Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[A Guide to the Papers of James Major Colson IV], Accession #[1988-13b ], Special Collections and Archives, Johnston Memorial Library, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

A gift of James Major Colson IV

Biographical/Historical Information

James Major Colson IV was born in Petersburg Va. Mr.Colson was one of five children born to James M. and Kate Hill Colson. He graduated from the John A. Dix School in Dinwiddie County. He received his A.B. degree from Virginia Union University and a M.A. degree from New York University School of Business Administration.

During Mr.Colson's life he worked as a carpenter. He also worked for the New York City Bureau of Public Assistance, and the computer center at Virginia State University. He was married to Ernestine Winters and had one son by a previous marriage to Kate Gilpin Colson.

Scope and Content

The materials, which make up the James Major Colson Papers are clearly items removed from the Colson-Hill Family papers. These items include correspondence, scrapbooks, and a number of photographs. An inventory of these materials is available.

Series Descriptions

Series I. Records Book a meteorological record of Dinwiddie County covering the time 1901-1909..

Series II. Writings. Two short histories of the V.N. and C.I.

Series III. Photographs. Photographs of people and places. The Photographs appear to have been taken from Edna Meade Colson's papers.

Series IV. Printed. Invitations, programs, and other printed items collected by James Major Colson IV. An Interesting invitation concerning an Underground Railroad activity.

Series V. Artifacts. Objects colleted by Mr. James Major Colson, which include items from is grandfather John Henry Hill.