Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk. (library-special@jmu.edu). Please submit an application for permission to quote or publish.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Preferred Citation

Miller, Don C. Collection of Pine Forge Ledger, 1785-1799, SC 0175, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

Mr. Don C. Miller, owner of the ledger, offered to allow Carrier Library to make digital images of the ledger and gave permission to make the images accessible to the public in April 2005.

Processing Notes

Digital materials processed by Christina Bolgiano in 2010. A Kodak EasyShare digital camera on a copystand with tungsten lights was used to obtain 300 dpi JPG images. A white sheet of paper was inserted behind torn pages in the ledger to enhance legibility of the torn sheet. Several pages were photographed twice to make sure the best image was obtained. Therefore, there are some duplicate images on the CD-ROM. The ledger is avaialable for access as a pdf file. The collection was formerly assigned Collection Number SC 4049.

Though the original accession comprised of 1 optical disc (CD), three additional cds were made subsequently, to function as preservation master and use copies.

Historical Information

Pine Forge was an iron forge along Smith Creek, near New Market in Shenandoah County, Virginia. It is thought to have been built and operated by the family of Dirck Pennybacker, and his son Benjamin, in the late eighteenth/early nineteenth century. The forge eventually changed hands but remained in operation until the end of the nineteenth century.

Scope and Content

The Don C. Miller Collection, 1785-1799, consists of one CD-ROM containing 200+ digital images of one bound ledger, 12 inches tall by 7.5 inches wide, from the Pine Forge iron forge near New Market, Virginia.

The handwritten ledger contains accounts from Pine Forge. These accounts consist of entries of names and charges, written in pounds, shillings and pence, for a variety of services and products including steel, iron, sheep, mill services, and a wide array of foods.

Arrangement

The digital images of the collection are arranged in the same order as the original ledger.

Related Material

For similar ledgers from Pine Forge in the nineteenth century, see also UNC-Chapel Hill's Shenandoah County (Va.) Account Books 2934 , Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Don C. Miller
• Iron foundries -- Virginia -- History -- 18th century
• Iron foundries -- Virginia -- Shenandoah County
• Iron industry and trade -- Virginia -- Shenandoah County -- History -- 18th century
• Ledgers (account books)
• Pennybacker family -- Records and correspondence
• Shenandoah County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
• Shenandoah County (Va.) -- Industries -- Sources