Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection open for research .

Use Restrictions

Visual materials may require special handling.

Preferred Citation

Russell Gregg Photograph Collection, ca. 1920-1944 (VC 0008), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA..

Acquisition Information

Mary Gregg Reynolds, Ossining, NY

Alternative Form Available

Digital surrogates

Accruals

2000.0003

Processing Information

Processed by Carolyn Jackson, 21 July 2010

Biographical Information

Russell Gregg was born on April 6, 1890 to Edgar Bentley and Mary Nichols Gregg at his family farm west of Hamilton, Virginia. He worked as a farmer with his brother while becoming an amateur photographer. He worked for the Loudoun Times-Mirror as a photographer, specializing in high school classes. He married Anne Pierce in October of 1917; they did not have any children. For the last few years of his life, Gregg lived with his niece, Mary Gregg Pancoast Reynolds. He died on December 16, 1980 in Purcellville, Virginia.

Loudoun County in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s had a stable population of approximately 20,000 people. The county was predominately agricultural, with more than 2000 farms in 1920. In 1920-1921, Loudoun was negatively impacted by the stabilization of Europe after World War I, which had previously depended on America farms for food and goods. By 1922, prices had returned to pre-war levels, and dairy became a large part of Loudoun's economy. The W&OD Railroad influenced the growth of industry in Loudoun, as well as the continued support of the dairy market. Loudoun County was not immediately affected by the stock market crash in 1928; the drought of 1930 brought the Great Depression to Loudoun. Most relief was provided by the Virginia Department of Agriculture, but the number of farms dropped below 1700. The Rural Electrification Administration brought electricity to Loudoun in 1935, making domestic and agricultural work easier. World War II brought about a revival to the economy, as Loudoun farms and industries were once again needed to support the war effort. In addition to supporting the war at home, 3000 Loudoun men signed up for the draft before the age limit was lowered from 21 to 18 years. Fifty-one of those men died in the war.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of 715 photographs taken by Russell Gregg of Loudoun County and its residents during the 1920s, 1930s, and the early 1940s. They include wedding pictures, family portraits, individual portraits, as well has pictures of houses, groups, and events in Loudoun County. The bulk of the photographs are of high school students: graduates, sports teams, and classes.

Most of the collection was digitized in 2004, after which the negatives were discarded. Print sizes are primarily 4"x6", 5"x7" and 8"x10". Photographs are organized by date, and then alphabetically according to content. Undated images are organized at the beginning of the collection. Physical photographs are organized according to size, and by catalogue number.

Related Material

Leesburg May Pole Dance, 1932 (VC 0012), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Bibliography

History of Loudoun County. www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=1123
Leesburg, Virginia: An Exploration through History (DVD). Town of Leesburg, 2010.
Poland, Charles P. From Frontier to Suburbia: Loudoun County, Virginia. Westminster, Maryland: Heritage Books, 2005.
"Russell Gregg, 90, Dies Farmer, Photographer." Loudoun Times-Mirror Dec 18, 1980: A 18.
"Mrs Russell Gregg, 88, Active in Church, Clubs." Loudoun Times-Mirror Nov 20, 1969: A 14.

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Other Finding Aid

Past Perfect catalogue records

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Technical Requirements

Electronic media