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], Reid Stanger Fulton Papers, Ms1978-010, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Reid Stanger Fulton Papers were received as part of a book collection purchased by Special Collections in July 1978.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Reid Stanger Fulton Papers commenced and was completed in January 2011.

Biographical Note

Reid Stanger Fulton, the son of Samuel M. and Margret E. Fulton, was born in Grayson County, Virginia on September 4, 1886. After graduating from the Dublin Institute (Pulaski County, Virginia), Fulton attended the University of Virginia, then earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Michigan. He served as a high school principal for a year, taught at Culver Military Institute for a year and served as an instructor in the University of Michigan's School of Oratory. In 1918, he became director of Drake University's School of Commerce. He was still teaching at Drake as late as 1935, but by 1954 was serving as an instructor of economics at City College of New York.

In 1943, Fulton purchased the Graham Mansion at Max Meadows, Virginia. He continued to teach at City College of New York until retiring in the late 1950s, when he retired to the mansion. Here, he housed his massive book collection and derived an income from the sale of timber. Fulton sold the mansion to Dr. James L. Chitwood in 1974 but retained residency there for the remainder of his life.

Reid Stanger Fulton died at Max Meadows in September 1979 and is buried in the Fulton Family Cemetery at Independence (Grayson County), Virginia.

Scope and Content

This collection contains the papers of Reid Stanger Fulton, economics instructor, avid book collector, and owner of the Graham Mansion (Max Meadows, Virginia). Included are several letters and legal agreements, relating largely to Fulton's Wythe County, Virginia property. The collection also includes a small collection of stock certificates, probably gathered by Fulton in the course of his book-collecting. A small set of newspaper clippings within the collection provides information on both Fulton and the Graham Mansion, while Fulton's career as a college instructor is represented in several class records and a 1958 economics examination. Also included are two 1922 issues of Journal of Business , featuring articles written by Fulton. A folder of typescript pieces includes an essay by Fulton titled "Is There a Paucity of Political Leadership," a short story titled "It Is Our Turn," signed "M.S. C.," an anonymous commencement address, and what appear to be course lecture notes. A folder of general materials completes the collection and includes a 1923 passport for Katherine Gourley (born 1853 in Ireland). Like the stock certificates, the passport probably has no personal connection to Fulton but was instead likely acquired by him in the course of collecting. The folder also includes two receipts issued to Fulton for the purchase of textbooks, some 1950s political/religious circular letters, and a land-use map for Fulton's Wythe County property.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by document type.

Related Material

The University Libraries include several books by and about Reid Fulton Stanger, which are available via the online library catalog.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Reid Stanger Fulton Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).