James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
880 Madison DriveMSC 1704
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/
Sandra Joyner and Don Lambert, Cara Lundgren
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], [box #, folder #], Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society Collection, 1740-1950, SC 0117, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
Acquisition Information
This collection was compiled from many boxes of miscellaneous papers placed on deposit at the library by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society.
Processing Information
In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 2095 .
Scope and Content
This collection consists of approximately 1,700 items, in six boxes and one flat folder, and covers the dates 1740-1950. The collection is comprised of a very wide variety of legal, governmental, business, school, and church records, as well as personal papers, all primarily from the Central Shenandoah Valley (Rockingham, Shenandoah, Augusta, and Page Counties ). Most are originals, but some photocopies are included.
The Legal/Governmental Documents Series includes summonses, road documents, juror lists, delivery bonds, papers from the Sheriff's Office and the Circuit Courts of Rockingham and Shenandoah Counties , CSA Telegraph Reports, postal accounts, and miscellaneous other official reports, claims, applications, etc.
The Business/Institutional Documents Series includes church histories and other church documents, school catalogs, slave purchase documents, records of Cootes' Store, and other miscellaneous business papers which are not related to families, such as the merger of the News Register Co. and Rockingham Publishing Co. Significantly the collection includes a complete issue of the Rockingham Weekly Register from April 26, 1828, that is not extant elsewhere.
The Individual/Family Documents Series contains deeds and indentures; letters; receipts; promissory notes and other financial papers, including those related to family businesses; certificates; and miscellaneous other documents. Of particular interest are the Harrison and Lincoln family folders, which include several noteworthy deeds; and the Winfield family folder, which includes several items relating to the Civil War.
Arrangement
Most of the papers were received in no order. A few packets were labeled with family names. Documents are arranged chronologically within folders, except in the Miscellaneous folders of the Individual/Family series, where they are filed alphabetically. The collection is arranged in four series: 1. Legal/Governmental Documents; 2. Business/Institutional Documents; 3. Individual/Family Documents; 3.1. Individual Families; 4. Maps.
Legal/Governmental Documents Business/Institutional Documents Individual/Family Documents MapsSubjects and Indexing Terms
- Application forms
- Augusta County (Va.) -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Augusta County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Family papers
- Financial Records
- Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society
- Legal documents
- Letters (correspondence)
- Page County (Va.) -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Page County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Receipts (financial records)
- Rockingham County (Va.) -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Shenandoah County (Va.) -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Shenandoah County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Religious life and customs
- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Social life and customs
- Summonses
- Virginia -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
- Virginia -- History -- Sources
- Virginia -- History, Local -- Sources
- Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1775-1865
- Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865
- Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950
- Virginia -- Social life and customs
- Voters' lists
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Augusta County (Va.) -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Augusta County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Page County (Va.) -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Page County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Rockingham County (Va.) -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Shenandoah County (Va.) -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Shenandoah County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Religious life and customs
- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Social life and customs
- Virginia -- Genealogy -- Sources
- Virginia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
- Virginia -- History -- Sources
- Virginia -- History, Local -- Sources
- Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1775-1865
- Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865
- Virginia -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950
- Virginia -- Social life and customs
Container List
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 1
Account book, J. H. Shue, Clerk of Circuit Ct.1 item1875-1881
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 2
Applications to create voting precincts2 items1875-1881
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 3
Applications for soft-drink licenses78 items1916-1931
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 4
Appointments to office7 items1876-1887
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 5
Arrest warrants6 items1890-1920
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 6
Articles of agreement, 1861 Militia draft substitute agreement11 items1821-1894
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Assessments of clerks of the Court8 items1880-1914
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 7
1 item1902-1903
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 8
Complaints of illegal sales of poison14 items1906-1907
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 9
Complaints to the court5 items1778-1825
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 10
Court Actions: court decisions and grand jury presentments7 items1779-1897
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 11
Courthouse and Public Square; papers dealing with the building of a new courthouse12 items1832-1838
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 12
Court Petitions5 items1798-1899
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 13
CSA Military telegraph reports, Confederate Bonds5 items1864
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 14
Debt contracts19 items1797-1907
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 15
Delivery bonds90 items1844-1893
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 16
Inquests10 items1790-1823
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 17
Jail: Reports on the condition of the jail3 items1824-1916
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 18
Juror lists. See also Oversize Series63 items1871-1902
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 19
Lawsuit: Haga vs. Bradley; Article of agreement and depositions concerning this lawsuit13 items1829-1835
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 20
Licenses; To sell merchandise, keep private entertainment, practice as physician or attorney, operate as daguerrian artist, 1929 list of stills53 items1760-1929
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 21
Oaths of office7 items1779-1893
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 22
Pleas of the Commonwealth7 items1855-1860
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 23
Postal accounts, Parnassus, Va.25 items1875-1881
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 24
Assessments of Clerks of the Court93 items1880-1914
- Mixed Materials [1000886560] box: 1 folder: 25
Civilian Defense1 item1941-1944
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 1
Prohibition petition1 item1914
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 2
Promises to pay28 items1817-1910
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 2
Public road papers [MISSING]4 items1794-circa 1870
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 3
Receipts & applications for business charters51 items1875-1903
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 4
Records & claims against estates9 items1792-1890
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 5
Recognizance bonds50 items1883-1889
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 6
Recognizance bonds, promises to keep the peace77 items1890-1897
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 3
Reports of business of the Courts35 items1883-1914
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 7
Road documents. See also Oversize Series57 items1793-1927
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 8
Summonses and subpoenas36 items1801-1930
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 9
Tax Data4 items1801-1861
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 4
Tax Data1 item1833
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 10
Miscellaneous legal documents: Claims, judgments of court, deposition notice, program from dedication ceremony of W. G. Myers Armory6 items1797-1954
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 5
Miscellaneous legal documents: Juror list, list of Rockingham county officers; lists of county pensioners 1920, '215 items1874-1921
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 11
C&W Railroad Company. See also Oversize Series3 items1895
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 6
Chesapeake & Western Railroad Company: complete issue of Rockingham Weekly RegisterApril 28, 1828
- Mixed Materials [1000897715] Flat File: 1
Chesapeake & Western Railroad Company: 1 page from Bridgewater HeraldSeptember 14, 1895
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 7
Church documents2 items1794
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 12
Cootes Store: legal & financial records1857-1923
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 12.5
Cootes Store Horse Co. ledger1911
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 13
Cootes Store: charges, receipts1839-1898
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 14
Cootes Store: Post office records1866-1895
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 15
Cootes Store: Bark business1890-1892
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 16
2 items1860-1861
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 16.3 1768-1769
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 16.5
Harrisonburg Chamber of Commerce1925-1944
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 17
Mossy Creek Iron Works1 item1801
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 18
Rawley Springs Tonic Water Co., Rawley Springs Turnpike Co.4 items1890, 1896
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 18.5
River Bank Bridge Co.3 items1867
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 18.7
Rockingham Thespian Society1 item1866
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 19
Telephone companies: Receipts from Harrisonburg Mutual Telephone Co.; by-laws of Page Co. Telephone Company3 items1902-1904
- Mixed Materials [1000886561] box: 2 folder: 20
General Church documents: Contains undated typed manuscript "Some Old Churches of Rockingham& Neighboring Counties " by Ruebush & Wayland; M. E. Church S., Rockingham Dist. Steward's Bk. 1884; 1911 Rockingham Sunday School Association Constitution; [Peaked Mountain Church] list, 19204 items1884-1920, undated
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 1
Trustees and officers of churches1875-1918
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 2
Church histories and directories, Cook's Creek Presbyterian, Hebrew Friendship congregation, Methodist Church of Dayton, Mt. Hebron, Port Republic Methodist Church, New St. Stephen's Reformed Church, Trissels Mennonite Congregation1927-1952
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 3
School documents: Catalogs from Girls' Home School, Prospectus for Industrial School at Massanetta Springs, Program from McGaheysville H. S., Teacher's District Meeting, Timberville, 1908 program5 items1889-1926
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 4
Mossy Creek Academy: Lists of subscribers, Constitution (with transcription)5 items1850
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 5
Slave Purchase Documents3 items1794-1825
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 6
Miscellaneous business documents; 1901 timber contract; 1816 & other sale notices; 1843 Elk Run tent holders agreement; subscription form, Golden Horseshoe Tavern, Elkton; 1855 Rockingham Mutual Fire Ins. Co. policy for A. Sprinkel; 1913 (?) merger of News Register Co. & Rockingham Pub. Co., Account with J.P. Houck; Minute book of Weyers Cave Telephone Exchange, 1898-1952; Receipts of P.H. Myers29 items1816-1919
- 3.1
Individual FamiliesScope and Content
Separate folders under each family or individual for which 5 or more relevant items are held.
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 7
Basford, Thomas. Includes summonses, tax data, and business accounts8 items1868-1874
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 8
Conrad, Edward. Contains deeds & plat for downtown Harrisonburg; other deeds; & receipt for Valley Telephone Co. shares. See also Oversize12 items1895-1908
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 9
Crawford, William. Contains tax information13 items1867-1877
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 10
Eversole Family. Contains letters; road tax toll; RR stock receipts; & misc70 items1832-1879
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 11
Gaither Family25 items1834-1907
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 12
Garber Family. Includes tax data, muster fines, tax paper for the Confederacy, and receipts from shares of stock5 items1834-1886
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 13
Gibbons Family. Contains letters written by Mary Gibbons, including one dated 20 June 1862 describing battles of Pt. Republic & Cross Keys17 items1838-1895
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 14
Harrison Family. Includes an indenture that transferred land from T. Harrison to Rockingham County for a courthouse3 items1779-1831
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 15
Harnsbarger Family. Indentures, surveys6 items1815-1824
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 16
Kemper Family. Letters, mostly written to Fanny Kemper before Civil War34 items1843-1862
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 17
Kite, Joseph H. Bankruptcy papers30 items1873-1875
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 18
Koontz, John. Includes 1812 grant to land where Koontz built the house later occupied by Lincoln's. See also Oversize Series24 items1805-1832
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 19
Lincoln Family. Includes land indentures and typescript of genealogy. See also Oversize Series6 items1780-1831
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 20
Martz Family. Business letters from E. R. Shue, F. H. Bowman, etc. and letter to Hiram Martz commenting on politics and the recent elections34 items1840-1914
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 21
McGahey Family. Letters, deed, survey, & appraisal of estate of Tobias R. McGahey, 1845; blacksmithing accounts; 1862 note from John Letcher; 1884 note from J. R. Jones; churn patents, & misc45 items1809-1944
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 1
Miller Family6 items1837-1882
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 2
Morrison Family12 items1876-1898
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 3
Nicholas Family. See also Oversize Series5 items1839-1843
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 4
Reherd, William17 items1834-1881
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 5
Roller, John Edwin. Letters; description of military drill; tax receipts & other business papers55 items1846-1908
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 6
Senger, Daniel5 items1899-1905
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 7
Shacklett Family. Letters65 items1834-1872
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 8
Shacklett & Gibbons. Invoices16 items1855-1858
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 9
Shacklett & Others. Invoices57 items1827-1888
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 10
Showalter, Jacob. Includes 1840 indenture of John Showalter; other docs. relevant to estate of Jacob31 items1826-1876
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 11
Shue, J. H. 3 Confederate bills; docs. relating to Shue estate15 items1864-1886
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 12
Spader, John, and relatives. Deeds, loan bonds12 items1866-1917
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 13
Winfield Family. Includes many documents relating to the Civil War, business documents, indenture for servitude of a free boy of color37 items1823-1944
- Mixed Materials [1000886563] box: 4 folder: 14
Zirkle, Crawford11 items1865-1876
- Mixed Materials [1000886562] box: 3 folder: 7
- 3.2
Miscellaneous FamiliesScope and Content
Combined folders in one alphabetical sequence for four or less documents per name. See Cross Index for names.
- Mixed Materials [1000886564] box: 5 folder: 1
A-C
- Mixed Materials [1000886564] box: 5 folder: 2
D-G
- Mixed Materials [1000886564] box: 5 folder: 3
H-K
- Mixed Materials [1000886564] box: 5 folder: 4
L-Q
- Mixed Materials [1000886564] box: 5 folder: 5
R-Z
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 8
A-G
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 9
H-K
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 10
L-R
- Mixed Materials [1000897715] Flat File: 1
L-R
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 11
- Mixed Materials [1000898373] box: OV 1 folder: 12
Conrad Family land grants and indentures
- Mixed Materials [1000886564] box: 5 folder: 1