Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu
Nicole Hancock, Student Assistant, and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Ralph E. McCoy Collection, Ms2001-047, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The Ralph E. McCoy Collection was donated to Special Collections in 2001.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Ralph E. McCoy Collection was completed in September 2013.
Biographical Note
Ralph Edward McCoy was born on October 1, 1915 in St. Louis, Missouri. He married Melba McKibben in 1940, and they had two sons named Robert Allan McCoy and David Lawrence McCoy. He received an undergraduate degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1937, and a library degree in 1939 and a Ph.D. degree in 1956 from the University of Illinois. From 1943-1946, he served in the US Army. From 1955-1956, he was the Dean of Libraries at Southern Illinois University. In 1995, he and his wife moved to Blacksburg, Virginia. He died in September 2007.
Sources:
"Obit - McCoy, Ralph Edward", Roanoke Times , September 6, 2007. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.lib.vt.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=0D13EB2D702F7E0A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F11B83FD4709AE2E8 , accessed Feb. 13, 2023.
Scope and Content
The Ralph E. McCoy Collection contains materials collected by McCoy: publications, correspondence, programs, and American Civil War memorabilia. The collection includes a variety of materials including membership cards and honors received, event invitations and programs, Civil War publications and photographs , newsletters from different organizations, and World War II ration coupons.
Arrangement
The Ralph E. McCoy Collection is arranged in folders by material type. Folders are arranged alphabetically by title.
Separated Material
Three VHS tapes were removed from the collection and cataloged for the Special Collections and University Archives's media materials: "Grant's Tomb Centennial" (Spec Media Video 8479), "Life of Abraham Lincoln" (Spec Media Video 8480), and "U.S. Grant Association C-Span Broadcast" (Spec Media Video 8478).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Civil War
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- World War, 1939-1945
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Ralph E. McCoy Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).