A Guide to the Nan Overton West Papers, ca. 1959-2001 West, Nan Overton, Papers, ca. 1959-2001 37849, 38300

A Guide to the Nan Overton West Papers, ca. 1959-2001

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 37849, 38300

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference)
Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference)
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

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

Processed by: Alex Lorch

Repository

Library of Virginia

Accession number

37849, 38300

Title

Papers, ca. 1959-2001

Physical Characteristics

9.45 cubic feet and 1 microfilm reel

Creator

Nan Overton West

Physical Location

Personal Papers Collection, Acc. 37849

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Microfilm reel in Box 5 is for reference use only; duplication is prohibited.

Preferred Citation

Nan Overton West Papers, ca. 1959-2001. Accessions 37849 and 38300, Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

These collections were given to the Library of Virginia by Nan Overton West in 2000 and 2001.

Biographical/Historical Information

Nan Overton West is a life-long resident of Lubbock, Texas. She attended Lubbock Public Schools, Texas Technological College, Randolph-Macon Woman's College, and The University of Texas, where she graduated with a B.A. degree in 1941. After retiring from the family businesses, she published a genealogical history of her husband Pete's family, The Wests and The Rays and Their Allies: Southern Families from the Colonies to Texas. In 1991 this book was awarded First Place for Family History and Grand Prize for Writing by The Texas State Genealogical Society. In 1992 she published He Wore a Pink Carnation, a biography of Dr. Marvin C. Overton, her father and a pioneer physician in West Texas. She also has written The Overtons: 700 Years with allied families from England to Virginia, Kentucky, and Texas (1997) which will be followed by another genealogical history about the Jennings families and twenty related lines.

Scope and Content Information

Papers, ca. 1959-2001, consisting of the genealogical research files on the Overton, West and Ray families and their allied families compiled by Nan Overton West. Folders principally consist of research files concerning specific individuals and families and correspondence exchanged with individuals concerning specific families. The research files contain genealogical notes concerning family lines abstracted and/or copied from census records, military records, Bible records, patriotic organization applications, family group sheets, pedigree charts, extracts from published sources, newspaper clippings, family descendants' newsletters, photographs, genealogical charts, and court records, including deed books, order books, will books, and marriage records. Correspondence concerning family lines also appears in this collection and often includes research files along with their letters. This material remains within the respective correspondents file. Miscellaneous correspondence concerning a certain family is filed by the family's surname and arranged chronologically.

These research files were the principal resource material Nan West used to write The Wests and The Rays and Their Allies: Southern Families from the Colonies to Texas and The Overtons: 700 Years with allied families from England to Virginia, Kentucky, and Texas. The files generally remain in the order kept by Nan West.

Research files exist for the following Overton allied family surnames: Bickley, Booker, Bosley, Briscoe, Brockman, Burch, Burkham, Clough, Compton, Crook, Garland, Garnett, Gerard, Goldsmith, Grundy, Harratt, Harris, Jennings, Lawson, Leake, McCarty, Muscoe, Poindexter, Shipp, Slye, Snow, Swan, Taylor, Terrell, Waters, and Whitworth. West allied family surnames are Ashley, Berry, Boatner, Culver, Dashley, Egner, Martin, Norris, Sanford, Smith, Swain, Ward, Weideman, Weyman, and Wyatt. Ray allied family surnames include Caldwell, Culpepper, Dean, Gillespie, Grant, Harrison, King, Kirk, Peek, Richards, Tatum, Wyatt, and Young.

Arrangement

Within each series, files are arranged alphabetically.

Organization

The collection is organized into the following series:

I: Overton Family II: Overton Allied Families III: West Family IV: West Allied Families V: Ray Family VI: Ray Allied Families

Contents List

Series I: Overton Family

Box 1-7

Box 1 Folder 1
Leslie Ann Alden, correspondence, 1993, 1995
Box 1 Folder 2
American Overton family research files
Box 1 Folder 3
Michelle T. Amsbury, correspondence, 1993, 1995
Box 1 Folder 4
Lois Baird, correspondence, 1987-1988, 1995
Box 1 Folder 5
Census records
Box 1 Folder 6
Colonial Dames research files
Box 1 Folder 7
Contemporary authors of Robert Overton research files
Box 1 Folder 8
Correspondents list
Box 1 Folder 9
English Overton family research files
Box 1 Folder 10-11
Excerpts from Robert Overton's manuscript
Box 1 Folder 12
Family group charts
Box 1 Folder 13
Family group sheets
Box 1 Folder 14
Alice Figures, correspondence, 1992-1993
Box 1 Folder 15
Rhoda T. Fone, correspondence, 1995-1996
Box 1 Folder 16
Elizabeth Green, correspondence, 1994-1995
Box 1 Folder 17
"He Wore a Pink Carnation: a Biography of M. C. Overton," by Nan West
Box 1 Folder 18
Kathleen Hunt, correspondence, 1993-1995
Box 2 Folder 1
Arthur Jones, correspondence, 1991-1995
Box 2 Folder 2
M. B. Jones, correspondence, 1990-1991
Box 2 Folder 3
Jo Kirk, correspondence, 1990, 1995
Box 2 Folder 4
Long Island Overton family research files
Box 2 Folder 5
Bill Loyd research files
Box 2 Folder 6
Jack Mayer, correspondence, 1987-1995
Box 2 Folder 7
Meade County, Kentucky, marriage bonds concerning the Overton family
Box 2 Folder 8
Norma J. Mittendorf, correspondence, 1993
Box 2 Folder 9
David Norbrook, correspondence, 1993-1995
Box 2 Folder 10
Orphan Brigade research files
Box 2 Folder 11
Overton family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1973, 1987-1993
Box 3 Folder 1
Overton family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1993-1995
Box 3 Folder 2
Overton family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1995-1998
Box 3 Folder 3
Overton family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1998-2001
Box 3 Folder 4
Overton family, miscellaneous e-mail correspondence, 1996-1997
Box 3 Folder 5
Overton family, miscellaneous e-mail correspondence, 1997-2001
Box 3 Folder 6
Overton family timetable
Box 3 Folder 7
"Overton Only," volume 1
Box 3 Folder 8
"Overton Only," volume 1B
Box 3 Folder 9
"Overton Only," volume 1C
Box 3 Folder 10
"Overton Only," volume 1D
Box 3 Folder 11
"Overton Only," volumes 2A and 2B
Box 4 Folder 1
"Overton Only," index for volumes 1A-1D
Box 4 Folder 2
Ella Overton research files
Box 4 Folder 3
Garland Terrell Overton research files
Box 4 Folder 4
George Overton research files
Box 4 Folder 5-6
George Buck Overton research files
Box 4 Folder 7
James Overton research files
Box 4 Folder 8
Jo and Todd Overton, correspondence, 1988
Box 4 Folder 9
John Overton research files
Box 4 Folder 10
Lady Claire Overton, correspondence, 1994-1998
Box 4 Folder 11
Marvin C. Overton III, correspondence, 1990-1991
Box 4 Folder 12-13
Marvin C. Overton III, correspondence, 1991-1992
Box 4 Folder 14
Marvin C. Overton III, correspondence, 1992
Box 4 Folder 15
Marvin C. Overton III, correspondence, 1993
Box 5 Folder 1
Marvin C. Overton III, correspondence, 1994
Box 5 Folder 2
Marvin C. Overton III, correspondence, 1995
Box 5 Folder 3
Marvin C. Overton research files
Box 5 Folder 4
Nannie J. Overton, correspondence, 1967, 1974
Box 5 Folder 5-6
Robert Overton research files (also see microfilm in this box)
Box 5 Folder 7
Tennessee Overton family research files
Box 5 Folder 8
Texas Overton family research files
Box 5 Folder 9
Waller Overton, correspondence, 1993-1994
Box 5
"Gospell Observations and Religious Manifestations," by Robert Overton (microfilm)
Box 6 Folder 1
William Overton research files
Box 6 Folder 2
Pedigree charts of Dorothy L. Overton
Box 6 Folder 3
David H. Peterson, correspondence, 1993
Box 6 Folder 4
Photographs
Box 6 Folder 5-10
Publications excerpts
Box 6 Folder 11
Research notebook containing notes on Meade and Hardin County, Kentucky, records
Box 6 Folder 12
Temple M. Simmons, correspondence, 1994-1996
Box 7 Folder 1
Nevel Overton Slack, correspondence, 1994
Box 7 Folder 2
Nevel Overton Slack, correspondence, 1994-1996
Box 7 Folder 3
Paul Urbahns, correspondence, 1991-1992
Box 7 Folder 4
Virginia Historical Society, correspondence, 1994
Box 7 Folder 5
Virginia Public Libraries, correspondence, 1994
Box 7 Folder 6
Virginia State Library, correspondence, 1989
Box 7 Folder 7
Ruth Warner, correspondence, 1991-1994
Box 7 Folder 8
Ruth Warner, correspondence, 1995-1998
Box 7 Folder 9
Jack Whitmeyer, correspondence, 1994
Box 7 Folder 10
Susan M. Williams, correspondence, 1994
Box 7 Folder 11
Wills

Series II: Overton Allied Families

Box 8-15

Box 8 Folder 1
Karen L. Austin, correspondence, 1997
Box 8 Folder 2
Don L. Booker, correspondence, 1993-1995
Box 8 Folder 3
Don L. Booker, correspondence, 1995-1996
Box 8 Folder 4
Booker-Leake-Clough families research files
Box 8 Folder 5
Bosley family research files
Box 8 Folder 6
Brockman family research files
Box 8 Folder 7
Brooks family research files
Box 8 Folder 8
Carr family research files
Box 8 Folder 9
Clough family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1989-1995
Box 8 Folder 10
Clough family research files
Box 8 Folder 11
Correspondents list
Box 8 Folder 12
Alliene Ellis, correspondence, 1993
Box 8 Folder 13
"The Family and Ancestry of William Dabney of Virginia and His Two Wives," by William L. Deyo
Box 8 Folder 14
Farrar family research files
Box 8 Folder 15
Claude Faulkner, correspondence, 1993-1994
Box 9 Folder 1
Claude Faulkner, correspondence, 1995
Box 9 Folder 2
Claude Faulkner, correspondence, 1995-1998
Box 9 Folder 3
Gardiner family research files
Box 9 Folder 4
Garland family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1995-1998
Box 9 Folder 5
Garland family research files
Box 9 Folder 6
Garland-Wilson families research files
Box 9 Folder 7
Garnett family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1972, 1988
Box 9 Folder 8
Garnett family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1990-1994
Box 9 Folder 9
Garnett family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1996-1997
Box 9 Folder 10
Garnett family, miscellaneous e-mail correspondence, 1998
Box 9 Folder 11
Garnett family research files
Box 9 Folder 12
Unrelated Garnett family research files
Box 10 Folder 1
"Richard Brooke Garnett," manuscript by Truett Tyler
Box 10 Folder 2-3
Gerard family, royal lineage from Claude Faulkner
Box 10 Folder 4-5
Gerard-Slye-Briscoe families research files
Box 10 Folder 6
Glover family research files
Box 10 Folder 7
Grundy family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1969-1973, 1989-1995
Box 10 Folder 8-10
Grundy family research files
Box 10 Folder 11
Jimmy Grundy, correspondence, 1993-1997
Box 11 Folder 1
Harratt family research files
Box 11 Folder 2
Harris family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1989-1994
Box 11 Folder 3
Harris family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1995
Box 11 Folder 4
Harris-Slye families, miscellaneous correspondence, 1995-1996
Box 11 Folder 5
Joan Talbot Helbig, correspondence, 1994-1995
Box 11 Folder 6
Catherine M. Whitworth Hilbert, correspondence, 1993-1995
Box 11 Folder 7
Jewell family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1994-1995
Box 11 Folder 8
Eve L. Kinney, correspondence, 1995-1996
Box 11 Folder 9
Lawson family research files
Box 11 Folder 10
John Crook Lawson and Arethusa Grundy, miscellaneous correspondence, 1969-1994
Box 11 Folder 11
John Crook Lawson and Arethusa Grundy research files
Box 11 Folder 12
Leake family research files
Box 11 Folder 13
Jeanie Luckhoo, correspondence, 1986-1989
Box 11 Folder 14
McCarty family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1993-1994
Box 12 Folder 1
McCarty family research files
Box 12 Folder 2
McCarty-Crook families, miscellaneous correspondence, 1988-1994
Box 12 Folder 3
McCarty-Crook families research files
Box 12 Folder 4
Massie family research files
Box 12 Folder 5
Muscoe family research files
Box 12 Folder 6
Overton allies, miscellaneous correspondence, 1995-1996
Box 12 Folder 7
Overton allies, miscellaneous correspondence, 1996-1998
Box 12 Folder 8
Overton-Howerton families research files
Box 12 Folder 9
Jane Pearce, correspondence, 1996
Box 12 Folder 10
Jane Pearce, correspondence, 1998
Box 12 Folder 11
Jane Pearce and Truett Tyler, correspondence, 1998
Box 12 Folder 12
Pocahontas research files
Box 12 Folder 13
Poindexter Descendants' Association, directory, 1993
Box 12 Folder 14
Poindexter Descendants' Association, newsletters, 1989-1991
Box 13 Folder 1
Poindexter Descendants' Association, newsletters, 1992-1994
Box 13 Folder 2
Poindexter Descendants' Association, newsletters, 1994-1996
Box 13 Folder 3
Poindexter family genealogical notes, compiled by John B. Poindexter, 1980
Box 13 Folder 4
Poindexter family genealogical notes, compiled by John Poindexter Landers
Box 13 Folder 5
Poindexter family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1989-1996
Box 13 Folder 6
Poindexter family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1997
Box 14 Folder 1
Poindexter family research files
Box 14 Folder 2
Robertson family research files
Box 14 Folder 3
Vivian Rudisill, correspondence, 1990-1995
Box 14 Folder 4
Peggy Rush, correspondence, 1989-1995
Box 14 Folder 5
George E. Russell, correspondence, 1995
Box 14 Folder 6
St. Peter's Parish (New Kent County), register and vestry book abstracts (Poindexter family)
Box 14 Folder 7
Shipp family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1990-1994
Box 14 Folder 8
Shipp family research files
Box 14 Folder 9
Taylor family research files
Box 14 Folder 10
Terrell-Bickley families research files
Box 14 Folder 11
Truett Tyler, correspondence, 1998
Box 15 Folder 1
Waters family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1993-1995
Box 15 Folder 2
Whitworth family genealogical notes, compiled by Harold Whitworth, 1990
Box 15 Folder 3
Whitworth family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1989-1995
Box 15 Folder 4
Whitworth Family Association, correspondence, 1995-1997
Box 15 Folder 5
Whitworth family research files
Box 15 Folder 6
W. W. Woods, correspondence, 1997-1998
Box 15 Folder 7
Wooldridge family research files
Box 15 Folder 8
Bill Wyatt, correspondence, 1998

Series III: West Family

Box 16-17

Box 16 Folder 1
Jim Allen, correspondence, 1994
Box 16 Folder 2
T. N. Boschert, correspondence, 1987-1988
Box 16 Folder 3
Family tree questionnaires
Box 16 Folder 4
Genealogical and pedigree charts
Box 16 Folder 5
Linda Maltby, correspondence, 1993
Box 16 Folder 6
Adell Morgan, correspondence, 1969-1987
Box 16 Folder 7
Joe West, correspondence, 1984-1987
Box 16 Folder 8
Joe West, correspondence, 1987-1991
Box 16 Folder 9
Joe West, correspondence, 1992-1998
Box 16 Folder 10
West family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1985-1991
Box 16 Folder 11
West family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1991-1995
Box 17 Folder 1-3
West family research files
Box 17 Folder 4
West family research files gathered since book published
Box 17 Folder 5
West-Ray book readers, correspondence, 1991

Series IV: West Allied Families

Box 18-20

Box 18 Folder 1
Ashley-Lashley-Lesley families research files
Box 18 Folder 2
Zula Atwood, correspondence, 1990
Box 18 Folder 3
Berry family research files
Box 18 Folder 4-5
Boatner family, miscellaneous correspondence and research files, 1970-1991
Box 18 Folder 6
Culver family, miscellaneous correspondence and research files, 1970-1994
Box 18 Folder 7
Joseph A. Culver research files
Box 18 Folder 8-9
Egner-Eigner families, miscellaneous correspondence and research files, 1990-1994
Box 18 Folder 10
Kenny Goode, correspondence, 1987
Box 19 Folder 1
Martin family research files
Box 19 Folder 2
Norris family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1990-1994
Box 19 Folder 3-6
Norris family research files
Box 19 Folder 7
"The Norris Family of Maryland," by Thomas M. Myers
Box 19 Folder 8
Sanford family research files
Box 20 Folder 1
Smith family, miscellaneous correspondence and research files, 1991-1993
Box 20 Folder 2
South Carolina West family research files
Box 20 Folder 3
Swain family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1970-1999
Box 20 Folder 4-6
Swain family research files
Box 20 Folder 7
Swain-Norris families, miscellaneous correspondence, 1990-1991
Box 20 Folder 8
Ward family research files
Box 20 Folder 9
Whitmire family research files
Box 20 Folder 10
Wyatt family research files

Series V: Ray Family

Box 21-22

Box 21 Folder 1
Census records
Box 21 Folder 2
John Massey, correspondence, 1990-1993
Box 21 Folder 3
Ray family, confederate records
Box 21 Folder 4
Ray family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1963-1972, 1982
Box 21 Folder 5
Ray family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1988-1991
Box 21 Folder 6
Ray family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1992-1998
Box 21 Folder 7
Ray family members, correspondence, 1990-1992
Box 21 Folder 8
Ray family newsletters, 1987-1988
Box 21 Folder 9
Ray family newsletters, 1989-1990
Box 21 Folder 10
Ray family newsletters, 1991-1992
Box 22 Folder 1-2
Ray family research files
Box 22 Folder 3
Ray family research files gathered since book published
Box 22 Folder 4
George Ray research files
Box 22 Folder 5
John Benjamin Ray research files
Box 22 Folder 6
Major W. Ray research files
Box 22 Folder 7
Mollie Ray, correspondence, 1969-1974
Box 22 Folder 8
Unrelated Ray family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1970-1972
Box 22 Folder 9
W. L. and Ruby Lee Ray research files
Box 22 Folder 10
Marlene Scott, correspondence, 1986-1991
Box 22 Folder 11
Ellaree Dean Speer, correspondence, 1970-1972, 1986-1991

Series VI: Ray Allied Families

Box 23-27

Box 23 Folder 1
"An Account of the Short Life and Death of Reverend John Lee," by Jesse Lee
Box 23 Folder 2
Arnett-Haynes family research files
Box 23 Folder 3
Caldwell family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1969-1994
Box 23 Folder 4
Caldwell family research files
Box 23 Folder 5
Culpepper family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1967-1970, 1989-1995
Box 23 Folder 6-7
Culpepper family research files
Box 23 Folder 8
Unrelated Culpepper family research files
Box 23 Folder 9
Dean family, miscellaneous correspondence
Box 23 Folder 10
Dean family research files
Box 23 Folder 11
"The Dean Family: the Descendants of Drury Dean," by Mary Emily Smith Witt
Box 24 Folder 1
"Descendants of John Wesley Dean," by Lewis Griffin, 1991
Box 24 Folder 2
Alliene Ellis, correspondence, 1987-1993
Box 24 Folder 3
Gillespie family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1989-1991
Box 24 Folder 4
Gillespie family research files
Box 24 Folder 5
Grant family research files
Box 24 Folder 6
Lewis Griffin, correspondence, 1978-1992
Box 24 Folder 7
Roberta Griffin, correspondence, 1969-1991
Box 24 Folder 8
Harrison family research files
Box 24 Folder 9
"The King's Ley," by Gladys Howard Thompson
Box 24 Folder 10
Lee family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1969-1972, 1985-1990
Box 24 Folder 11
Lee family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1990-1991
Box 25 Folder 1
Lee family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1991
Box 25 Folder 2
Lee family, miscellaneous correspondence, 1993-2000
Box 25 Folder 3-4
Lee family research files
Box 25 Folder 5
Lee family research files from Eva Boyce
Box 25 Folder 6
Lee family research files from Roberta Griffin
Box 25 Folder 7
Lee family research files from Wilma McMillan
Box 25 Folder 8
Lee family research files from Dora Ray
Box 25 Folder 9
Lee family research files gathered since book published
Box 25 Folder 10
Burwell Lee research files
Box 25 Folder 11-12
Burwell and Hugh Lee research files
Box 25 Folder 13
G. W. Lee research files
Box 26 Folder 1
Hugh Lee research files
Box 26 Folder 2
Hugh Lee research files from Cora Lee Anderson
Box 26 Folder 3
Joe Dean Lee, correspondence, 1990-1991
Box 26 Folder 4
Joe Dean Lee, correspondence, 1991-1998
Box 26 Folder 5
Colonel Richard Lee research files
Box 26 Folder 6
Unrelated Lee family research files
Box 26 Folder 7
William Young Lee research files
Box 26 Folder 8
Wyatt Lee research files
Box 26 Folder 9
Lovella Lee McCubbin research files
Box 26 Folder 10
Mailing list, correspondence, 1990
Box 26 Folder 11
Mailing list of book recipients
Box 27 Folder 1
Peek family research files
Box 27 Folder 2-5
Ray allied families research files from Alliene Ellis
Box 27 Folder 6
Richards family research files
Box 27 Folder 7
Ellaree Dean Speer, correspondence, 1970-1990
Box 27 Folder 8
Ellaree Dean Speer, notebook on Culpepper family
Box 27 Folder 9
Ellaree Dean Speer, notebook on Dean family
Box 27 Folder 10
Tatum family research files
Box 27 Folder 11
Texas Lee family research files
Box 27 Folder 12
Wyatt family research files
Box 27 Folder 13
Young family research files
Oversize Box 105
Overton-West-Ray genealogical and pedigree charts (oversize folder)