Goodwin, W. O., & Company Account Books W. O. Goodwin & Company Account Books, 1896-1920 Ms.1940.012

W. O. Goodwin & Company Account Books, 1896-1920 Ms.1940.012


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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

John M. Jackson, Archivist

Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.1940.012
Title
W. O. Goodwin & Company Account Books 1896-1920
Quantity
0.3 Cubic Feet, 1 box
Language
English .
Abstract
The collection contains account books that provide names of customers and descriptions of items purchased from W. O. Goodwin & Company, a general mercantile store in Glenvar (Roanoke County), Virginia, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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], W. O. Goodwin & Company Account Books, Ms1940-012, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The W. O. Goodwin & Company Account Books were transferred to the University Libraries in 1939 or 1940 and transferred to Special Collections and University Archives in 1955.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the W. O. Goodwin & Company Account Books commenced in October 2011 and was completed in November 2011. Initial description was completed in or prior to May 1970.


Biographical Note

William Oscar Goodwin, proprietor of the W. O. Goodwin & Company store at Glenvar (Roanoke County), Virginia, was born on January 14, 1873, the son of Thomas T. and Mattie Salome Coffman Goodwin.

An article in the September 23, 1893 edition of the Roanoke Times refers to W. O. Goodwin as an employee in the offices of the Norfolk & Western Railroad. An article in the October 6, 1895 issue of the same newspaper states that Goodwin had been previously living for some time in Roanoke, Illinois but had recently returned to Roanoke County to live. The 1910 census lists 37-year-old Roanoke County resident William O. Goodwin as a messenger. He is described as a merchant in the 1920 census, however. According to his obituary, Goodwin established his store in 1913; Deedie Kagey's When Past is Prologue: a History of Roanoke County states that Goodwin's store succeeded that of Frank P. Harmon in 1915. Evidence within the collection suggests that the former date is probably correct. Goodwin's obituary states that he operated the store until 1946.

Goodwin married Xie Gullett, and the couple had five children. William Goodwin died in Staunton, Virginia on May 17, 1955, and was buried at Sherwood Burial Park, Salem, Virginia.

Scope and Content

This collection contains two account books from W. O. Goodwin & Company, a general mercantile store in Glenvar (Roanoke County), Virginia, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Because the first account book seems to predate Goodwin's start in business by nearly two decades, it seems likely to have originated with his predecessor in business, Frank P. Harmon. This ledger records the names of individuals and other companies with whom business was transacted, together with dates and amounts of transactions. Purchases generally have not been itemized but described simply as "merchandise." Also recorded in brief detail are farm and family accounts. The account entries end in 1899, and are followed by what appears to be a list of Goodwin's expenditures for stock, beginning with his purchase of the store in 1913, and running through 1920. The second volume is a ledger detailing the transactions of a general mercantile business, with entries providing names of customers, itemized lists of purchases, prices, and dates.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Account books
  • Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
  • Roanoke County (Va.)

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the W. O. Goodwin & Company Account Books by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your- work/public-domain/cc0/ ).

Container List

box 1 item: 1
Account book
1896-1920
box 1 item: 2
Account book
1913-1916