 1940–1970, of their daughter, Elizabeth Stuart Gray (b. 1912), primarily concerns genealogy (section 20). The papers of Arthur Gray's father, Arthur Powell Gray (1853–1921), include a commonplace book, 1879–1920, documenting his education and work as an Episcopal minister (section 4). Also included in the collection is an autograph album, 1858–1865, belonging to Charlotte (Basset) Derby (1838–1910) of Cahaba, Ala. (section 22). The remaining half of the collection consists of genealogical notes on various families (section 27).

Greene Family Papers, 1795–1947. 484 items. Mss1G8368a. Microfilm reels C459–460.
This collection contains the papers of four generations of Thornton and Skinner family members. The papers, ca. 1819–1870, of Caroline (Homassel) Thornton (1795–1875) of Rappahanock County include ten short diaries, 1842–1872, containing her religious meditations (section 4) and an autobiography, ca. 1870, that discusses the emigration of her parents from England and France to Philadelphia, Pa., and Richmond, Va., where her father and uncle were merchants (section 6). After the death of her parents, Caroline Thornton was reared by her uncle and his business associate, Joseph Gallego (1758–1818), of Richmond. She recalls her rescue from the Richmond Theatre fire in 1811, the death of her first fiance, and her subsequent marriage. There are a few letters, 1819–1821, from her aunt, Mary (Dixon) Richard (1762?–1839), and some other correspondence documenting Thornton's marriage (section 5).

Caroline Thornton's daughter, Martha C. Stuart Thornton (1819–1876), married Frederick Gustavus Skinner (1814–1894) of Maryland. Skinner's parents had been acquainted with the Marquis de Lafayette, and when he visited the United States in 1824, the marquis took Skinner back to France with him, where he educated him with his own grandsons. The collection includes a small amount of correspondence, primarily in French, from Lafayette family members to Skinner and his parents, John S. Skinner (1788–1851) and Elizabeth Glen (Davis) Skinner (sections 7 and 8). Frederick Skinner's correspondence, 1829–1892, includes nearly fifty letters, 1870–1871, to his wife written from Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt, where he was attempting to sell guns to the khadize (section 10). The correspondence of Martha and Frederick Skinner's daughter, Elise Glen Davies (Skinner) Greene (b. 1843?), includes a few courtship letters (section 18). The correspondence of her husband, Thomas Tileston Greene, consists primarily of letters, 1863–1865, written to her while he served throughout the South in the Army of the Confederate States of America (section 17). There are a few letters from Greene to his mother, Eliza E. Greene (section 16). The correspondence, 1909–1940, of Frederick Stuart Greene (1870–1939) of Albany, New York, son of Thomas and Elise (Skinner) Greene, concerns his family's history and the Lafayette letters that appear earlier in this collection (section 19). The papers illuminate gender roles, family relationships, and the process by which a family reinterprets its own past. Thornton's autobiography has been published in Papers of the Albemarle County Historical Society 6 (1945–1946): 23–40.

Gregory, Constance Adela Heath, Papers, 1901–1958. 11 volumes. Mss1G8621b.
The collection consists primarily of travel diaries and commonplace books kept in Europe by Constance Adela (Heath) Gregory (1890–1980) of Oakland, Calif., and Richmond, Va., or her aunt, Constance Adela Meeks (1862–1947) of California. Gregory's diaries include two travel journals, 1903 and 1958, kept in western Europe; a travel diary, 1957, documenting trips to California, Oklahoma, Connecticut, and Alaska, primarily to visit family members; and a diary, 1907, kept in California that recounts daily activities and reflects on her social life, especially boys and clothes (section 1). An appointment book, 1909–1910, documents Gregory's social life during her debutante year in Richmond (section 2). Meeks's diaries, 1901 and 1908–1909, discuss her travels in France, Italy, and Germany (section 3). The later one includes an account of her train trip from California to Boston, Mass., as well as several reading lists. The collection also contains three commonplace books, ca. 1901–1910, kept by Meeks in Europe (section 4). One lists lodgings and services alphabetically by city; the other two contain notes on the history and culture of western Europe.

Gregory, Constance Adela Heath, Papers, 1839–1982. 2,604 items. Mss1G8621a.
Although the papers of Constance Adela (Heath) Gregory (1890–1982) constitute the largest component of this collection, it also contains the papers of four generations of the Meeks family of California and Virginia. The papers of Gregory's grandfather, William Newton Meeks (1820–1896), include a copy of his diary, 1839, kept during a trip to South America (section 1); an account book, 1876–1879, kept in San Francisco (section 3); and correspondence, 1860–1881, containing letters to his in-laws in Massachusetts, correspondence with his young daughters, and letters from his wife, 1874–1876, who was in Paris with the couple's children (section 2). The correspondence, 1885–1956, of Gregory's mother, Blanche Thayer (Meeks) Heath (1865–1957), of California, includes several hundred letters, 1888–1892, from her husband, John Heath (1863–1892), documenting their courtship, as well as correspondence with her children, sister, and grandchildren (section 4). Scattered throughout her papers are letters and documents pertaining to her work in a Red Cross canteen in France, 1918–1919 (section 5). Constance Gregory's correspondence, 1909–1981, consists primarily of notes and postcards from friends and family members and letters concerning her genealogy and the history of the Meeks family (section 9). Also included are two annotated scrapbooks documenting her social life in California, ca. 1905–1907, and during her debutante year, 1909–1910, in Richmond, Va. (section10). There are also two commonplace books, ca. 1907, kept at school in Dresden, Germany (section 12). The correspondence, 1927–1954, of Gregory's husband, George Craghead Gregory (1878–1956) of Richmond, primarily concerns financial matters and genealogical societies (section 6). The papers of Gregory's son, Edward Meeks Gregory (1922–1995) of Richmond, include correspondence, 1927–1982, newspaper clippings, and other printed materials documenting family relationships, his interest in family history, and the influence of the civil rights movement on his career as an Episcopalian minister (sections 14, 16 and 17). Genealogical notes located near the end of the collection provide useful information on Meeks and Heath family members whose correspondence appears earlier (section 19). Hundreds of postcards, ca. 1880–1980, depict scenes in western Europe and the United States, especially California.

Gresham Family Papers, 1787–1938. 398 items. Mss1G8665a.
The papers of the Gresham family of Tappahannock, Essex County, chiefly consist of the correspondence of Dr. Henry Gresham and his wife, Laura Monroe (Jones) Gresham. The collection includes correspondence (section 4) of Laura with friend Lucy (Yates) Brockenbrough (concerning Laura's marriage; letter of 2 April 1883 describes Lucy's teaching position), cousin Lucy Ellen Dew of Providence, King and Queen County (letter of 17 November 1854 concerns a fair in Richmond, family news, and Laura's marriage to Henry Gresham), cousin Mary Alice (Dew) Gresham (1868 letter concerns African American political power in Virginia), brother Aubrey Howard Jones (antebellum letters concern his studies at the University of Virginia; letter of 8 January 1874 notes his disapproval of seeing African Americans at a party in Washington, D.C.), uncle Aubrey S. Jones of Burleson County, Tex. (antebellum letters concern a cholera outbreak, migration to Texas from Virginia, cotton planting, and Northern antislavery feeling), cousin John T. Jones of Texarkana, Ark. (concerning family news and John's wife's efforts to construct a Confederate monument in Helena, Ark.), brother Monroe Jones (concerning the presidential election of 1860, Monroe's conversion to Christianity, his move to Texas, and his falling out with brother Aubrey), and brother Walter S. Jones (letter of 14 January [1870?], from Clear Lake [Junction], Ark., discusses land prices, African American workers, and planting; letter of 4 August 1874, from Jacksboro, Tex., mentions attacks by Comanche Indians; letter of 25 June 1892, from Wallisville, Tex., discusses farming), and daughter Alice Monroe (Gresham) Temple (concerning Alice's new home, the Virginia cotton crop, and her mother's servant problem). Also, contains letters (section 5) written to Laura's daughter, Alice Monroe (Gresham) Temple, and bound notebooks (section 12) of Laura Monroe (Jones) Gresham, written while she was a student at Tappahannock Female Seminary.

Grigsby, Hugh Blair, Papers, 1745–1944. 6,563 items. Mss1G8782b.
Planter, scholar, book collector, and antiquarian of Norfolk and Edgehill in Charlotte County, Hugh Blair Grigsby (1806–1881) maintained a long association with the Virginia Historical Society as an officer and a benefactor. This collection of his papers primarily consists of his correspondence, 1824–1881, with other historians and preservationists (section 31); his extensive diaries, 1827–1881 (sections 9–30); and materials gathered for specific studies of the history of Virginia's state constitutional conventions of 1776 and 1829–1830, the latter of which he served as a member, and of the Virginia ratifying convention of 1787 (section 33). In pursuit of information on these historic gatherings, he corresponded extensively with contemporaries and descendants of the delegates who attended them. Grigsby also collected original documents whenever he could.

Among the manuscripts collected by Grigsby are letters documenting the migration of members of the Christian family from southwestern Virginia to Kentucky shortly after the American Revolution. Letters, 1784–1789, to Elizabeth (Stark) Christian (d. 1789) in Botetourt County, Va., from her son William Christian (1743–1786); his wife, Ann (Henry) Christian (d. 1790); and their brother-in-law, Caleb Wallace (1742–1814), discuss the move, family members and slaves in Kentucky, economic prospects, and Indians (section 129). Correspondence, 1760–1795, of another of Elizabeth Christian's sons-in-law, William Fleming (1728–1795) of Botetourt County, is primarily with Caleb Wallace regarding economic activities (section 132). Letters, 1772–1797, to Anne (Christian) Fleming of Botetourt County are chiefly from her sister-in-law Ann (Henry) Christian in Kentucky and discuss conditions there (section 133).

Grigsby's papers also include a substantial series of correspondence, 1835–1893, of his wife, Mary Venable (Carrington) Grigsby (1813–1894) of Edgehill, largely with family members, but also with many of her husband's associates (section 82). These letters reveal Mary Grigsby's interest in her husband's historical studies, in her own family history, and in the history of the Virginia Southside generally. Scattered records of other members of the Grigsby, Carrington, and Whitehead families also appear in the collection.

Grinnan, Cornelia, Diary, ca. 1855. 1 volume. Mss5:1G8856:1.
Identified by her nephew nearly one hundred years later as a "brilliant woman" and a "violent anti-abolitionist," Cornelia Grinnan (1821–1864) kept this travel diary in Scotland and England; it resembles a commonplace book in its musings, including information on the Roman law of divorce and reflections on women's use of literature. The entire volume is cross-written in a difficult hand; a few loose papers are filed with it.

Grove Family Papers, 1865–1905. 1,197 items. Mss1G9196a. Microfilm reels C461–464.
This collection reveals the ways that the Grove and Brumback families of Page County, Va., and Hancock County, Ill., used letters and visits to sustain family ties between the Shenandoah Valley and western Illinois for more than half a century. Nancy Grove (b. 1814) and Jacob Brumback moved from Page County to Plimouth, Ill., in 1832, shortly after their marriage. Their daughter Laura A. (Brumback) Grove (1851–1926) moved back to Page County in 1880, when she married her cousin, John W. Grove (1844–1924). Nancy (Grove) Brumback's correspondence, 1876–1900, with her daughter accounts for about one-quarter of the collection (section 1); the two women, who were probably Baptists, wrote regularly and discussed religion, daily routines, and family, friends, and neighbors in Illinois and Virginia. Laura Brumback Grove's correspondence, 1865–1905, make up most of the collection and contains letters from a network of kin and friends, most of whom lived in the Midwest (section 3). Letters, 1878–1904, to and from her husband document their courtship and marriage and contain some information on Democratic party politics (section 2). Letters, 1871–1891, from her brother, T. Benton Brumback, concern his management of her farm in the Midwest (section 3). Letters, 1871–1899, from her cousin and contemporary, Elizabeth C. (Grove) Kennedy, span the period from adolescence through mid-life (section 3). There are also a few letters from Laura's children, especially Jessamine (Grove) Hershberger (1887–1966), to their mother (section 6). The correspondence of John Grove consists almost entirely of letters, 1899–1900, from his son, Arthur Ashby Grove (1883–1940), a student at Roanoke College in Salem, Va., to both of his parents (section 2). Arthur describes campus life including literary societies, international students, and the hazing of freshmen, using methods with racial overtones.

Guerrant Family Papers, 1788–1915. 385 items. Mss1G9375a.
This collection includes papers of several generations of Guerrant, Massie, and Anderson family members. Mildred Heath (Guerrant) Massie (ca. 1838–1915) of Goochland County probably served as chief compiler and custodian of the collection, although her own correspondence, 1846–1915, accounts for comparatively little of it (section 7). Earlier letters are from uncles and brothers and later ones concern genealogy. An 1846 letter from Emilia Eugenia Monteiro contains a poem about the candidates in the 1848 Presidential election that was copied inside the fold of the letter by ten-year-old Mildred (section 2). The papers of Mildred Massie's brother, Peter Guerrent (1845–1865), compose the bulk of this collection. He served as an engineer in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and his correspondence, 1859–1865, includes a number of letters written to his sister during the war, as well as a few letters to and from other family members (section 3). There are also six diaries documenting his military experience and a few artifacts that he carried as a soldier (section 15). The correspondence, 1816–1849, of Peter and Mildred's father, Charles Guerrant (1799–1852) of Goochland County, includes exchanges of letters with his brothers concerning his education and with his wife while he served in the Virginia House of Delegates (section 1). The correspondence, 1836–1842, of his wife, Sarah Thompson (Anderson) Guerrant (b. 1815), consists primarily of letters from her friend Emilia Eugenia Monteiro (section 2). There is a small amount of correspondence of Sarah Guerrant's brother, William Waddy Anderson (d. 1873), and several store and tobacco accounts, 1856–1860, for the widow, Judith Evelina (Guerrant) Massie (b. 1803) (sections 6 and 10). The collection also contains scattered papers and letters relating to various Massie, Anderson, and Guerrant family members and a family Bible (section 16).

Guest Family Papers, 1817–1953. 104 items. Mss1G9385a.
This collection centers on Mary Eliza (Bernard) Guest (1824–1895) of Caroline County, Va., and Baltimore, Md.; her husband, George Guest (1806–1897), a real estate and commission agent in Baltimore; and her father, John Hipkins Bernard (1792–1858) of Caroline County. Mary Guest's correspondence, 1835–1893, consists primarily of letters from her mother and sisters (section 8), but the collection also includes her marriage contract, 1861, which established a trust estate for her property in Caroline County, Va., and Greene County, Ala. (section 9). Her husband's papers contain business correspondence, 1856–1879, as well as a few letters to his wife (section 6). There are also legal papers pertaining to John Hipkins Bernard's estate (sections 3 and 9), as well as a copy of the will, 1863, of his sister, Elizabeth Thacker Bernard (1814–1866), who manumitted several slaves and provided cash legacies for several former slave women who had already gone North (section 4).

Gunst, Virginia Kaufman, Papers, 1941–1963. 734 items. Mss1G9578a.
This collection primarily focuses on the service of Virginia (Kaufman) Gunst (1905–2001) of Richmond as commander of the Volunteer Service Motor Corps of the Richmond Office of Civilian Defense. She was involved in the recruitment, training, and management of a large number of female volunteers who contributed countless hours of service during World War II, mainly transporting soldiers and nurses, driving ambulances, and participating in war bond drives. The transportation and escort services were primarily provided to the Richmond Army Air Base, but volunteers also worked with the USO and Traveler's Aid. Records compiled by Virginia Gunst include reports, minutes of meetings (section 1), membership materials (section 2), motor vehicle information (section 3), training information, photographs (section 6), newsletters (section 8), and related materials.

Gwathmey Family Papers, 1790–1982. ca. 10,000 items. Mss1G9957cFA2. Microfilm reels C259–261.
This collection documents the religious, political, and social lives of four generations of male and female members of the Gwathmey family of Burlington in King William County. The papers of William Gwathmey (1794–1875), a physician, include twenty volumes of diaries, 1833–1874 (box 2). Most discuss plantation life and neighborhood activities, but one documents a trip to Florida with his wife and sister-in-law in 1833–1834, while another describes a trip to New Orleans in 1837. William Gwathmey corresponded with both male and female family members between 1819 and 1875 (boxes 3–5). A number of letters from his brother-in-law, Edwin Burnley, who apparently deserted his wife and moved to Mississippi, document their divorce and his attempt to transport slaves to Mississippi. William Gwathmey's financial records, 1825–1875, and miscellaneous papers, 1818–1873, primarily concern farm management and include a deed, 1867, issued to Sylvia Hill, formerly a slave, granting her ownership of the house in which she lived (box 7). The collection also contains Hill's will, 1906. The correspondence of William Gwathmey's wife, Elizabeth Theresa (Burnley) Gwathmey (1806–1879), consists largely of letters from her children (box 8). Of particular note are those of Mary Atwood Gwathmey (1834–1868) describing a visit to cousins in Mississippi in 1856–1857.

Papers of Joseph Hardin Gwathmey (1846–1918) and his wife, Jeanette Garnett (Ryland) Gwathmey (1847–1913), predominate among those of the third generation. Joseph Gwathmey's personal correspondence, 1885–1918, is primarily with family members and friends, but some materials deal with his service as superintendent of King William County schools (box 9); Jeanette Gwathmey's seven diaries, 1874–1914, sporadically record local weather and church activities (box 10). Her papers also contain two scrapbooks and family correspondence, 1867–1915.

Materials pertaining to three children of Jeanette and Joseph Gwathmey constitute the bulk of this collection. John Ryland Gwathmey (1888–1982) lived with two of his sisters at Burlington, where he supervised farming and timber harvesting operations; he also appraised real estate and was a member of the King William County board of supervisors and of Beulah Baptist Church. Much of his correspondence is with his sisters and many incoming letters were addressed jointly to all three siblings (boxes 13–15). His sister, Anna Garnett Gwathmey (1879–1979), maintained an extensive correspondence with family members for many years, especially with her sister, Mary, from 1921–1926 (boxes 33–36). Other records document her career as a general insurance agent in New York City and in King William County, as well as her social life and civic activities in both places (boxes 37–45). Her sister, Mary Burnley Gwathmey (1883–1974), graduated from the Woman's College (now Westhampton College, University of Richmond) in 1904; she worked as an artist, designer, and teacher before becoming an independent design and fashion consultant in New York. Her papers, 1910–1974, include letters concerning state and national Democratic politics (boxes 47–48), as well as information on her design and teaching career, her civic activities (boxes 49–51), her biography of the former slave Sylvia Hill (box 52), and her history of Beulah Baptist Church (box 53). There also are a few papers of other family members. A finding aid is available in the repository.

Gwathmey Family Papers, 1824–1927. 65 items. Mss1G9957b. Microfilm reels C466–467.
This collection contains papers of members of the Gwathmey family of Bear Island in Hanover County. Correspondence, 1824–1864, of Richard Gwathmey (1789–1866) with family members and friends discusses religion and family news (section 1). Correspondence, 1863–1881, of his wife, Lucy Ann (Garlick) Gwathmey (1806–1891), is primarily with their son, Lewis Temple Gwathmey (1848–1881), who emigrated to Marion, Ala. (section 3). His papers include correspondence, 1870–1880, with family members and friends and compositions, ca. 1868–1869, written as a student at Richmond College (now the University of Richmond) (sections 7 and 8). There is also a diary, 1853, kept by his half sister, Maria Watts Gwathmey (d. 1857), on a trip to Canada (section 5).

Gwathmey Family Papers, 1809–1971. 615 items. Mss1G9957a. Microfilm reels C464–466.
This collection consists primarily of correspondence of Richard Gwathmey (1789–1866) and his wife, Lucy Ann (Garlick) Gwathmey (1806–1891), of Bear Island in Hanover County, and their children. It illuminates family relationships, education, and the history of the Baptist church in nineteenth-century Virginia. Richard Gwathmey's correspondence, 1822–1865, with his children contains religious exhortations, descriptions of Civil War damage near Bear Island, and family news (section 2). An account book, 1851–1859, documents charges to parents whose daughters attended a school for girls that he operated there (section 5). Lucy Ann Gwathmey's correspondence, 1835–1886, with Garlick family members and her children contains information on various Baptist churches and includes letters, 1871–1881, from her son Lewis Temple Gwathmey (1848–1919) written while studying in Western Europe and after moving to Marion, Ala. (section 8). Gwathmey assisted her son Edward Garlick Gwathmey (1839–1931) in operating a school for boys at Bear Island after the Civil War. His papers include a commonplace book, 1885–1889, of farm and school expenses (section 13), as well as correspondence, 1850–1927, with friends and family members (section 11); a small amount pertains to attempts by the women of the Taylorsville Baptist Church to sponsor a "Bible Woman" in China. Correspondence, 1852–1924, of Edward Gwathmey's sister, Eleanor Gwathmey (1842–1931), includes information on Lewis Temple Gwathmey's orphaned daughter, Mary Lewis (Gwathmey) Powell (1881–1964) (section 25). There are also papers of a few other family members, including an honors thesis, "Study of Old Rickahock and Hillsborough in King William County," written by Julia Todd Henley (b. 1950) in 1971, as a student at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton (section 30).

Updated January 13, 2010