Restrictions on Access

There are no restrictions to access or use for research purposes.

Ownership and Custodial History

The materials in this collection were transferred to the Greenwood Library Archives from the Longwood University History Department in the mid-1990s.

Biographical sketch

Dr. James Elliott Walmsley was born in Mingo, Virginia in 1872. In 1893 he graduated from Randolph-Macon College with both a bachelors and Master of Arts degree. He went on to earn his doctorate in Philosophy while attending Illinois Wesleyan, The University of Chicago, and the University of Michigan. Dr. Walmsley first taught at Randolph-Macon Academy in Bedford, Virginia from 1896-1903. He later became a professor of History and Political Science at Kentucky Wesleyan College and was professor of History at Winthrop College in South Carolina from 1912-1925. He came to State Teachers College at Farmville (now Longwood University) in 1925 and remained here as professor of History and Political Science until his retirement as professor emeritus in 1948. He was a member of a number of fraternities and societies, including Kappa Alpha, Pi Kappa Delta, Sigma Pi Rho, and Pi Gamma Mu (of which he at one point served as national chairman). He also served on the Historical Commission of South Carolina and was a past president of the Virginia Society of History Teachers. Additionally, he was the author of a number of historical books and articles. Dr. Walmsley passed away on February 2, 1958.

Scope and content

The bulk of the materials in this collection consist of ephemera, books, and pamphlets collected by Dr. Walmsley. Also included in the collection are (3) lectures given by Dr. Walmsley, a luncheon invitation autographed by Theodore Roosevelt, and (1) piece of correspondence concerning the legacy of Woodrow Wilson. These materials date from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Walmsley, James Elliott, 1872-1958.