Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives
204 W. Washington St.Lexington, VA 24450
specialcollections@wlu.edu
URL: https://library.wlu.edu/special-collections-archives.html
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation
Royster Lyle Iron Industry papers, RHS Coll. 0096, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Retrieved from Prof. Ken Koons, VMI, by Tom and Seth, May 14, 2019.
Biographical / Historical
Royster Lyle, Jr. (1933-2007) was born and raised in Danville, Virginia and attended Hampden-Sydney College. In 1962 Lyle moved to Lexington, Virginia to take a position at the George C. Marshall Foundation and Research Library where he was employed for thirty-one years. Beyond his noteworthy career at the Marshall Foundation, Lyle championed a number of major historical preservation and environmental conservation causes in the region. Lyle authored numerous articles and co-authored two books during his 45 years as a resident of Lexington, Virginia.
Related Material
WLU Coll 0374 - Hand written and illustrated notebook of short stories (The Screech Owl Story, The Sparrow Hawk New Home, The Baby Wren Queen Home, and The Hummingbird New Home on a Farm) was written by Lyle when he was twelve years old. It was a gift to his grandmother on December 25, 1945.
RHS Coll 0499 - Royster Lyle, Jr. Research Collection
General
These papers were brought in by VMI Prof. Ken Koons, May 14, 2019.
Container List
Includes estimates on Lock No. 14.
Correspondence of the Davis family, mainly pertaining to the mill and school at Cedar Grove, Rockbridge County 
.
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 1
Correspondence1845Scope and Contents
Jacob Finney, Staunton, Virginia to John P. E. Stanley, Baltimore, Maryland, January 6, 1845 (original); John P. E. Stanley to Jacob Finney, January 10, 1845 (original on same piece of paper as the January 6 letter); typescripts of two letters on the same piece of paper, from John Jordan to William Davis, April 25, 1845 and May 1, 1845
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 2
Correspondence1848
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 3
Correspondence1849Scope and Contents
R. Turk (?), Middlebrook to Mr. Davis, May 7, 1849 (photocopy); W. H. Compton, Lexington, Virginia to W. W. Davis, May 11, 1849 (photocopy); Jane Gillespie, Oak Hill,
Louisa Co., to sister Ann, August 28, 1849 (photocopy); Jane Gillespie to brother William, August 28, 1849 (photocopy); R. Turk
(?), Middlebrook to W. W. Davis, September 5, 1849 (photocopy); Baker, G. A., Lexington, Virginia to worthy brother, September
26, 1849 (photocopy); ___________? to sister, A. Davis, Rockbridge, September 26, 1849 (photocopy); James M. Brown, Kanawha
C.H. to W. W. Davis, October 20, 1849 (photocopy); James Cole Davis, Botetourt Springs to his sister, December 3, 1849 (photocopy)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 4
Correspondence1850Scope and Contents
James Cole Davis, Washington College to his father, March 8, 1850 (photocopy); James Strickler, Cedar Grove Mills to William W. Davis, June 12, 1850 (photocopy); Sarah Holbrook, East Charlemont to Mr. Davis, September 28, 1850 (photocopy); William C. Norcross(?), Pine Forge to William W. Davis, November 28, 1850 (photocopy)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 5
Correspondence1851Scope and Contents
Smithson & H__________?, Lynchburg to William W. Davis, September 5, 1851 (photocopy); Harriet Morrison, Powhatan to Mr. Davis, September 29, 1851 and October 14, 1851 (originals); A. J. Huntington, Chelsea, Mass. to Mr. Davis, Cedar Grove Mills, December 16, 1851 (original); J. D. Davidson to Mr. Davis, December 25, 1851 (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 6
Correspondence1852Scope and Contents
A. J. Huntington, Chelsea to Wm. W. Davis, Feb. 18, 1852 (original); McDaniel & Son(?) to W. W. Davis, March 20, 1852, which includes an 1851 statement (original); Lewis Webb & Son(?) to W. W. Davis, August 23, 1852, which includes a statement (original); S. C. Robinson, Roaring Run Furnace to W. W. Davis, June 5, 1852 (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 7
Correspondence1853Scope and Contents
John Bell, Catawba to William W. Davis, April 28, 1853 (original); McDaniel Hurt & Preston, Lynchburg W. W. Davis, July 14, 1853 (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 8
Correspondence1854Scope and Contents
Jones & Finney to W. W. Davis, February 26, 1854 (original); McDaniel Hurt & Preston, Lynchburg to Wm. W. Davis, April 11, 1854 (original); W.A. Hughes(?), Frederickhall to W. W. Davis, May 17, 1854 (original); Compton and Chandler, Lexington to W. W. Davis, November 22, 1854 (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 9
Correspondence1855-05-17Scope and Contents
J. J. Fry(?), Richmond to W. W. Davis, May 17, 1855 (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 10
Correspondence1856Scope and Contents
Irby & Saunders, Lynchburg to Wm. W. Davis, April 8, 1956 (original); M. L. Hughes(?), Seclusion to W. W. Davis, September 19, 1856 or 1857(?) (original); Sam Christian, Walnut Hills to W. W. Davis, November 6, 1856, which includes, which includes also a note from Sam (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 11
Correspondence1857Scope and Contents
Joseph R. Campbell, Lexington to Wm. W. Davis, June 17, 1857 (original); Jones & Finney, Pattonsburg to W. W. Davis, Feb. 11 & 17, March 18, 1957 (originals); John Hepler, Goshen Bridge to Wm. W. Davis, Feb. 26, 1857 (original); J. C. ____________, the Institute for the deaf and dumb and the blind to __________, Nov. 21, 1857 (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 12
Correspondence1858Scope and Contents
W. M. McCutcheon to Wm. W. Davis, April 12, 1858 (original); M. M. Bryan, Roaches Island to Wm. W. and James C. Davis, Nov. 12, 1858 (original); P. Scott receipt due John A. Wilson on taxes…, Nov. 19, 1858 (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 13
Correspondence1860
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 14
Correspondence1861-08-02Scope and Contents
Elizabeth Strasberg, Fishersville to brother ___________, August 2, 1861 (original and typescript)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 15
Correspondence1862Scope and Contents
H. B. Bosserman, Camp Alleghany to brother __________, March 27, 1862 (original in two pieces); A.(?) H. Bosserman, Rockbridge to brother __________, Nov. 23, 1862 (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 16
Correspondence1863Scope and Contents
William Kelly(?), Camp Alleghany to friend Henry __________, March 13, 1863 (original); Wm.(?) Bosserman to friend ___________, ___________, VA, July 18, 1863 (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 17
Correspondence1864-05-09Scope and Contents
William Hall, At Home to friend (?), (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 18
Correspondence1864-12-04Scope and Contents
Alex Bondurant, Col Alto to dear Sir (?), (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 19
CorrespondenceOctober 5, 1870Scope and Contents
W. A. Anderson, Lexington, VA Law Office to J. McHull (?), (original)
- Mixed Materials Box 3 folder: 20
Correspondence, undatedScope and Contents
Undated – Fanny(?), Valley Union Seminary to Dearest Brother (?), Jan. (original & transcript); Mag Davis, Young Ladies Institute to Dear Ma, May 5 (original & transcript); M. L. Hughes(?), Seclusion to A. O. Davis, Cedar Grove, August 6 (original); 2 envelopes