A Guide to the E. Alvin Gerhardt papers, 1961-1984, #43514

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/

Processed by: Trenton Hizer

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

E. Alvin Gerhardt papers, 1961-1984. Accession 43514. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Jennifer Weiskotten, Virignia Association of Museums, Richmond, Virginia.

Biographical Information

Earl Alvin Gerhardt was born 15 October 1930 in Lynchburg, Virginia, to Earl Alvin Gerhardt and Georgia Burton Gerhardt. E. Alvin Gerhardt graduated from Davidson College in 1951, then served in the United States army during the Korean War. Gerhardt returned to Lynchburg after the war to work in his family's business, Lynchburg Hosiery Mills. While in Lynchburg, he served as the volunteer director of the Lynchburg Historical Museum. He was president of the Lynchburg Historical Society in 1970-1971, and was a founding member of the Virginia History Federation (now the Virginia Association of Museums), serving as its president in 1972-1973. After the family business was sold, Gerhardt entered the Cooperstown Graduate Program, State University of New York, and received his master's degree in 1974. That same year, he became the professional director of Rocky Mount, a historic home in Piney Flats, Tennessee. In 1992, he became the Director of Museum Program and Studies at Tusculum College. He retired in 2000. Gerhardt and his wife Salley T. Flournoy Gerhardt had four children. E. Alvin Gerhardt died 5 February 2012.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I: Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission, 1970-1981. Series II: American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, 1969-1976. Series III: Lynchburg Bicentennial Commission, 1971-1974. Series IV: Virginia Bicentennial papers, 1971-1977. Series V: Bicentennial publications, 1968-1977. Series VI: Bicentennial general papers, 1971-1976. Series VII: Lynchburg organizations, 1962-1973. Series VIII: Virginia organizations, 1973-1975. Series IX: General papers, 1961-1984.

Contents List

Series I: Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission , 1970-1981 .

Box 1

Extent: 1 box.

Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission, 1970-1981, contains agendas, articles of incorporation, correspondence, minutes, newsletters, proposals, reports, and other papers relating to the commission's work planning Virginia's Bicentennial celebration.

Box 1 Folder 1
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 1 December 1970-15 January 1971 .
Box 1 Folder 2
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 11 June 1971-27 August 1971 .
Box 1 Folder 3
Statewide forum, 17 September 1971 .
Box 1 Folder 4
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 8 October 1971-6 December 1971 .
Box 1 Folder 5
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 7 January 1972-13 April 1972 .
Box 1 Folder 6
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 14 July 1972-11 September 1972 .
Box 1 Folder 7
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 23 October 1972-29 December 1972 .
Box 1 Folder 8
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, February 1973-16 April 1973 .
Box 1 Folder 9
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 4 June 1973-20 August 1973 .
Box 1 Folder 10
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 12 October 1973-5 November 1973 .
Box 1 Folder 11
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 11 January 1974-12 March 1974 .
Box 1 Folder 12
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 12 April 1974-31 May 1974 .
Box 1 Folder 13
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 11 July 1974-15 November 1974 .
Box 1 Folder 14
Agendas, minutes, and related papers, 20 March 1975, undated .
Box 1 Folder 15
Articles of incorporation, 1972 .
Box 1 Folder 16
"Virginia Independence Bicentennial News " and "Bicentennial Newsletter, " 1973 .
Box 1 Folder 17
"Bicentennial Newsletter, " 1974 .
Box 1 Folder 18
"Bicentennial Newsletter, " 1975 .
Box 1 Folder 19
"Bicentennial Newsletter, " 1976 .
Box 1 Folder 20
"Bicentennial Newsletter, " 1977 .
Box 1 Folder 21
"Bicentennial Newsletter, " 1978 .
Box 1 Folder 22
"Bicentennial Newsletter, " 1979 .
Box 1 Folder 23
"Bicentennial Newsletter, " 1980 .
Box 1 Folder 24
"'81 News, " 1980-1981 .
Box 1 Folder 25
Budget exhibit, 1974-1976 .
Box 1 Folder 26
Report to the Governor and the General Assembly (House document no. 8), 1973 .
Box 1 Folder 27
Bicentennial proposal from Haycox Photoramic, Inc., 1 December 1970 .
Box 1 Folder 28
"A Coordinated Graphic Program for Three Bicentennial Visitor Centers, " proposal from Design and Production Incorporated, March 1973 .
Box 1 Folder 29
Proposal from David M. Pesanelli, Inc., [June] 1973 .
Box 1 Folder 30
Bicentennial history and youth, 1973 .

Series II: American Revolution Bicentennial Commission , 1969-1976 .

Box 2

Extent: 1 box.

American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, 1969-1976, contains articles, booklets, correspondence, documents, inventories, newsletters, posters, proposals, and other papers regarding the national Bicentennial celebration.

Box 2 Folder 1
"Bicentennial Newsletter, " 1973 .
Box 2 Folder 2
"Bicentennial Times, " volume 1, issues 2-4, 1974 .
Box 2 Folder 3
"Bicentennial Times, " volume 1, issues 5-6, 8, 1974 .
Box 2 Folder 4
"Bicentennial Times, " volume 2, December 1975 .
Box 2 Folder 5
"Bicentennial Times, " volume 3, January, March 1976 .
Box 2 Folder 6
"Bicentennial Times, " volume 3, April-June 1976 .
Box 2 Folder 7
"Bicentennial Times, " volume 3, July 1976 (2 copies).
Box 2 Folder 8
"Bicentennial Times, " volume 3, August-October 1976 .
Box 2 Folder 9
"Bicentennial Times, " volume 3, November-December 1976 .
Box 2 Folder 10
Official documents of the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission.
Box 2 Folder 11
"We're having a birthday...let's celebrate! " July 1975 .
Box 2 Folder 12
"Bicentennial Projects: An Inventory of Ethnic, Historical and Cultural Societies. "
Box 2 Folder 13
"American Revolution Bicentennial Symbol: Guidelines for Auhtorized Usage and Official Graphics Standards Manual. "
Box 2 Folder 14
"A Proposal to the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission " from the District of Columbia Bicentennial Commission, the Maryland Bicentennial Commission, and the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission, September 1969 .
Box 2 Folder 15
"Toward a Meaningful Bicentennial, " proposal from the Philadelphia 1976 Bicentennial Corporation, 24 September 1969 .

Series III: Lynchburg Bicentennial Commission , 1971-1974 .

Boxes 2-3

Extent: 2 boxes.

Lynchburg Bicentennial Commission, 1971-1974, contains address lists, agendas, articles, correspondence, forms, memorandums, minutes, notes, presentations, reports, resolutions, and other papers relating to the commission's work planning Lynchburg's Bicentennial celebration.

Box 2 Folder 16
Minutes and related papers, December 1971-February 1972 .
Box 2 Folder 17
Minutes and related papers, April-October 1972 .
Box 2 Folder 18
Minutes and related papers, January-March 1973 .
Box 2 Folder 19
Minutes and related papers, April-May 1973 .
Box 2 Folder 20
Minutes and related papers, June-August 1973 .
Box 3 Folder 1
Papers, 1971 .
Box 3 Folder 2
Papers, 1972 .
Box 3 Folder 3
Papers, 1973 .
Box 3 Folder 4
Papers, 1974 .
Box 3 Folder 5
Articles, 1971-1973 .

Series IV: Virginia Bicentennial papers , 1971-1977 .

Box 3

Extent: 1 box.

Virginia Bicentennial papers, 1971-1977, contains agendas, clippings, correspondence, letterhead stationery, proposals, and other papers from Bicentennial committees in Albemarle-Charlottesville, Alexandria, Richmond, and Williamsburg-James City County. Series also includies standards, 1972, for the Bicentennial Celebration on the Virginia Peninsula and report, 1977, on the Bicentennial Celebration in Virginia, from the office of Governor Mills Godwin.

Box 3 Folder 6
Albemarle-Charlottesville American Independence Bicentennial Commission proposal, 1971 .
Box 3 Folder 7
Alexandria Bicentennial Commission papers, 1972 .
Box 3 Folder 8
Richmond Independence Bicentennial Commission letterhead stationery.
Box 3 Folder 9
Williamsburg-James City County Bicentennial Commission papers, 1975 .
Box 3 Folder 10
"Standards for the Bicentennial Celebration on the Peninsula, " 1972 .
Box 3 Folder 11
"Celebration of the Bicentennial in Virginia, " report from the office of Governor Mills Godwin, 1977 .

Series V: Bicentennial publications , 1968-1977 .

Boxes 3-4

Extent: 2 boxes.

Bicentennial publications, 1968-1977, consisting of articles, bibiographies, books, brochures, clippings, magazines, newsletters, pamphlets, and other papers regarding the Bicentennial celebration in Virginia and across the nation. Also includes catalogs and order forms for Bicentennial-themed merchandise.

Box 3 Folder 12
"American Issues, " June-August 1975 .
Box 3 Folder 13
"American Issues, " September-December 1975 .
Box 3 Folder 14
"American Issues, " January-February 1976 .
Box 3 Folder 15
"American Issues, " papers, June-July 1975 .
Box 3 Folder 16
"An American Tragicomedy: Planning for the Big Bash for 1976, " Saturday Review , 1 July 1972 .
Box 3 Folder 17
"The Bicentennial Chronicle " and "Colonial Heritage, " 1970-1971 (both titles), 1972 ( "Colonial Heritage " only--Summer 1972) .
Box 3 Folder 18
Time Bicentennial issues ( "Independence! " and "The New Nation "), 1975, 1976 .
Box 3 Folder 19
The Unofficial Bicentennial Joke Book , 1976 .
Box 3 Folder 20
Bibliographies of literature on the American Revolution, 1968, 1976 .
Box 3 Folder 21
Virginia Bicentennial brochures and pamphlets.
Box 3 Folder 22
United States Bicentennial pamphlets.
Box 4 Folder 1
Clippings, 1972 .
Box 4 Folder 2
Clippings, 1973 .
Box 4 Folder 3
Clippings, 1974 .
Box 4 Folder 4
Clippings, 1976 .
Box 4 Folder 5
Clippings, undated .
Box 4 Folder 6
Catalogs and order forms.

Series VI: Bicentennial general papers , 1971-1976 .

Box 4

Extent: 1 box.

Bicentennial general papers, 1971-1976, contains of articles, booklets, correspondence, pamphlets, resolutions, statements, and other papers from the New York State American Revolution Bicentennial; the United States World Exposition in Boston, Massachusetts; and the Michigan Historical Commission. Papers include magazine abstract, correspondence, and pamphlet about celebrating the Bicentennial. Also includes Bicentennial napkins.

Box 4 Folder 7
New York State American Revolution Bicentennial Commission papers, 1972-1976 .
Box 4 Folder 8
U.S. Bicentennial World Exposition, Boston, 1976 .
Box 4 Folder 9
Miscellaneous papers, 1971-1973, undated .

Series VII: Lynchburg organizations , 1962-1973 .

Box 4

Extent: 1 box.

Lynchburg organizations, 1962-1973, contains agendas, articles of consolidation, brochures, bylaws, certificates, clippings, correspondence, directories, histories, minutes, programs, reports, and other papers regarding the Lynchburg Sesquicentennial Association, the Jones Memorial Library, the Lynchburg Historical Society, the Lynchburg Historical Foundation, Lynchburg Historical Museum, and the Greater Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce.

Box 4 Folder 10
Lynchburg Sesqui-centennial Association papers, 1 October 1936 .
Box 4 Folder 11
Jones Memorial Library papers, 1962, 1973 .
Box 4 Folder 12
Lynchburg Historical Society papers, 1965-1973 .
Box 4 Folder 13
Lynchburg Historical Foundation papers, 1973, undated .
Box 4 Folder 14
Lynchburg Historical Museum (Lynchburg Museum of Living History), 1973, undated .
Box 4 Folder 15
Directory of Community Organizations, Greater Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce, August 1973 .

Series VIII: Virginia organizations , 1973-1975 .

Box 4

Extent: 1 box.

Virginia organizations, 1973-1975, contains booklets, correspondence, guides, memorandums, and other papers regarding the Virginia History Federation, the Central Virginia Planning Commission, the University of Virginia Library's manuscript collections relating to Lynchburg, the Virginia State Library, and the Science Museum of Virginia.

Box 4 Folder 16
Virginia History Federation papers, 1973-1974 .
Box 4 Folder 17
Central Virginia Planning District Commission papers, 1973-1975 .
Box 4 Folder 18
University of Virginia, Alderman Library, papers relating to Lynchburg, 1973 .
Box 4 Folder 19
Virginia State Library and the Science Museum of Virginia papers, 1973 .

Series IX: General papers , 1961-1984 .

Box 4

Extent: 1 box.

General papers, 1961-1984, consisting of a security survey, 1984, for Rocky Mount Historical Museum in Sullivan County, Tennessee; article and invitation, 1973, related to the purchase of Bacon's Castle in Surry County, Virginia, by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities; papers, 1973-1974, regarding history and museums in Cooperstown, New York; newspaper clippings, 1961 and 1972, about Poplar Hall in Bedford County, Virginia, and about the York River State Park; papers, 1973-1975 and undated, about sites to visit in central Virginia, American Association of State and Local history, and a concert at Milligan College in Carter County, Tennessee; and notes.

Box 4 Folder 20
Rocky Mount Historical Museum security survey by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 1984 .
Box 4 Folder 21
Bacon's Castle papers, 1973 .
Box 4 Folder 22
Cooperstown, New York, papers, 1973-1974 .
Box 4 Folder 23
Clippings, 1961, 1972 .
Box 4 Folder 24
Miscellaneous papers--travel brochure for central Virginia, form for American Association for State and Local History consultant service, and concert program at Milligan College in Carter County, Tennessee, 1973-1975, undated .
Box 4 Folder 25
Notes.