Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation

MSS 16788, Virginia Immigration Society deeds, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was purchased from Peter Luke Americana by the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on 12 April 2022.

Biographical / Historical

The Virginia Immigration Society was formed in the 1880s by prominent citizens in the state for the purpose of attracting emigrants from England and Ireland with capital to settle in Virginia.

While the United States has by far the highest number of immigrant population in the world, with 50,661,149 people as of 2019. Many immigrants that did not have capital were banned from the United States. Starting in 1790 the government created specific criteria to ban Chinese, Japanese, laborers, supporters of totalian societies, polygamists, criminals, alcoholics, and people with mental or physical illness. This remains a heated topic today. Many people are still banned from immigrating. The Immigration and Naturalization Act provides for an annual worldwide limit of 675,000 people.

Some research suggests that immigration is beneficial to the United States economy. With few exceptions, the evidence suggests that on average, immigration has positive economic effects on the native population, but it is mixed as to whether low-skilled immigration adversely affects low-skilled natives. Studies also show that immigrants have lower crime rates than natives in the United States. Today there are over one million immigrants in Virginia.

Source: "Immigration to the United States." Wikipedia. Accessed 6 June 2023.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_the_United_States

Content Description

This collection contains five contracts deeding land to the Virginia Immigration Society in return for shares in the Society, together with a receipted copy of an invoice signed by the Society's agent in London, England. The contracts are dated from 1866 to 1867, and deed over 1400 acres, mostly in Amherst County in Central Virginia, to the Society in return for shares by A.F. and John B. Robertson, S.M. Garland, and James Powell, all but one signed by Leo. Daniel Jr., attorney, together with A.F. Robertson's signed receipt for services rendered as the Society's agent in London.

The Virginia Immigration Society was formed in the 1880s by prominent citizens in the state for the purpose of attracting emigrants from England and Ireland with capital to settle in Virginia. Reparative note: Since 1790, many people have been banned from immigrating, including Japanese, Chinese, laborers, polygamists,criminals, Communists, and people with mental or physical illness.

Some research suggests that immigration is beneficial to the United States economy. With few exceptions, the evidence suggests that on average, immigration has positive economic effects on the native population, but it is mixed as to whether low-skilled immigration adversely affects low-skilled natives. Studies also show that immigrants have lower crime rates than natives in the United States. Today there are over one million immigrants in Virginia.

Source: "Immigration to the United States." Wikipedia. Accessed 6 June 2023.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_the_United_States

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Deeds -- United States
• Emigration and immigration
• Virginia Immigration Society