Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

An appointment for research is required. The collection is open for research. No interlibrary loan.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Southwest Virginia Clippings, Appalachian Collection, McConnell Library, Radford University, Radford, VA. Southwest Virginia Clippings , Accession # AC 018, University Archives, McConnell Library, Radford University

Acquisition Information

McConnell Library clipping files

Accruals

No additional accruals are expected.

Custodial History

Contains materials related to Southwest Virginia that were collected in McConnell Library clipping files during the 1970s and 1980s.

Processing Information

Processed by Brandon Edwards, Winter 2012, Finding aid by Brandon Edwards and Gene Hyde.

Historical Information

Southwest Virginia was among the last part of the state of Virginia to be settled by Europeans with settlers consisting mainly of English, Germans and Scots-Irish. The first major industry for Southwest Virginia was salt. The region incorporates the towns and cities of Blacksburg, Bristol, Buena Vista, Christiansburg, Covington, Galax, Lexington, Martinsville, Norton, Radford, Roanoke, Salem and Wytheville. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, industries such as coal mining and the cutting of timber became important in the region. Since the early 2000's natural gas extraction has grown into an important industry. Tourism has also taken off as an industry in the region due to it's history in the Civil War and American Revolution.

Scope and Content

The Southwest Virginia Clippings Collection contains materials related to the region of Southwest Virginia with a great deal of the collection being produced by Goodridge Wilson. Booklets in this collection include Forests of Valleys of Coal Fields and General Campbell and his Immortal 400.A program for the 6th annual celebration of all Southwestern Virginia Day in 1931 and a brochure on the White Top Festival are also found in this collection. Along with Reports named History of Ingles Ferry and Talk Before Insititute of Literature. A magazine called the Kentucky Press Magazine from 1932 and The Mountain Empire Newsletter are also present.

Arrangement

Box 1. Goodridge Wilson Southwest Corner and Other Newspaper Clippings

Box 2. Newspapers, Documents, and Booklets of Southwest Virginia