Documenting Women’s Lives A Users Guide to Manuscripts at the Virginia Historical Society A Acree, Sallie Ann, Scrapbook, 1868–1885. 1 volume. Mss5:7Ac764:1. Sallie Anne Acree (1837–1873) kept this scrapbook while living at Forest Home in Bedford County; it contains newspaper clippings on religion, female decorum, poetry, and a few Civil War stories. Adams Family Papers, 1672–1792. 222 items. Mss1Ad198a. Microfilm reel C321. This collection of consists primarily of correspondence, 1762–1788, of Thomas Adams (1730–1788), a merchant in Richmond, Va., and London, Eng., who served in the U.S. Continental Congress during the American Revolution and later settled in Augusta County. Letters chiefly concern politics and mercantile affairs, including one, 1788, from Martha Miller of Rockbridge County discussing horses and the payment Adams's debt to her (section 6). Additional information on the debt appears in a letter, 1787, from Miller to Adams (Mss2M6163a1). There is also an undated letter from the wife of Adams's brother, Elizabeth (Griffin) Adams (1736–1800) of Richmond, regarding Thomas Adams's marriage to the widow Elizabeth (Fauntleroy) Turner Cocke (1736–1792) of Bremo in Henrico County (section 6). Papers of Elizabeth Cocke Adams, include a letter, 1791, to her son, William Cocke (1758–1835), about finances; a personal account, 1789– 1790, with her husband's executor, Thomas Massie; and inventories, 1792, of her estate in Amherst and Cumberland counties (section 11). Other legal and economic papers that feature women appear scattered throughout the collection; they include the wills, 1743 and 1744, of Sarah (Adams) Atkinson of London (section 3) and Ann Adams of Westham, Eng. (section 1), respectively, both probated in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, as well as other papers regarding their estates; a plat, 1726, surveyed by John Syme for Ebenezer Adams (d. 1735) for land in New Kent County owned by Alice Field (d. 1722) (section 2); and a deed of gift, ca. 1708, from Frances Barnett dividing her personal property among her children (section 16). Adie Family Papers, 1829–1912. 1,255 items. Mss1Ad454a. Microfilm reels C444– 446. This collection centers on Samuel Fisher Adie (1806–1860), a Leesburg and Richmond merchant, his wife Gustavia Butler (Wilson) Adie (1816–1875), and their children. Samuel Adie's papers contain correspondence, 1838–1860 (section 2); account books, 1853–1860 (section 4); and loose accounts documenting his mercantile activities (section 5). Much of his correspondence is with family members, and includes letters to his wife that discuss household management. About half of the collection consists of correspondence, 1838–1875 (section 6); account books, 1852–1876 (section 7); and loose accounts (section 8) of Gustavia Adie, who lived primarily in Leesburg. She 2 corresponded extensively with her brothers- and sisters-in-law; her children, who wrote to her about their marriages and careers outside Virginia; and her cousin, John Thomas Wilson (1811–1891), an Ohio congressman who wrote to her about politics and social events in Washington, D.C. (section 6). The collection also contains a copy of her will and an inventory and estate appraisal made in Loudoun County (section 9). Papers of Samuel and Gustavia Adie's daughter, Julia Harrison Adie (1849–1905) of Clark's Gap and Leesburg in Loudoun County, contain correspondence, 1868–1905 (section 10); account books (section 11); and loose accounts, 1877–1906 (section 12), and an agreement, 1878, renting her farm to a tenant (section 13). Papers of her brother, Benjamin Wilson Adie (1854–1913), a traveling salesman from Chicago, Ill., and St. Louis, Mo., include correspondence, 1869–1906 (section 15), account books, 1900–1906 (section 16), and some loose accounts regarding Julia Adie's estate (section 17). There are a few scattered papers of other members of the Adie and Wilson families. Alexandria Female Seminary, Student Notebook, 1853 and 1858. 1 volume. Mss5:4AL276:1. Microfilm reel C270. This volume, "Specimens and Compositions of the Pupils of the Alexandria Female Seminary selected and written by themselves, 1853," contains twenty-two essays on a range of topics, each signed by its author. There is no explanation of how the compositions were selected or why they were recorded. Allen Family Papers, 1803–1898. 109 items. Mss1AL546d. Scattered accounts, estate papers, and correspondence of the Allen and related Graves families of Madison County. The collection primarily focuses on farmer George H. Allen. Among his financial records (section 2) are accounts, 1835–1840, as an agent for the Madison County Poor House (with both male and female residents), reflecting purchases of food, furniture, and other supplies, as well as services for repairs to equipment and the building of coffins and digging of graves. In section 3, accounts, 1841, of Rebecca (Beidler) Graves Allen, wife of Thomas J. Allen (her second husband), document the purchase of a clock, flour, and harnesses and wagon hardware, and payment for carding [of wool] done by Mrs. Allen. Section 5 contains the correspondence, 1884–1898, of Mary Albert "Abbie" Allen of Rapidan, Madison County, and accounts, 1885–1887, of Rebecca Kirtley Allen and Eliza and Lydia Estes, also of Rapidan. The correspondence includes letters from Abbie's friends and relatives, including sister-in-law Mary "Mollie" Allen of Washington, D.C., giving news of the George H. Allen family, including difficulty finding a dependable servant, her health and that of her husband, George, activities of daughters Bessie and Carrie, and recommending that Abbie try Hydroleine as a tonic (advertisement enclosed), Fannie A. [Bailey] of Criglersville, Madison County (discussing Christmas social activities and news of mutual friends), Cornelia C. Conway (discussing social news and making references to Cora and Narcissa), J. C. Graves of Haywood, Madison County (concerning social activities), and [Sallie] M. Robey of Harriston, Augusta County (recounting events of her life, including marriage, widowhood, and living with her mother and sister). The accounts are chiefly for millinery work done by sisters Lydia F. and Eliza B. Estes of Rapidan. 3 Allison, Mary Selina Swift, Diary, 1830–1836. 1 volume. Mss5:1AL564:1. Kept by Mary Selina (Swift) Allison (b. 1805) in Stafford and Madison counties, this diary discusses Allison's life with her husband and two children as well as activities in the neighborhood. It includes a description of her trip from Lynchburg to New York and Philadelphia. Almond, James Lindsay, Jr., Papers, 1850–1989. ca. 2,800 items. Mss1AL685aFA2. This collection documents the political career of James Lindsay Almond, Jr. (1898– 1986), of Roanoke, who served as attorney general, 1948–1957, and governor, 1959– 1961, of Virginia, and as a U.S. congressman, 1945–1948, and judge of the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, 1963–1986. The papers of his wife, Josephine Katherine (Minter) Almond (1901–1992), make up about one-eighth of the collection, and they illuminate the role of a political spouse in the mid-twentieth century. Lindsay Almond's correspondence, 1925–1983, includes letters from constituents and individuals seeking appointments, as well as a few letters from family members concerning the last illness and death of his mother, Edmonia Nicholas (Burgess) Almond (d. 1966) (section 1). Scrapbooks (section 4), appointment registers (section 7.1), and speeches (section 2.1) document his activities as attorney general and governor of Virginia, including his role in the official reversal of the policy of massive resistance adopted by Virginia following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education. His letterbook, 1919, contains letters to his wife written before their marriage (section 7.2). Josephine Almond's correspondence, 1942–1986, contains letters congratulating her husband on his election as governor, as well as letters from in-laws, friends, and other women involved in public life (section 10.1). Her speeches to business and professional organizations, state agencies, and women's political and civic associations also appear in the collection (section 10.2). Financial papers and guest lists document her role in official entertaining as the governor's spouse (section 10.3). There is also a scrapbook concerning her activities in women's civic, political, and religious groups, as well as notes on "A Wife's View of a Public Career" (section 10.3). The collection offers insights into gender roles and the overlapping of public and private life in the twentieth century. A finding aid is available in the repository. American Association of University Women. Richmond Branch, Records, 1909– 1998. 190 folders (3.5 linear feet). Mss3Am3515a. Include minutes of meetings of members and the board of directors (section 1); by-laws and policy statements, along with directories of members and activities (section 2); newsletters and scattered publications of the American Association of University Women (section 4); historical files (section 6); and related materials concerning the organization's efforts to foster the attendance of women at colleges and universities at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Also, these materials concern members' interests in supporting education in general, including programming involving the Richmond Public Schools, community projects and fund-raising, and that aimed at influencing public opinion and public policy regarding educational, heath care, and other issues. Of particular note is section 3 (newsletters issued by the Richmond Branch that include news of the branch and of the Virginia Division of the American Association of University Women); and section 5 (scrapbooks compiled primarily by presidents and historians of the Richmond 4 branch containing news clippings about branch activities and events, especially regarding guest speakers and programs and about the achievements of various branch members. Another topic of significance is the branch's involvement with Educational Television in Virginia. Ames, Susie M., Papers, 1927–1967. 240 items. Mss1Am375a. The collection contains the correspondence; literary manuscripts; and book reviews of Susie M.