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Virginia War History Commission [specific series], [dates]. [specific Accession number], State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Transferred from Virginia War History Commission, date unknown (accession 37219 and 28390).
Transferred from the University of Virginia, 2 November 1988 (accession 33311).
Gift of Mrs. Frances H. Paulette, 27 June 1973 (accession 28057).
On 7 January 1919, Governor Westmoreland Davis created the Virginia War History Commission whose goal was "to complete an accurate and complete history of Virginia's military, economic and political participation in the World War." The Commission consisted of sixteen leading citizens appointed by the governor including: Reverend Collins Denny, Brigadier General Jo Lane Stern, Adjutant General of Virginia, Douglas Southall Freeman, editor of the Richmond News-Leader, State Librarian Henry R. McIlwaine, and Colonel Charles R. Keiley, Executive Secretary of the Second Virginia Council of Defense. Arthur Kyle Davis, president of Southern Female College in Petersburg, was named chairman of the commission. The commission served without compensation and from January to September 1919 relied on the Second Virginia Council of Defense for financial support. Subsequently, on the governor's recommendation, the General Assembly appropriated $10,000 on 10 September 1919 to enable the commission to discharge its duties. Financial support was continued from 1919 to 1927 by annual appropriations.
Upon his appointment as chairman, Arthur Kyle Davis immediately implemented his plan for preserving Virginia's war records. On 6 August 1918, during the presentation of a service flag by the United Daughters of the Confederacy at the Sussex County Court House, Davis proposed that the people of each community in Virginia preserve the records and activities of their activities. Local branches of the Commission, consisting of a chairman and two associates, were established in Virginia's 100 counties and 21 cities, to collect records of their community's military and civilian activities. The Commission created a fifteen topic outline of subjects to be included in the statewide history. Some of the topics included Virginians of Distinguished Service, Virginia Churches, Economic Conditions, Red Cross and War Letters and Diaries. An editor assigned to each topic would then write the narrative. This material would then form the basis of the Commission's proposed four volume history of Virginia during the World War.
Unfortunately, poor or non-existent leadership by the local branches, apathy, and a lack of time and money hampered the Commission's collection of war records. The quantity and quality of records collected varied widely. In 1921 the Commission published four War History Supplements in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography listing the source material collected by the local branches. Very few records were collected after 1921 and interest in the Commission's work quickly waned.
In addition to the magazine supplements, the Virginia War History Commission published seven volumes. Volumes I-IV were summaries of source material compiled by the commission. These volumes included lists of distinguished soldiers, newspaper clippings chronicling the war, a guide to war letters, diaries and editorials, and a series of sketches of civilian war agencies. Volumes V-VII were specific chronicles of Virginia wartime activities. Volumes include military unit histories and locality histories that describe the location of the communities, their resources, pre-war conditions, economic conditions, relief and institutional war work. Preliminary manuscripts for a narrative history of Virginia's role in the war were prepared as well. By June 1928 all of the source materials and manuscripts were transferred to the Virginia State Library, but, because of various difficulties, the narrative history was never published. The War History Commission submitted their last annual report to the Governor and General Assembly on 18 January 1928 and had ceased all operations by July 1928.
The Virginia War History Commission Records are housed in 302 boxes and 5 oversize boxes. The collection is arranged into nineteen (19) series. Series have been designated for: I. Individual Service Records (Questionnaires); II. Virginians of Distinguished Service; III. Virginia Military Organizations; IV. Virginia's Camps and Cantonments; V. Virginia Schools and Colleges; VI. County Source Material; VII. City Source Material; VIII. Selective Service and Volunteers; IX. Virginia War Diaries and Incidents; X. Scrapbooks; XI. Office Files; XII. First Virginia Council of Defense; XIII. Virginia Agricultural Council of Safety; XIV. Second Virginia Council of Defense; XV. Margaret Ethel Kelley Kern Papers; XVI. H.R. McIlwaine Papers; XVII. Miscellaneous Records; XVIII. Lynchburg City Committee Records; and XIX. Prince Edward County Committee Records. These records include books, broadsides, checks, citations, correspondence, diaries, invitations, invoices, magazines, maps, military records, minute books, newspapers, newspaper clippings, photographs, post cards, press releases, programs, publications, questionnaires, receipts, reports, scrapbooks, sheet music, song books, and telegrams. These records document Virginia's participation in World War I and its attempt to preserve records of that participation.
Following is a brief overview of the collection. A more in-depth description of the collection can be found in the Series and Subseries level descriptions. It is recommended that the researcher read the Series level scope and content notes thoroughly before accessing the collection.
The experiences of Virginians in the military during the war are well documented throughout the collection. Information on the background and experiences of individual soldiers (and a few nurses) is recorded in the questionnaires (Series I and Series II). Additional information concerning soldiers' views of the war may be found in letters and diaries (Series VI, Series VII, Series IX and Series X).
Of note to the military historian, the collection includes histories of Virginia units including Home Guards and the history of Virginia military cantonments including Camp Humphreys and Camp Lee (Series III, Series IV and Series VIII).
For researchers interested in home front activities, there are some noteworthy records. Propaganda, food and fuel conservation, health and morality issues are highlighted in the records of the First Virginia Council of Defense (Series XII), Virginia Agricultural Council of Safety (Series XIII) and Second Virginia Council of Defense (Series XIV). Additional records of note include material on churches and schools (Series V, Series VI and Series VII).
The collection contains extensive information on the activities of the Virginia War History Commission including personnel, local branches and publications. (Series XI).
Volumes were housed in boxes for better protection. Oversized items are filed in 5 boxes. Oversize items, which were part of a regular sized filing unit, were removed from their respective folders. In their place, separation notices list the item(s) removed and the oversize box and folder number to which they have been removed. For location and content list of oversize folders see list at the end of the finding aid.
The collection is organized into the following nineteen series:
The Individual Service Records (Questionnaires) series is housed in 20 boxes and is arranged into two (2) subseries. Subseries have been designated for Counties and Cities. Each subseries is arranged alphabetically by locality and there under alphabetically by name of soldier (with white and non-white questionnaires further segregated). This series consists of questionnaires completed by soldiers who served from Virginia during World War I or their next-of-kin. The four page questionnaire records personal and military data. The first page records personal information including the full name of the soldier, date and place of birth, name of mother and father (and their places of birth), race, religious affiliation, names of wife and children, fraternal orders and college fraternities, education, occupation prior to entering the service, name of employer, residence before and after time in service, and present home address. The second and third pages records military information including, date of induction, rank, military branch and ID number, military company, regiment and division; where trained or stationed, port of embarkation and debarkation, experiences in action, citations for and details of distinguished services, details of any injuries (or death), and occupation after the war. The fourth page contains several questions designed to elicit information about how the war affected the serviceman and how he perceived his experiences during the war. The questions deal with the effect of disabilities upon occupation and employment, the serviceman's attitude toward military service, the mental and physical effects of United States camp experiences and of overseas experiences, how the experience affected his religious beliefs, and the effects of all of these experiences as contrasted with his state of mind before the war. Nurses submitted a two page questionnaire asking similar questions. Photographs often accompany the questionnaires.
This series is arranged into two subseries. Subseries have been designated for Counties and Cities.
The Virginians of Distinguished Service series is housed in 14 boxes and arranged into five (5) subseries. Subseries have been designated for Reference Files, Correspondence, Reference Cards, Rough Drafts and Miscellaneous Materials. This series documents the Commission's efforts to gather information for its first source volume, Virginians of Distinguished Service of the World War (Richmond: 1923), edited by Arthur Kyle Davis. This series includes Individual Service Records (Questionnaires) that are not included in Series I.
The Reference Files subseries is housed in 4 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by name of soldier. This subseries has been microfilmed. See Miscellaneous Reels 4694-4701. In preparation for its first source volume, Virginians of Distinguished Service of the World War, the Commission reviewed its own files and removed all questionnaires for soldiers receiving citations, decorations or other honors. The Commission then created an alphabetical reference file consisting largely of questionnaires but also including photographs, letters from the soldier, family member or next-of-kin, newspaper clippings and certified copies of citations. Questionnaires do not exist for every soldier in the file and in a few cases the only record is a copy of soldier's citation. In addition to soldiers who received honors, the reference file includes records for soldiers who did not receive an official citation or whose citations could not be verified. Noteworthy files include Thomas Bolling Byrd, brother of Virginia Governor and Senator Harry F. Byrd, Arthur H. Kelly, who died in Poland fighting the Bolsheviks and Richard Fuller Woodward, whose widow submitted letters about her visit to her husband's grave in France.
The Correspondence subseries is housed in 3 boxes and is arranged into three distinct groupings of correspondence. The first, spanning May 1922 to February 1923, documents attempts by the Commission to get copies of citations from soldiers. Correspondence is both incoming and outgoing and is arranged alphabetically by recipient. There is extensive correspondence from Colonel Joseph R. Anderson, author of Record of Service In the World War of V.M.I. Alumni, describing his assistance in acquiring citations from V.M.I. soldiers and from John S. Patton, Librarian at the University of Virginia, documenting his efforts to acquire citations from UVA students. Additional correspondence from Newton D. Mereness and Lewis H. Machen chronicles their efforts to obtain list of Virginians of Distinguished Service for the Commission in Washington, D.C. The second group of correspondence, covering 1923-1925, relates to the publication and promotion of Virginians of Distinguished Service. Subjects covered include: errors and omissions, ordering/selling, book reviews, requests for additional information and complimentary copies. The third group is unclaimed form letters sent to soldiers in 1922 requesting copies of their citations.
The Reference Cards subseries is housed in 2 boxes and is arranged alphabetically. Each index card contains the text of each soldier's citation as well as the source of information.
The Rough Drafts subseries is housed in 3 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by name of soldier. The information on the Reference Cards (subseries C) was used to write the rough drafts of each soldier's entry in the book.
The Miscellaneous Materials subseries is housed in 2 boxes and contains miscellaneous lists and unidentified miscellaneous materials.
The Virginia Military Organizations series is housed in 8 boxes with oversized material separated and is arranged into five (5) subseries. Subseries have been designated for 29th Division, 42nd Division, 80th Division, Miscellaneous Units and Miscellaneous and Correspondence. This series consists primarily of unit histories written by unit members. Many of these records are described in Virginia War History Commission, Supplement No. 3, Calendar of Military Histories, Narratives and Reports (July 1921 issue of Virginia Magazine of History and Biography) and Supplement No. 4, Lists and Calendars of Source Material (October 1921 issue of Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. In addition many of these unit histories were published by Arthur Kyle Davis, editor, in Virginia Military Organizations in the World War (Source Volume 5) (Richmond: 1925).
The 29th Division subseries is housed in 3 boxes and one oversized folder. Records of the 29th Division include a "History of the 'Blue and Gray,' 29th Division" by Lt. Col. John A Cutchins, a description of operations of the 29th Division, East of the Meuse River, in October 1918, histories of the 116th Infantry (by company) and histories of the 111th Field Artillery (by company).
The 42nd Division subseries is housed in 1 box. The records of the 42nd Division include a brief history of the unit and a copy of the Journal of Private G.W. Reed, 117th Train Headquarters and Military Police, describing his activities between 1917 April 8 and 1919 April 5.
The 80th Division subseries is housed in 3 boxes. The records of the 80th Division includes histories of the 317th, 318th and 320th Infantry regiments, 314th Machine Gun Battalion, 315th Field Artillery, 305th Engineers and a copy of Captain Josiah C. Peck's book, History of the 319th Infantry. Notable documents include "My Service with the A.E.F. in France," by Captain Melville Oakham, 320th Infantry and copies of The Service Magazine, published by the Eightieth Division Veterans Association, from 1921-1927.
The Miscellaneous Units subseries is housed in 1 box. Miscellaneous Units include histories of the Virginia Coast Artillery, Medical Units (Base Hospital 41 and 45 and Sanitation Units 516, 517 and 534), and Engineer Units (28th Engineering Division and 510th and 511th Engineers' Service Battalions). The most significant item in this sub-series is the collection of photographs of the nursing staff of Base Hospital 45. Photographs of 104 of the 106 staff members are included.
The Miscellaneous and Correspondence subseries is housed in 1 box and one oversized folder. Noteworthy is the statement of Private John Leedy of the 116th Infantry in which Leedy describes a gas attack in the Meuse-Argonne Valley in October 1918. Also included are statements of service by Major John Izaard, 60th Artillery, Alexander W. Weddell, War Trade Board Delegate to Greece and A.B. Cooke of the American Consulate, Pantros, Greece. There are two groupings of correspondence. The first, spanning 1919 to 1922, documents attempts by Commission member Adjutant General Jo Lane Stern to obtain unit histories from soldiers. Correspondence is both incoming and outgoing and is arranged alphabetically by recipient. There is extensive correspondence from Captain Greenlee D. Letcher, 111th Field Artillery, 29th Division, describing his difficulty in obtaining records for his history of the 111th and Major Hierome L. Opie, commenting on his inability to find time to write a history of the 116th Infantry. The second group of correspondence, covering 1925, contains follow-up requests for unit information by Stern in preparation for Source Volume 5, Virginia Military Organizations in the World War.
This series is divided into five subseries: 29th Division, 42nd Division, 80th Division, Miscellaneous Units and Miscellaneous and Correspondence.
The Virginia Camp and Cantonments series is housed in 4 boxes and is arranged into six (6) subseries. Subseries have been designated for Camp A.A. Humphreys, Fort Hunt, Camp Lee, Quantico, Chesapeake Bay Area Histories and Miscellaneous Narratives and Reports. The most extensive information in this series concerns Camp Lee, located near Petersburg, Virginia. This series contains histories and information about the construction of Virginia's World War I military camps. Many of these records are described in Virginia War History Commission, Supplement No. 3, Calendar of Military Histories, Narratives and Reports (July 1921 issue of Virginia Magazine of History and Biography) and Supplement No. 4, Lists and Calendars of Source Material (October 1921 issue of Virginia Magazine of History and Biography).
The Camp A.A. Humphreys subseries is housed in 1 box and contains two histories of the construction of Camp A.A. Humphreys (now known as Fort Belvoir): "Illustrated History of Camp A.A. Humphreys" by Captain Charles T. DeRell and "History of Camp A.A. Humphreys" by Colonel Richard Park. Both histories focus on the construction of the camp and include photographs and maps.
The Fort Hunt subseries is housed in folder and includes a questionnaire that provides an historic overview of the fort as well as a map of the facility.
The Camp Lee subseries is housed in two boxes. The records include items describing the history of medical care, the Red Cross and welfare work (Knights of Columbus, Jewish Welfare Board and YMCA) at Camp Lee. Also included is a variety of ephemera such as Thanksgiving and Christmas cards and programs, a song book used in Camp Lee YMCA Meetings, and miscellaneous Camp Lee forms and broadsides. Records of note include photographs and post cards of Camp Lee and the first three issues of The Musket (vol. 1, 15 February 1919, vol. 2, 1 March 1919, and vol. 3, 15 March 1919), the official publication of Infantry Officers' School, Training Center, Camp Lee.
The Quantico subseries is housed in 6 folders. Records on the Marine Corps Base at Quantico include "A History of Quantico Camp" by H.L. Roosevelt and reports on the medical department, personnel office, post chaplain and the work of the YMCA at Quantico.
The Chesapeake Bay Area Histories subseries is housed in 10 folders and includes a "History of the Port Embarkation, Newport News, Virginia" by Lt. M.J. Mackler, "Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads-Its Development" by Rear Admiral A.C. Dillingham that includes a map of the base, and a map of Langley Field.
The Miscellaneous Narratives and Reports subseries is housed in 4 folders and contains a "Report of Convalescent Camp, Hospital Center, Savenay, France" by R.A. Morison. This record includes photographs of the facility.
The Virginia Schools and Colleges series is housed in 2 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by the name of the school. This series contains reports of war activities during the World War including home-front contributions made by students (Red Cross work, etc.) and lists of students/graduates who served in the armed forces or were killed. Most of the material consists of brief responses to requests for information on war activities made by Dr. James S. Wilson, a University of Virginia professor and chairman of Commission's Virginia Schools and Colleges section, between 1919 and 1922. Schools that responded were: Augusta Military Academy, Blackstone College for Girls, Blackstone Military Academy, Bridgewater College, Chatham Training School, Christiansburg Industrial Institute, College of William and Mary, Eastern College, Elizabeth College, Emory and Henry College, Episcopal High School of Virginia near Alexandria, Fredericksburg Normal School (now Mary Washington College), Hartshorn Memorial College, Halifax Institute, Hampden-Sidney College, Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, Harrisonburg State Normal School, Hollins College, Industrial High School (Danville, Va.), Ingleside Seminary, Marion College for Women, Miller Manual Labor School, Newport Training School, Inc., Randolph-Macon Academy, Randolph-Macon College, Rappahannock Industrial Academy, City of Richmond Schools and Colleges, Roanoke College, St. Emma Industrial and Agricultural College, Shenandoah Valley Academy, Southern College, Staunton Military Academy, Stonewall Jackson College, Stuart Hall, Sullins College, Sweet Briar College, University of Richmond, University of Virginia, Virginia College, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Virginia Union University, Washington and Lee University and Woodberry Forest School.
Notable records include: a list of graduates and current students who served in the armed forces during the war and a list of those killed-in-action from the College of William and Mary; a 1920 Episcopal High School of Virginia yearbook, Whispers, that includes a list of "Alumni in Service in the World War"; an extensive history of the University of Richmond's activities during the World War; a copy of John S. Patton's 1921 book, The University of Virginia in the World War; and a copy of Joseph Reid Anderson's 1920 book, V.M.I. in the World War.
Additional records on Virginia's Schools and Colleges may be found in the series' County Source Material and City Source Material.
The series County Source Material contains records collected by the Local Branches of the Virginia War History Commission. To assist Local Branches with their task, the Commission provided them with a detailed ten topic outline describing the types of records to be collected: Topic 1, Virginians of Distinguished Service (military and civilian); Topic 2, Pre-War Conditions and Activities (education, religion, patriotism, and economic and social conditions; Topic 3, Virginia Churches in War Time (lists of members in service, religious attitudes and church activities); Topic 4, Virginia Schools and Colleges in the War; Topic 5 (Draft Law and Virginia Organizations (draft laws); Topic 6, Economic and Social Conditions (finance, agriculture, industry, commerce, transportation, communication and labor and social conditions); Topic 7, The Red Cross in Virginia; Topic 8, War Work and Relief Organizations (activities of welfare organizations such as Y.M.C.A, Y.W.C.A., Knights of Columbus, Jewish Welfare, and Salvation Army); Topic 9, War Letters, Diaries and Incidents; and Topic 10, Post War Conditions and Activities. The complete outline is available in Virginia War History Commission, Publication No. 3, Virginia in the War: Topical Outline for a City or County War History (August 1920).
Unfortunately, the county branches only submitted information for a tiny fraction of the topics listed on the outline. Many only submitted one or two items. However, other localities submitted a substantial number of records. In addition, some records collected by the County branches were removed and filed separately such as the Individual Service Records (Questionnaires), records of Virginians of Distinguished Service (military) and college histories. The majority of records collected by the county branches are described and calendared in the following publications: Virginia War History Commission, Supplement No. 1, Source Material from Virginia Counties (January 1921 issue of Virginia Magazine of History and Biography) and Supplement No. 4, Lists and Calendars of Source Material (October 1921 issue of Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. Letters written by Virginia soldiers and sailors are described and indexed in source volume 3, Virginia War Letters, Diaries, and Editorials, edited by Arthur Kyle Davis (Richmond: War History Commission, 1925). Within this volume, letters are arranged alphabetically by author and include date of letters, brief description of content and list the writer's county of residence. Additional letters omitted from this volume are included in this series. In this series, letters are filed by locality and alphabetical therein.
The County Source Material series is housed in 13 boxes, one oversize box and one oversize map folder and is arranged alphabetically by locality and by topic there under. Notable records include two Bath County broadsides. The first broadside, dated 14 July 1918, announces an address by N.A. Marshall, a Canadian solider. The second broadside, dated May 1918, celebrates the Third Liberty Loan drive. William White of Dickenson County submitted the life story of his son, Leonard Joseph White, who was killed in action on 1 October 1918. Also included are letters written by Henry County brothers George Edmond Pannill (1896-1918) and Jeb Stuart Pannill (1897-1918). Both enlisted in the army on 6 June 1917 and were assigned to Co. K, 9th Infantry, 2nd Division. On the morning of 18 July 1918 bother brothers were fatally wounded. George was shot through the head and died within two minutes; Jeb was shot in the chest and died on 4 August 1918 (see also the Individual Service Records (Questionnaires) for George and Jeb Pannill). A biographical sketch of Earle Davis Gregory (1897-1972), Virginia's only World War I Medal of Honor recipient is located among the records of Mecklenburg County . Included among the records of Prince Edward County is a copy of Walker H. Jordan's 1919 book With "Old Eph" in the Army. Jordan, an African-American, describes his military experiences as a member of the 351st Field Artillery in the United States and France. A photograph of the 305th Engineers is filed under Loudoun County . Finally, there are drafts of county histories published in source volumes 6 and 7, Virginia Communities in War Time, edited by Arthur Kyle Davis (Richmond: War History Commission, 1926-1927).
The series City Source Material contains records collected by the Local Branches of the Virginia War History Commission. To assist Local Branches with their task, the Commission provided them with a detailed ten topic outline describing the types of records to be collected: Topic 1, Virginians of Distinguished Service (military and civilian); Topic 2, Pre-War Conditions and Activities (education, religion, patriotism, and economic and social conditions; Topic 3, Virginia Churches in War Time (lists of members in service, religious attitudes and church activities); Topic 4, Virginia Schools and Colleges in the War; Topic 5 (Draft Law and Virginia Organizations (draft laws); Topic 6, Economic and Social Conditions (finance, agriculture, industry, commerce, transportation, communication and labor and social conditions); Topic 7, The Red Cross in Virginia; Topic 8, War Work and Relief Organizations (activities of welfare organizations such as Y.M.C.A, Y.W.C.A., Knights of Columbus, Jewish Welfare, and Salvation Army); Topic 9, War Letters, Diaries and Incidents; and Topic 10, Post War Conditions and Activities. The complete outline is available in Virginia War History Commission, Publication No. 3, Virginia in the War: Topical Outline for a City or County War History (August 1920).
Unlike the county source material, the city branches, especially Newport News, Norfolk, and Richmond, submitted a substantial number of records for a large number of the topics listed on the outline. In addition, some records collected by the City branches were removed and filed separately such as the Individual Service Records (Questionnaires), records of Virginians of Distinguished Service (military) and college histories. The majority of records collected by the city branches are described and calendared in the following publications: Virginia War History Commission, Supplement No. 2, Source Material from Virginia Cities (April 1921 issue of Virginia Magazine of History and Biography), Supplement No. 3, Calendar of Military Histories, Narratives and Reports (July 1921 issue of Virginia Magazine of History and Biography) and Supplement No. 4, Lists and Calendars of Source Material (October 1921 issue of Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. Letters written by Virginia soldiers and sailors are described and indexed in source volume 3, Virginia War Letters, Diaries, and Editorials, edited by Arthur Kyle Davis (Richmond: War History Commission, 1925). Within this volume, letters are arranged alphabetically by author and include date of letters, brief description of content and list the writer's city of residence. Additional letters omitted from this volume are included in this series. In this series, letters are filed by locality and alphabetical therein.
The City Source Material series is housed in 28 boxes and three oversized map folders and is arranged alphabetically by locality and by topic there under. Notable records include:
Alexandria - an issue of Parnot Daily News, 8 October 1919, a newspaper of the 116th Infantry Division.
Danville - biography of Major Robert Emmett Lea, 1886-1918, a soldier accidentally shot by a civilian participating in a rifle contest.
Hopewell - a copy of Hopewell: The Petersburg-Hopewell Industrial District by the Petersburg & Hopewell Chamber of Commerce, n.d. and a copy of Sketch of Hopewell: The Wonder City by the Hopewell Board of Trade, n.d. The Sketch of Hopewell includes a description of the towns businesses and biographical sketches of leading citizens. Other records include three issues of the Hopewell Splinters (vol. 1, no. 4, September 1917, vol. 2, no. 9, September 1918 and vol. 2, no 11, November 1918) published by the employees of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, a historical sketch of the 319th Ambulance Company and a program for the Military Tournament, 315th Field Artillery of Camp Lee, 23 March 1918.
Lynchburg - program, St. Paul's Church, for unveiling of tablet in honor of church members killed during war, 15 May 1921.
Newport News - "War History of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company" by H.L. Ferguson; "War Work of Newport News Branch of Red Cross"; "An Incomplete Diary of a Camp Service Worker at Camp Stuart Hospital, 23 December 1918-September 1919," by Mrs. E.P. Griffith that describes her work assisting injured and disabled veterans and includes photographs; extensive records on the war work of the YMCA and schools in Newport News; records of the war work of the Jewish Welfare Board, Newport News Branch includes questionnaires completed by ex-soldiers and sailors. The questionnaire asked for name, residence, present address, name of camp from which service was entered, city of residence prior to service, date and place of birth, country where parents born, have you served overseas, have you been wounded, in which branch of the Army or Navy did you serve, what was your rank, list of decorations and war experiences. Many also contain photographs of veteran.
Norfolk - extensive church and school narratives including a history of the war work of the First Christian Church (Disciples) by minister Charles M. Watson; History of the Armed Guard by James Sydney Fitzgerald, describing the arming of merchant ships by the Navy. Record includes list of vessels with a brief account of events in the war zone; a brief history of the Norfolk Navy Yard; reports of Red Cross activities in Norfolk; and a History of the Imperial Recreation Club for Men of the Service written by Sophie L. Williams.
Petersburg - Includes a variety of records on Camp Lee including a copy of the Bayonet, the remembrance book of Camp Lee, 1918, a list of slang phrases used at Camp Lee and their meaning; and a photograph of YMCA Building No. 52 at Camp Lee; poems written by Arthur Kyle Davis, Jr. and a copy of the official statement of the Rhodes Committee of Virginia, ca. 1919, selecting Arthur Kyle Davis, Jr.; and issues of The Daily Smoke, 26 February 1919 - 24 March 1919, a daily one page newspaper published by members of the crew of the U.S.S. Eastern Chief.
The City of Richmond War History Commission submitted the most extensive collection of records of any county or city branch of the Virginia War History Commission. Notable records under topic 1, Virginians of Distinguished Service (civilian) are sketches of Henry W. Anderson, Harry F. Byrd, Rabbi Edward N. Calisch, Douglas Southall Freeman, Charles R. Keiley, Adjutant General Jo Lane Stern, Lewis L. Strauss, Herbert Hoover's private secretary, and John Skelton Williams.
The Richmond records include an extensive history of the war work undertaken by Richmond's churches. Reports submitted by the Bainbridge St. Baptist Church and the Ginter Park Baptist Church include brief sketches and photographs of soldiers.
Records of schools and colleges contain a brief history of the U.S. Army Base Hospital No. 45, report of the activities of the Richmond public schools for 1917-1919 and a history of Richmond College and Westhampton College (University of Richmond) during the war that also includes miscellaneous issues of Heads Up (23 December 1918-7 April 1919), the newspaper of Debarkation Hospital No. 52.
Significant records on Richmond's economic and social conditions consist of the minutes of the Central and General Committees of Woman's Cooperative Organization of the Local Food Administration, 2 April 1918-26 November 1919; "Participation of the Richmond Works of the American Locomotive Company in the late World War"; "Record of the Production of Materials for the World War by the Richmond Forgings Corporation".
Under topic 7, The Red Cross in Virginia, there are numerous reports of the activities of the Richmond branch including a history.
Noteworthy records under topic 8, War Work and Relief Organizations, include extensive material on the Godmother's League of Richmond. Founded on 11 September 1917 by Margaret Ethel Kelley Kern, the Godmother's League was an organization of socially prominent women whose goal was to "look after the welfare and happiness" of the men of Richmond in military service. Godmother's sent care packages and wrote letters to the city's solders and sailors. Records include a history of the Godmother's League, written by Kern and a minute book documenting their activities between 11 September 197 and March 1918. The minute book contains photographs (including one of Kern), the group's constitution, a list of Godmother's and newspaper clippings. Also included are the minutes of the Woman's Auxiliary Camp Community Service, 30 July 1918-26 June 1919, another woman's group dedicated to assisting men in service.
Post-War material consists of the American Legion's Official Program, Armistice Day, 11 November 1918-11 November 1921 and a souvenir program for a reunion of Confederate Veterans in Richmond on 20-22 June 1922.
In addition to these records, there is also the correspondence of the Richmond War History Commission. The correspondence are arranged by the ten topic outline and document attempts by Joseph W. Everette, secretary of the Richmond branch, between 1921 and 1922 to obtain records. Correspondence is both incoming and outgoing and is arranged alphabetically by recipient within each topical heading.
This series is arranged alphabetically by city.
Following the draft into federal service and mobilization of the Virginia National Guard for Mexican Border Service and later war against Germany in 1917, a need arose to create a new militia force in Virginia. By order of Governor Henry C. Stuart, Adjutant General W.W. Sale issued a form letter authorizing the immediate formation of Home Defense organizations to be known as "Virginia State Volunteers" to serve during "the emergency." Two classes of Home Defense Organizations were created consisting of the Virginia State Volunteers and Virginia Home Guard. Lt. Col. Jo Lane Stern, State Inspector, was assigned the duty of organizing these volunteers. Companies of Virginia Volunteers were raised throughout the state including two battalions of infantry and over twenty individual companies. After the signing of the Armistice, most of these units disbanded or mustered out by 1920, although three companies passed over into the National Guard.
The Selective Service and Volunteers series is housed in 16 boxes and 11 oversize folders and is arranged into four (4) subseries. Subseries have been designated for induction lists, Virginia State Volunteers, Virginia Home Guard and miscellaneous materials. This series provides an overview of Virginia Home Defense Organizations and information on the Selective Service procedures in the commonwealth.
The Induction Lists subseries is housed in 5 boxes and 11 oversized folders and is arranged by locality (county and then city). The induction lists include the name of soldier or sailor, race, and date of induction. Some lists also include home address, army or navy service number, and date and cause of discharge from military. In addition there are a small number of correspondence between the Virginia Adjutant General's Office and local draft boards related to the enlistment and discharge of specific soldiers and sailors.
The Virginia State Volunteers subseries is housed in 4 boxes. The Virginia State Volunteers was organized for home defense during the First World War between 1917 and 1918. Records are arranged by locality and include manuscript histories of units (published in source volume 4, Virginia War Agencies, Selective Service and Volunteers, 1926) and correspondence between the Adjutant General's Office and the Volunteer units. The correspondence, arranged by date (1917-1921), includes inquiries on organizing a volunteer unit, applications to form a company, and orders from the Adjutant General. There are records for the following units: Albemarle Rifles, Bath Rifles, Blue Ridge Rifles, Peaks of Otter Rifles, Berryville Guards, Colonial Rifles, Blue Ridge Guard, Hanover Grays, Henry Guards, Russell Guards, Tazewell Rifles, Washington Rifles, Clinch Valley Rifles, Hopewell Rifles, Lynchburg State Guards, A.P. Hill Rifles, Petersburg Guards, Radford Home Guards, Richmond Light Infantry Blues, Richmond Grays, Richmond Howitzers, Jo Lane Stern Battalion, Valley Riflemen and Winchester State Guards.
The Virginia Home Guard subseries is housed in 3 boxes. The Virginia Home Guard were organized and controlled by local officials with the Adjutant General providing advice and guidance. The records of the Virginia Home Guard, arranged by locality, contain correspondence between individuals and the Adjutant General inquiring about forming Home Guard units. The majority of localities did not create Home Guard units. Notable records include a pamphlet containing the by-laws of the Alleghany Home Guard (City of Covington) and enlistment papers for the Danville Home Guard that list the name, address, date of enlistment, place of birth, age, occupation, color of eyes and hair, height, and marital status of each soldier.
The Miscellaneous Materials subseries is housed in 4 boxes and 1 oversize folder and contains miscellaneous selective service and draft materials. These records include: bulletins issued to local draft board by the Virginia Adjutant General's Office from 1917-1919 describing selective service/draft procedures, copies of federal publications on selective service, blank selective service forms and miscellaneous ephemera.
The Virginia War Diaries and Incidents series is housed in 4 boxes and consists of records from 45 Virginia soldiers and civilians. Most of the narratives are only a few pages but some are of significant length. Notable records include a book by Palmer V. Boyd, Kriegegfangenlanger 80053: My Experiences as a Prisoner of War in Germany and extensive material submitted by Charles Hall Davis. Virginia War Letters, Diaries and Editorials , edited by Arthur Kyle Davis, includes a detailed calendar of most of these records (see pages 475-486, 525 and 527). Several diaries and narratives included in this series were omitted from the source volume.
The Scrapbooks series is housed in 43 boxes and consists of 43 scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings of Virginia's involvement in World War I. The clippings are arranged into fifteen subject headings: I. Virginians of Distinguished Service, 1917-1923; II. Pre-War Conditions, 1915-1917; III. Virginia Churches in War Time, 1917-1919; IV. Virginia Schools and Colleges in the War, 1917-1919; V. Political Contributions of Virginia, 1917-1919; VI. Draft Law and Virginia Organizations, 1917-1919; VII. Virginia Camps and Cantonments, 1917-1919; VIII. Economic Conditions in War Time, 1917-1919; IX. Virginia Communities in War Time, 1917-1919; X. The Chesapeake Bay Area (missing); XI. Virginia Soldiers and Sailors Overseas, 1916-1919; XII. The Red Cross in Virginia, 1917-1919; XIII. War Work and Relief Organizations, 1917-1919; XIV. War Letters, Diaries and Incidents, 1917-1919; XV. Post War Conditions and Activities, 1919-1920.
The clippings are from the following newspapers: Bedford Bulletin, Chase City Progress, Newport News Daily Progress, Richmond Evening Journal, Eastern Shore Herald, Fauquier Democrat, Gloucester Gazette, Halifax Record Advertiser, Hopewell Record, Emporia Independent Messenger, Mathews Journal, Midland Virginian, Richmond News Leader, Petersburg Index Appeal, Page News and Courier, Radford News, Roanoke Times, Richmond Virginian, Southill Enterprise, Staunton Evening Leader, Staunton Morning Leader, Hampton Morning Leader, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia Union Farmer, and the Warrenton Times. However, the bulk of the clippings are from the Newport News Daily Progress, Richmond News Leader and Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The scrapbooks are numbered 1-44 with two unnumbered volumes at the end. Volumes 41 and 43 are not extant. The bulk of the material is indexed in the Virginia War History Commission's source volume 2, Virginia War History in Newspaper Clippings (Richmond: 1924), edited by Arthur Kyle Davis. War letters and incidents of Virginia's soldiers and sailors are referenced in source volume 3, Virginia War Letters, Diaries and Editorials (Richmond: 1925), also edited by Davis. In some instances, the letter is accompanied by a published photograph of the soldier.
The Office Files series is housed in 94 boxes and 4 oversized folders and is arranged into eight (8) subseries. Subseries have been designated for Correspondence, General; Correspondence, Local Branches; Correspondence, Section Editors; Financial Records; Forms; Index Card Files; Miscellaneous Records; and Publications. The most substantial and significant records in this series are the various correspondence files which consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence dated between 1919 and 1927. This series consists primarily of incoming and outgoing correspondence from Virginia War History Commission chairman Arthur Kyle Davis and office manager Ruth Cunningham. This series documents the activities of the Virginia War History Commission between 1919 and 1927 including the formation and collection of records by the local branches and the publication of Commission's books. Although the Virginia War History Commission was not created until January 1919, this series contains financial records of the First and Second Virginia Council of Defense between 1917 and 1919. Correspondence, account books, invoices, receipts, bills, books, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, reports, minutes, forms, questionnaires, index cards and other items are found in this series.
The Correspondence, General subseries is housed in 14 boxes and 3 oversize folders and is arranged alphabetically by subject or sender. The records in the sub-series Correspondence-General relate to a variety of topics including, the American Historical Association meeting in Richmond, Virginia, on 27-31 December 1924; organization, field agents, problems with office equipment, publications and employees, and day-to-day operation of the War History Commission; National Association of State War History Organizations; Negro Collaborators; and Service Legion.
Noteworthy correspondents include Arthur Kyle Davis, Ruth K. Cunningham (War History Commission Chief Clerk/Office Manager), H.R. McIlwaine (Virginia State Librarian), and Walter F. Beverly, Arthur W. James, Henry H. Simms, and R.C. Stearnes (all War History Commission Field Agents). The correspondence of Arthur Kyle Davis are arranged chronologically include Davis' appointment as head of War History Commission by Governor Westmoreland Davis (7 January 1919) and Davis' acceptance of the position (9 January 1919), and H.R. McIlwaine's suggestions for the organization and instructions to local branches and section chairman (26 December 1919). Other notable correspondence include a request from John Garland Pollard, professor at the College of William and Mary, requesting information about the Commission (12 January 1923) and Davis's reply in which he provides a frank overview of the Commission's work and problems (30 January 1923), and two letters by Davis to his son, Arthur Kyle Davis, Jr., a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, relating family news and describing problems with the source volume, Virginians of Distinguished Service (30 January 1923 and 28 February 1923) and a letter to Davis, Jr., now at the University of Virginia, relating family news and discussing the source volume, Virginia War Letters, Diaries and Incidents (21 October 1925). Davis lived in Petersburg and worked in the Commission's Richmond office one day a week. The majority of Davis's correspondence is with Ruth K. Cunningham, War History Commission Chief Clerk/Office Manager, and describes day-to-day operations of the Commission. Noteworthy correspondence from Cunningham to Davis include a description of her difficulties with Commission employee, T.R. Jehne during the Commission's office move (20 January 1924), her illness and recovery (10 June 1924, 20 June 1924, 19 July 1924 and 15 August 1924), and the closing of the Commission's office (29 March 1927).
Ruth K. Cunningham's letters document her February 1921 trip to southwest Virginia on behalf of the Commission. Virginia State Librarian and Commission member H.R. McIlwaine corresponds with Davis on Commission records and policy including the organization of the Commission's files (20 December 1919) and the creation of newspaper scrapbooks (2 June 1922) and with Charles R. Keiley, Commission Secretary and member, about hiring Field Agents (3 July 1920). Also included with McIlwaine's letters are minutes of the 12 November 1919 Commission meeting. Walter F. Beverly was employed by the Commission as a Field Agent mainly in southwest Virginia between July and September 1920. His records include diary entries for the weeks of 24 July, 31 July, 7 August and 14 August 1920 that describe the organization and work conducted by local branches in Russell, Wise, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Dickenson, Washington, Bland, Wythe, Pulaski, Grayson, Carroll, Lee, Giles and New Kent Counties. Additional reports and correspondence documenting the activities of the local branches in the summers of 1920 and 1921 are filed with the records of Field Agents Arthur W. James, Henry H. Simms, and R.C. Stearnes . Stearnes spoke about the Commission's work at "Robert E. Lee's Last Camp Memorial Rally" held at the Buckingham County Court House on 24 July 1920. A broadside of the event is included with his records.
Additional significant correspondence, filed by subject heading, include the American Historical Association, Hooven Automatic Typewriter Corporation, National Association of State War Organizations, Negro Collaborators, and Service Legion. The American Historical Association held their annual meeting in Richmond, Virginia, on 27-31 December 1924. Correspondence, mainly to and from Arthur Kyle Davis, describe meeting preparation, a copy of the meeting program and Davis' address to the AHA. Correspondence between the Commission and the Hooven Automatic Typewriter Corporation between 1920 and 1927 document the poor performance of the office typewriter and the futile attempts to have it repaired. The National Association of State War History Organizations was founded in September 1919 in Washington, D.C. by representatives of war history commissions and similar organizations from fifteen states. The group maintained an office in Washington to locate, describe, and copy documents in governmental archives relating to war activities. The correspondence document Davis's activities as the Association's vice-president and chairman of the executive committee. Notable records include minutes of the Association's meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, on 29-31 December 1919 (attached to a 26 January 1920 letter to Davis from Albert E. McKinley, Association Secretary), minutes of a special meeting of the Association in Washington on 28 December 1920 (attached to a 19 January 1921 letter to Davis from McKinley), and minutes of meetings in Washington on 6-7 April 1920 and 29-30 April 1921. The National Association of State War History Organizations was inactive between 1922 and 1925 and dissolved in the spring of 1925. The War History Commission made a special attempt to collect records of African-American involvement in the war by designating Negro collaborators and hiring a field agent to encourage black participation in the Commission's program. Correspondence filed under Negro Collaborators document these efforts between 1919 and 1921. Significant correspondence include a letter from Davis to Julia Sully, Section Chair of War Work and Relief Organizations (which included Negro contributions), concerning the hiring of Ora B. Stokes as a Negro filed agent (no date) and numerous correspondence and field reports of Stokes to Sully and Cunningham chronicling her activities during the summer of 1920. Also included are two issues of The Central Call (14 August 1920 and 28 August 1920) a black newspaper published in Cumberland, Virginia. In 1921 Mrs. G.T.W. Kern (Margaret Ethel Kelley Kern) founded the Service Legion , an organization to commemorate civilian service during the war. Records include correspondence, mainly between Kern and Davis, describing the organization, purpose, and activities of the Service Legion. Davis was a member of the Legion's Advisory Committee. Other noteworthy items include Photographs of Commission members Arthur Kyle Davis, Charles R. Keiley, and Lyon G. Tyler as well as unidentified World War I soldiers. Filed under Speakers is a letter from Brigadier General Douglas McArthur to Davis declining an invitation to speak to the Commission (27 December 1920).
The Correspondence, Local Branches subseries is housed in 11 boxes. Records in the sub-series Correspondence-Local Branches illustrate the activities and the successes and failures/difficulties of the local War History Commission branches. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by locality (counties then cities) with the correspondence arranged alphabetically by reverse chronological order (primarily 1922-1925 and 1919-1921). The majority of the correspondence is between Arthur Kyle Davis and Ruth Cunningham and members of the local branches, many of them women, and documents the organization, collection of records, and problems of the local branches. Sara Lyle Marshall, chairwoman of the Fauquier County branch, describes her successes and failures in her correspondence (especially 23 March 1921). Grayson County records include a postcard of Jack Allen taken in the backyard of Floyd Allen on 20 March 1913, the day of Floyd and Claude Allen's funeral. This material, unrelated to World War I, was submitted by R.E. Cox.
The Correspondence, Section Editors subseries is housed in 3 boxes and is arranged by the topical outline developed by the War History Commission. The War History Commission created fifteen topical sections covering distinct subjects to be included in the Commission's proposed four volume history of Virginia during the war. Each section had a chairman and associates who assisted writing the historical narrative of their topic. These sections were: I. Virginians of Distinguished Service; II. Pre-War Conditions and Activities; III. Virginia Churches in War-Time; IV. Virginia Schools and Colleges in the War; V. Political Contributions of Virginia; VI. Draft Law and Virginia Organizations; VII. Virginia Camps and Cantonments; VIII. Economic Conditions in War-Time; IX. Local Branches of Virginia Commission; X. Chesapeake Bay Area in War-Time; XI. Virginia Soldiers and Sailors Overseas; XII. The Red Cross in Virginia; XIII. War Work and Relief Organizations; XIV. War Letters, Diaries and Incidents; and XV. Post-War Conditions and Activities. Records in the sub-series Correspondence, Section Editors contain both incoming and outgoing correspondence between the Commission and section chairman. Noteworthy records include correspondence between, Dr. S.C. Mitchell, chair of the Virginia Churches in War Time section, and clergy across Virginia. A photograph of Dr. Mitchell (B177, F8) is also included. Correspondence filed under the Virginia Communities in War Time document the status of the War History Commission's local branches as of December 1922.
The Financial Records subseries is housed in 8 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by type of record. The financial records sub-series contains bills, receipts, invoices, and ledgers of the Virginia Council of Defense and War History Commission.
The Forms subseries is housed in 2 boxes and is arranged by the topical outline developed by the War History Commission. These records contain blank examples of various forms used by the commission to document Virginia's contribution to the war effort.
The Index Cards subseries is housed in 39 index card boxes. The majority of these records are unidentified. However, there are some cards for Virginians killed during the war.
The Miscellaneous Records subseries is housed in 4 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by topic. Notable records include casualty lists of Virginians killed during the war.
The Publications subseries is housed in 13 boxes and one oversize folder and is arranged by published an unpublished material. In addition to annotated copies of the Commission's seven source volumes, the publication files contain drafts of histories of the First and Second Virginia Council of Defense and Selective Service and copies of the War History Commission News Letter (1919-1920).
The Council of National Defense was created by an act of Congress on 29 August 1916 to coordinate all national resources pertaining to the efficient mobilization and maintenance of the United States armed forces. After the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, the federal government requested that each state create a State Council of Defense to carry out the duties of the National Council. To comply with this request, Virginia Governor Henry Carter Stuart created an unwieldy organization which included the Agricultural Council of Safety (18 April 1917), Industrial Council of Safety (25 April 1917), and the Virginia Council of Defense (26 April 1917). The duties of each council overlapped but each retained its own identity. The Virginia Council of Defense was essentially an advisory body which coordinated the work of all councils. Governor Westmoreland Davis corrected this situation when he abolished all three councils in February 1918 and organized all defense activities under the Second Virginia Council of Defense. Members of the First Virginia Council of Defense included: General Edward W. Nichols, Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute; L.E. Johnson, President of the Norfolk and Western Railway Company; R. Walton Moore, United States Representative; Homer L. Ferguson, President of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company; Colonel Elijah B. White; Rev. Collins Denny; Dr. Ennion G. Williams, State Health Commissioner; James O. Winston; Richard Evelyn Byrd; D. Lawrence Groner; George B. Keezell; John H. Crockett; Jesse M. Jones; and A.P. Walker.
The Virginia War History Commission published a history of the First Virginia Council of Defense and an index to their records in Virginia War Agencies, Selective Services and Volunteers (Source Volume 4) (Richmond: 1926, pp. 3-34 & 395-418), edited by Arthur Kyle Davis.
The First Virginia Council of Defense series is housed in 6 boxes and one oversized folder and is arranged in two(2) subseries. Subseries have been designated for Source Material and Records. The series consists primarily of incoming and outgoing correspondence to the Council particularly Executive Secretary Colonel William M. Hunley, Speakers' Bureau head Lewis H. Machen and Virginia Governor Henry Stuart, and copies of publications, pamphlets and newsletters from the Council of National Defense and from other state councils. It is unknown why some of the records the Virginia Council were filed with Source Materials (Subseries A) and other similar records with Records (Subseries B). Researchers should check both subseries. These records document the activities of the First Virginia Council of Defense in Virginia including such areas as agriculture, food conservation, military matters, publicity, religious forces, Speakers' Bureau, and the Woman's Division.
The Source Material subseries is housed in 5 boxes and is indexed in Virginia War Agencies, Selective Services and Volunteers (Source Volume 4) (Richmond: 1926, pp. 395-418), edited by Arthur Kyle Davis. The records in this subseries are arranged by topic and sub-heading. Topics include agriculture, farmers, food conservation, fuel conservation, health and morals, industry and labor, Liberty Loans, local councils, military matters, miscellaneous activities of Council, other states, publicity, religious forces, Speakers' Bureau, transportation, Woman's Division and closing period of Council. When this series was originally processed in 2003, not all of the indexed records were extant. Most of the missing records were located in 2005 and have been added to the collection. Unfortunately, very few records are extant for the Woman's Division.
Records filed under Agriculture include correspondence related to the Boys' Working Reserve and Boy Scouts as aids to farmers, exemption for farm laborers from military service, loans to farmers and offers of land to the government.
The Food Conservation files list bakers who promise to co-operate with Council in the campaign against acceptance of unsold bread and exemptions from military service sought by ice manufacturers. Harry F. Byrd's appointment as Virginia Fuel Administrator is highlighted in correspondence under Fuel Conservation . Military Matters described the formation of Home Guards, recruiting and training camp activities.
The Speakers' Bureau correspondence contain replies to letters and telegrams of Lewis H. Machen, dated 25 May 1917 requesting cooperation in the June 1917 speaking campaign and the speaking campaign in the fall of 1917. Additional records include materials submitted by Council's of Defense of other states .
The Records subseries is housed in 1 box and one oversized folder. This material is not indexed. Records of note include the minutes of the Council of Defense for 1917 and 1918. An oversized scrapbook contains newspaper clippings (Richmond Times-Dispatch and Richmond News-Leader) of the Council's activities from May 1917 to January 1918.
The Council of National Defense was created by an act of Congress on 29 August 1916 to coordinate all national resources pertaining to the efficient mobilization and maintenance of the United States armed forces. After the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, the federal government requested that each state create a State Council of Defense to carry out the duties of the National Council. To comply with this request, Virginia Governor Henry Carter Stuart created an unwieldy organization which included the Agricultural Council of Safety (18 April 1917), Industrial Council of Safety (25 April 1917), and the Virginia Council of Defense (26 April 1917). The duties of each council overlapped but each retained its own identity. The Virginia Council of Defense was essentially an advisory body which coordinated the work of all councils. Governor Westmoreland Davis corrected this situation when he abolished all three councils in February 1918 and organized all defense activities under the Second Virginia Council of Defense. The Agricultural Council of Safety focused on food production and conservation. Members of the Executive Council were: Chairman Dr. Jesse M. Jones of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Secretary B.C. Moomaw, Jr. Other members of the Council included T.O. Sandy, V. Vaden, Ella G. Agnew, Mrs. B.B. Munford, Dr. H.B. Frissell, B.M. Shepherd, Dr. R.C. Stearns, Dr. J.D. Eggleston, A.B. Thornhill and B.F. Purcell. Council Secretary B.C. Moomaw established a central office in Richmond and the Council appointed local councils for each county to carry out its' work.
The Virginia Agricultural Council of Safety series is housed in 5 boxes. The Virginia War History Commission published a history of the Virginia Agricultural Council of Safety and an index to their records in Virginia War Agencies, Selective Services and Volunteers (Source Volume 4) (Richmond: 1926, pp. 27-32 & 457-480), edited by Arthur Kyle Davis. The folder numbering for this series corresponds to the numbering used in the index; records not indexed follow. Not all indexed records are extant. The majority of the material consists primarily of correspondence between Council Chairman Jesse M. Jones and Secretary B.C. Moomaw and the local councils outlining their organization (including a list of members), plans, and activities. Other subjects include assistance offered by the Boy Scouts, Farm Labor Exemptions, Food Production and Conservation, Negro Agricultural Councils, Women's Work and correspondence to Jesse M. Jones. Miscellaneous records include lists of local council members and drafts of the index to the Council's records.
The Council of National Defense was created by an act of Congress on 29 August 1916 to coordinate all national resources pertaining to the efficient mobilization and maintenance of the United States armed forces. After the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, the federal government requested that each state create a State Council of Defense to carry out the duties of the National Council. To comply with this request, Virginia Governor Henry Carter Stuart created an unwieldy organization which included the Agricultural Council of Safety (18 April 1917), Industrial Council of Safety (25 April 1917), and the Virginia Council of Defense (26 April 1917). The duties of each council overlapped but each retained its own identity. The Virginia Council of Defense was essentially an advisory body which coordinated the work of all councils. Governor Westmoreland Davis corrected this situation when he abolished all three councils in February 1918 and organized all defense activities under the Second Virginia Council of Defense.
The purpose of the Second Virginia Council of Defense remained the same: "to co-ordinate and to unify the work of all government departments and civic, relief and philanthropic organizations to the end of an efficient and successful execution of war demands in the State of Virginia." The Second Council created local councils to carry out policy. The Council was involved in a variety of economic and national defense activities including: highways and transportation, housing, industries, food conservation, agriculture, livestock, labor, health, National Council of Defense, and publicity campaigns. Unlike the first council, the Second Virginia Council of Defense had statutory backing, its' members consisted primarily of state government officials who were already engaged in carrying out war-time activities, and it hired a full-time Executive Secretary to execute Council policy. A complete history of the Second Virginia Council of Defense can be found in Virginia War Agencies, Selective Services and Volunteers (Source Volume 4) (Richmond: 1926, pp. 35-176), edited by Arthur Kyle Davis.
Members of the Second Virginia Council of Defense included: Jo Lane Stern, Adjutant General of Virginia and Chairman; Lewis H. Machen, Director of Legislative Reference Bureau and temporary Executive Secretary; Charles Russell Keiley, permanent Executive Secretary; Rosewell Page, Second Auditor of Virginia; Dr. Ennion G. Williams, State Health Commissioner; George P. Coleman, State Highway Commissioner; Harris Hart, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Dr. H.R. McIlwaine, State Librarian; Joseph Bottom, Commissioner of Insurance; Jesse M. Jones, Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Ella M. Agnew, Home Demonstration Agent; George W. Koiner, Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration; Christopher B. Garnett, Chairman of State Corporation Commission; Dr. J.T. Mastin, State Board of Charities and Corrections; Charles G. Kizer, Commissioner of Labor Statistics; C.H. Morrisette, Director of Legislative Reference Bureau; J.R. Saunders, Virginia Attorney General; A.B. Thornhill, Acting Dairy and Food Commissioner; Colonel F.N. Billisoly, Commissioner of Fisheries; J.G. Ferneyhough, State Veterinarian; J.T. Brown, Chairman of Livestock Sanitary Board; John Hirschberg, Commissioner of Labor Statistics; Thomas H. Nottingham, State Shellfish Commissioner; R.C. Jones, State Forester; S.L. Lupton, State Corporation Commission; and C. Lee Moore, Auditor of Public Accounts. On 5 November 1918, Charles R. Keiley was chosen as the Federal Field Secretary of the Council of National Defense to coordinate its activities with those of the Second Virginia Council of Defense.
After the armistice ended the war on 11 November 1918, the Second Virginia Council of Defense gradually ended their work. The Council met for the last time on 8 August 1919. Charles R. Keiley, Executive Secretary, continued in his position until July 1920 gathering historical records of Virginia during the war and assisting the Virginia War History Commission.
The Second Virginia Council of Defense series is housed in 39 boxes with oversized material separated and is arranged into four (4) subseries. Subseries have been designated for Source Material, Records, Financial Records and Correspondence of Charles R. Keiley. The series consists primarily of incoming and outgoing correspondence from Executive Secretary Charles R. Keiley and copies of publications, pamphlets and newsletters from the Council of National Defense and from other state councils. It is unknown why some of the records the Virginia Council, especially from other states, were filed with Source Materials (Subseries A) and other similar records with Records (Subseries B). Researchers should check both subseries. This series comprises a large and important section of the Virginia War History Commission records. These records document the activities of the Second Virginia Council of Defense, Council of National Defense and Local Councils in Virginia including such areas as agriculture, food conservation, health (including the influenza epidemic of 1918), labor and propaganda.
The Source Material subseries is housed in 27 boxes, two oversize folders and is indexed in Virginia War Agencies, Selective Services and Volunteers (Source Volume 4) (Richmond: 1926, pp. 421-453), edited by Arthur Kyle Davis. The records in this subseries are arranged by the number and/or letter assigned to each record listed in the index. Topics include agriculture, building, community sings, conservation, Council of National Defense, education, fire prevention, health, highways, history, home guard, housing, industry, labor, liberty loan and war savings, livestock, local councils, Negro activities, patriotism and propaganda, pool rooms, reconstruction and post war activities, religious forces, soldiers, Speakers Bureau, sugar, swamp lands, transportation, war photographs, war work, woman's committee and wood. When this series was originally processed in 2003, not all of the indexed records were extant. The missing records were located in 2005 and have been added to the collection. This is the largest of the four subseries and documents the work of the Second Virginia Council of Defense.
This subseries is a great source of information on Agriculture, Livestock and Sugar . Included is information on the Boys' Working Reserve (2), School Garden Army (2) and the purchase and use of Tractors (23). Additional information includes lists of claims for livestock killed by trains (14d-k) by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad Company, Norfolk and Western Railway Company, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, Seaboard Air Line Railway, Southern Railway Company and Virginian Railway Company. Also included are lists of railroad engineers and firemen in Virginia (14b). There is extensive correspondence concerning the allocation of and request for sugar (34).
Pamphlets and Publications of the Council of National Defense highlight their activities in Virginia (35, 51-54). The work of the Second Virginia Council of Defense, 1918-1919, is documented in their minutes (Box 253). The membership, activities and reports of Local Councils may be found in (7-11).
Records filed under Patriotism and Propaganda describe "Americanization" programs and patriotic activities (37). Other noteworthy documents are correspondence from the United States military listing Virginia soldiers who are AWOL (12d) and correspondence to ministers urging them to preach pro-war sermons ( Religious Forces ) (4).
The Health records contain a wealth of information on child welfare (17-18), nurses, nurse training and physicians (18), the Red Cross (16, 18), venereal disease (17, 46), and vice suppression (17). These records also include information on the 1918 influenza epidemic such as local conditions, need for assistance and attempts to control the epidemic (17, 18 and 19).
The contributions of blacks and women to the war effort are filed under Negro Activities (26) and Woman's Committee (39 and 54) including the minutes and personnel of Women's Section.
Other noteworthy documents in this series include: responses to Charles R. Keiley's request to serve on Woman's Committee (40b), two Isle of Wight County Woman's Committee broadsides (42a), photographs of the Dupont plant in Hopewell and Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company (48), and two broadsides concerning labor and livestock (48b).
The Records sub-series is housed in 10 boxes and four oversize folders and is arranged by topic and includes extant records not indexed. The majority of the material includes incoming and outgoing to Charles R. Keiley in his roles as Executive Secretary of the Second Council of Defense and Federal Field Secretary and publications and records of other states Council's of Defense created between 1917 and 1918. Correspondence is arranged chronologically and records of other states are arranged alphabetically by name of state. States that submitted copies of their Council of Defense activities include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Other topics include fair prices, health and labor and education including questionnaires completed by county branches of the Cooperative Education Association of Virginia describing their war activities. Other records include form letters and miscellaneous material.
The Financial Records subseries is housed in one box and contains the bills and invoices for the Second Virginia Council of Defense and the Virginia War History Commission for 1918 and 1919. The bills are arranged by the first letter of the surname. The War History Commission was created by Governor Westmoreland Davis in January 1919 but since the General Assembly was not in session, no money was available for its operation. From January 1919 until August 1919, when the General Assembly gave the Commission its' own appropriation, the Second Virginia Council of Defense provided for all office expenses.
The Correspondence of Charles R. Keiley subseries is house in one box and contains the personal correspondence of Charles R. Keiley, Executive Secretary of the Second Virginia Council of Defense. Arranged by date (1918-1919 & 1923-1924) and then alphabetically by correspondent or subject, the correspondence primarily contain letters of introduction written by Keiley. Other topics include financial matters, the lease of an apartment in Richmond (R.T. Corbell, 15 May, 22 July & 26 July 1918) and school placement for Keiley's daughter, Marie (Jennie Ellett, 10 September 1918). The Correspondence from 1923 and 1924 detail the work of Keiley's business, C.R. Keiley, Expert Legislative Reporting.
Margaret Ethel Kelly Kern was born 13 February 1874. Mrs. Kern did volunteer work for a variety of groups during World War I and was president of five World War I organizations: Richmond War Camp Community Service; Godmothers' League (founded by Kern on 17 September 1917); Women's Auxiliary; Women's Committee, Armistice Celebration; and the Service Legion (founded by Kern on 13 July 1921). Kern was also state chairman for the America First Committee. She married Dr. George Thomas Walker Kern (1873-1948), and they had one daughter, Margaret. Mrs. Kern died 10 July 1975 in Richmond, Virginia, and was buried in Hollywood Cemetery.
The Margaret Ethel Kelley Kern Paper series is housed in 2 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by topic. Noteworthy records include: a membership list for the America First Committee and an account book for the Godmother's League (additional records on the Godmother's League can be found with the City of Richmond records within the City Source Material series). Significant materials include extensive material on the Service Legion. Founded on 13 July 1921 by Kern, the Service Legion, modeled on the American Legion, was created to commemorate civilian service during the war. Records include the constitution, by-laws and certificate of incorporation of the Service Legion; correspondence to and from Kern dated 1921-1924 & 1928 related to the Service Legion (additional correspondence can be found in the Office Files series); minutes of the Board of Directors of the Service Legion meeting on 5 April 1922; membership applications (including Kern, her husband and daughter) arranged alphabetically that list organizations and statement of state service during the war; and newspaper clippings describing Service Legion activities. Also included are the minutes of the Woman's Committee, Homecoming Jubilee Week, 22 April-1 July 1919, part of the group planning a homecoming celebration for returning troops in Richmond on 3 July-6 July 1919. The minute book also includes undated newspaper clippings on the committee's activities.
Henry Read McIlwaine was born 12 July 1864 in Prince Edward County, Virginia. He graduated with an A.B. from Hampden-Sidney College in 1885 and with a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1893. McIlwaine taught in private schools for a few years before returning to Hampden-Sidney College to serve as professor of English and history. In 1907, he was appointed State Librarian for the Virginia State Library, which position he held until his death. In January 1919, Governor Westmoreland Davis appointed McIlwaine to the Virginia War History Commission where he held several positions including secretary of the Executive Committee, treasurer, and chairman of the War Letters, Diaries and Incidents section. Unmarried, he died 16 March 1934 in Richmond, Virginia, and was buried in Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg.
The H.R. McIlwaine Papers series is housed in 1 box and consists primarily of incoming and outgoing correspondence to McIlwaine in his role as member of the Virginia War History Commission. Arranged by date, the majority of correspondence are from 1928-1929 and 1931 and concern purchasing copies of the Commission's publications. Correspondence are mainly from Arthur Kyle Davis, Russell B. Devine and William B. McIlwaine, Henry's cousin.
The Miscellaneous Records series is housed in 1 box and contains miscellaneous items including printed federal documents, ten letters of Helen Cameron written in France while doing War Relief Work during 1917 and 1918, extracts from General John Pershing's communications and brief histories of various army divisions. These records were accessioned separately on 3 October 1974.
The Lynchburg City Committee Records series is housed in 1 box and contains Lynchburg's copies of its' Individual Service Records (questionnaires).
The Prince Edward County Committee Records series is housed in 2 boxes and 1 oversize box and contains Prince Edward County's copies of its' Individual Service Records (questionnaires), lists of soldiers who served in the military, church and Red Cross information, and a report on post-war business conditions. The most significant item is a copy of the book, With "Old Eph" in the Army by Walker H. Jordan, published in 1919. Jordan, an African-American, describes his military experiences including his time in France.