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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], Papers Relevant to the Lives of John Taylor Radford (1838-1864) and William Moseley Radford (1840-1862) Typescript, Ms2022-006, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

This collection acquired by Special Collections and University Archives prior 2012.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Papers Relevant to the Lives of John Taylor Radford (1838-1864) and William Moseley Radford (1840-1862) Typescript was completed in April 2022.

Biographical Note

Rodger Streitmatter is a Professor Emeritus at the School of Communication at American University in Washington, D.C. A cultural historican, he explores how the media influences the public. He has written over nine books and specializes in History of alternative media; sex and the media; gay and lesbian journalism; journalism history; and African American women journalists.

John Taylor Radford (1838-1864) was the first son of John Blair Radford and Elizabeth Campbell Taylor, born on July 4, 1838. He went to private school for his education, eventually graduating with a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1857. He joined Company K of the 24th Virginia Regiment of Volunteers in 1861, eventually serving under Brigadier General John McCausland as Lieutenant Colonel. He passed away in battle in 1864 at the age of 26 and is buried in the family cemetery in Radford.

William Moseley Radford (1840-1862) was the second son of John Blair Radford and Elizabeth Campbell Taylor, born on August 12, 1840. He went to private school for his education, eventually graduating with a bachelor of arts from the University of Virginia in 1857. He helped organize the Pulaski Boys, the 24th Virginia Regiment of Volunteers in 1861. He served under Brigadier General Jubal A. Early as First Lieutenant and eventually second in command of the unit. He died at the battle of Williamsburg at the age of 21 and is buried in the family cemetery in Radford.

Scope and Content

This collection contains a typescript entitled Papers Relevant to the Lives of John Taylor Radford (1838-1864) and William Moseley Radford (1840-1862) , edited by Rodger Streitmatter, The American University, Washington, D.C., and dated April 1981. The document has transcriptions of letters to and from the Radford brothers, which range from topics about their schooling and education, the war front, after their deaths. The typescript also includes a brief family history about the Radfords with marginalia and bibliographic notes related to the names and places mentioned in the letters.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• Montgomery County (Va.)
• Montgomery County (Va.)
• Radford (Va.)
• Radford, John Taylor, 1838-1864
• Radford, William Moseley, 1840-1862
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Regimental Histories

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Papers Relevant to the Lives of John Taylor Radford (1838-1864) and William Moseley Radford (1840-1862) Typescript by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).