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A Guide to the Leander James McCormick Collection of Papers and Scale Models concerning the Inventions of Robert McCormick of Rockbridge County, Virginia, 1878-1910 McCormick, Leander James, Collection of Papers and Scale Models concerning the Inventions of Robert of Rockbridge County, Virginia 7027, 7027-a

A Guide to the Leander James McCormick Collection of Papers and Scale Models concerning the Inventions of Robert McCormick of Rockbridge County, Virginia, 1878-1910

A Collection in
The Special Collections Department
Accession Number 7027, 7027-a


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Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

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University of Virginia
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© 2002 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.

Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections Department

Repository
Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
Accession number
7027
Title
Leander James McCormick Collection of Papers and Scale Models concerning the Inventions of Robert McCormick of Rockbridge County, Virginia 1878-1910
Physical Characteristics
This collection consists of 23 manuscript letters and affadavits and 8 scale models.
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Leander James McCormick Collection of Papers and Scale Models concerning the Inventions of Robert McCormick of Rockbridge County, Virginia, Accession #7027, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

According to the 1910 Sept. 12 affadavit of James Hall Shields, the models were constructed prior to 1894 by Leaner [James] McCormick, son of Robert McCormick. The models, and the manuscripts collected by Leander, were inherited by his son, Robert Hall McCormick II, and then in turn by his son, Robert Hall McCormick II, and then in turn by his son, Robert Hall McCormick III of Chicago, Illinois.

Alternate Form Available

The collection, augmented with six copies of The Life and Works ..., was presented for the Library of the University of Virginia by Robert Hall McCormick III on April 8, 1960 and formally accessioned by the Manuscripts Department on March 11, 1963. A display case for the permanent exhibition of the models was presented by the estate of Leander J. McCormick. An additional copy of The Life and Works ....(bound in brown covers vice the blue covers of the previous six) was received from the Gifts and Exchange Department of the University of Virginia Library on February 17, 1971. On February 21, 1971, the manuscripts were removed from the binder in which they were presented and individually filed in acid-free folders.

Scope and Content Information

The Leander James McCormick Collection of Papers and Scale Models concerning the Inventions of Robert McCormick consists of 23 manuscript letters and affadavits, 1878-1910, in testimony of the invention of the reaper by Robert McCormick [1780-1846], 7 copies of The Life and Works of Robert McCormick Including his Invention of the Reaper , and 8 scale models of Robert McCormick's inventions.

Contents List

Letters and Affidavits

Most are published in The Life and Works of Robert McCormick , below [some incorrect dates]. Most are endorsed by Leander J. McCormick.

  • Affidavit of Horatio Thompson 1878 Sept. 9
    Physical Location: AMS
    3 p
  • Affidavit of Zacariah J. McChesney 1878 Sept. 9
    Physical Location: AMS
    3 p
  • Affidavit of Thomas S. Preston 1878 Sept. 10
    Physical Location: AMS
    4 p
  • William S. McCormick to Leander J. McCormick 1878 Nov. 7
    Physical Location: ALS
    2 p
  • William S. McCormick to Leander J. McCormick 1878 Nov. 7
    Physical Location: ALS
    2 p
  • Affidavit of Robert McCormick 1879 Feb. 18
    Physical Location: AMS
    2 p
  • Affidavit of William S. McCormick 1880 June 5
    Physical Location: AMS
    3 p
  • Affidavit of Joseph Anderson 1881 March 16
    Physical Location: AMS
    4 p
  • John H. B. Shultz to Leander J. McCormick 1894 Sept. 26
    Physical Location: ALS
    1 p
  • Henry Shultz to Leander J. McCormick 1894 Sept. 27
    Physical Location: ALS
    2 p. w/env.
  • Thomas H. McGuffin, A. Horace Henry to Leander J. McCormick 1894 Oct. 26
    Physical Location: ALS
    2 p. w/env.
  • John H. Rush to Leander J. McCormick 1894 Nov. 20
    Physical Location: ALS
    1 p.
  • William Steele to Leander J. McCormick 1895 Jan. 22
    Physical Location: TLS
    1 p. w/env.
  • John H. B. Shultz to Leander J. McCormick 1897 Nov. 15
    Physical Location: ALS
    2 p
  • Affidavit of Henrietta Maria McCormick 1898 Aug.
    Physical Location: TMS
    2 p
  • Serena McC. Hogshead to Leander J. McCormick 1899 March 7
    Physical Location: TLS
    1 p
  • Lucy Steele to Leander J. McCormick 1899 March 15
    Physical Location: ALS
    2 p
  • James E. A. Gibbs to Leander J. McCormick 1899 May 20
    Physical Location: TLS
    1 p
  • James E. A. Gibbs to Leander J. McCormick 1899 May 31
    Physical Location: TLS
    2 p. w/env.
  • James E. A. Gibbs to Leander J. McCormick 1899 May 31
    Physical Location: TLS
    1 p. w/env.
  • Affidavit of Leander J. McCormick 1899 June 28
    Physical Location: AMS
    1 p
  • C[harles] R. McCormick, Ellen McC. Raney to R. Hall McCormick 1910 June 16
    Physical Location: ALS
    2 p
  • Affidavit of James Hall Shields 1910 Sept. 12
    Physical Location: TMS
    8 p
  • envelopes n.d.
    4 items
  • Copies of articles relating to the gift of the Leander J. McCormick Observatory to the University of Virginia ca. 1885
Published Works
  • The Life and Works of Robert McCormick Including his Invention of the Reaper by R. Hall McCormick and James Hall Shields (n.p.) 1910
    50 p. & 9 plates ea. 31X21cm.

    6 copies with untrimmed blue paper covers
    1 copy with brown paper covers

Scale Models

The models, constructed by Robert McCormick's son, are on permanent display in the University of Virginia Library.

  • Double-acting bellows
  • Hydraulic engine
  • Original reaper invented and constructed in 1831
    Physical Location: (On display at McCormick Observatory)
  • "The Old Reliable." Reaper of Robert McCormick, improved and perfected with raker's stand added by his son, Leander J. McCormick
    Physical Location: (On display at McCormick Observatory)
  • Reciprocating and revolving horsepower for operating hempbrake, feed cutter and other machinery
  • Revolving horsepower with cogwheel attachment to prevent slippage operating grist mill, with feed cutter
  • Hempbrake
  • Improved hempbrake with revolving feed apron