A Guide to the Papers of Jane G. Wilhelm, 1936-2000 Wilhelm, Papers of Jane G. 12018

A Guide to the Papers of Jane G. Wilhelm, 1936-2000

A Collection in
Special Collections
The University of Virginia Library
Accession Number 12018

Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Reference Request Form: https://small.lib.virginia.edu/reference-request/
URL: http://small.library.virginia.edu/

Processed by: Special Collections Staff

Repository

Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Accession number

12018

Title

Papers of Jane G. Wilhelm 1936-2000

Physical Characteristics

This collection consists of ca. 8,000 items(23 Hollinger boxes, 9.5 linear shelf feet.)

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of Jane G. Wilhelm, Accession #12018, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

These papers were given to the University of Virginia Library by Jane Wilhelm through Donald Wilhelm III, Pleasant Hill, California on June 23, 2001.

Biographical/Historical Information

Jane Gilmer Wilhelm was born on November 29, 1914 in Norton, Wise County, Virginia, to banker Henry G. Gilmer (1881-1961) and Allie Blake Gilmer (1890-1966), school teacher and daughter of an Holston Conference Methodist minister. She graduated from Norton High School as valedictorian in 1931, attended William and Mary from 1931 until she earned her diploma in 1935, and received her Masters from Duke University in 1937. Wilhelm also did graduate work at Yale University, Radcliffe College, and George Washington University. She was married in 1938 to Donald Wilhelm, Jr. (1915- ) and divorced in 1964. They had four children, Donald Wilhelm III (1942- ), Henry Gilmer Wilhelm (1943- ), John Warren Wilhelm (1945- ), and Ellen Jane Wilhelm (1948-1985).

Jane Wilhelm began her career in education at Sullins College, Bristol, Virginia, in 1935-1936, and continued as Director of Student Activities, Georgia State College for Women, Milledgeville, Georgia (1937- 1938), Director of Religious Education, Rock Spring Congregational Church, Arlington, Virginia (1951-1952), Special Lecturer in Philosophy and Religion, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa (1949-1951), teacher and Assistant Principal for Instruction, McLean High School, Fairfax County, Virginia (1954-1964), Director of Community Relations for the new town of Reston, Virginia (1964-1969), Principal of Glaydin School, Leesburg, Virginia (1969-1976), and Professor of English and Philosophy, Northern Virginia Community College (1966-1980). Wilhelm was the first female administrator in the Virginia public schools, during the 1950's.

As the director of community relations for the planned city of Reston, Wilhelm began her work as the primary contact with local voluntary agencies and state and county officials before the first building went up in the developing community. She was charged with the task of securing community facilities, such as schools, day care, a hospital, and churches in the new town, creating an infrastructure for social services in Reston. Wilhelm was also responsible for educating potential buyers about the uniqueness of the community, which was open to all races. She also served as president of the Reston chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons and as a member of the Reston Community Center Board of Directors and Learning in Retirement Institute. In 1999, she won the Best of Reston Award for all of her services to that community.

Wilhelm was also active in the civil rights movement, working with other teachers to integrate Fairfax County Public Schools. Along with eight other teachers, she joined the Fairfax County Black Teachers Association.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of the papers, 1936-2000, ca. 8,000 items (23 Hollinger boxes, 9.5 linear shelf feet) of educator and activist Jane Gilmer Wilhelm (1914-2002), daughter of Henry Groseclose Gilmer (1881-1961) and Allie Washington Blake (1890-1966), of Norton, Virginia.

The papers include correspondence, chiefly from family and friends, postcards, news clippings, notebooks, personal diaries recording both her life and ideas, slides, photographs, audiocassettes and memorabilia. The papers document her teaching career, her concern with social issues in Virginia and nationwide, and the foundation of the planned community, Reston, Virginia.

The bulk of the collection consists of personal correspondence, courses taught by Wilhelm, the development of Reston, Virginia, papers pertaining to the Society for Values in Higher Education, and articles and related materials reflecting her interest in Cuba. A significant portion of the papers describe her family life and her travels to China, Cuba, Greece, and Italy after her retirement. Two unpublished memoirs were written in honor of a deceased daughter and grandson..

Organization

These papers are arranged in three series: Series I: Correspondence (Boxes 1-3); Series II: Subject Files (Boxes 4-13); and Series III: Bound Volumes, Photographs, Memorabilia, and Miscellaneous Papers (Boxes 14-23), including slides, photographs, post cards, and photograph albums.

Contents List

Series: I: Correspondence

Box 1
Correspondence 1933-2000, n.d.

(4 folders)
Box 1
Correspondence: Donna Alvarado, granddaughter 1988-2001
Box 1
Correspondence: Birthday Cards 1987-1995, n.d.
Box 1
Correspondence: Cards 1943-1993, n.d.
Box 1
Correspondence: Christmas Cards and Letters 1976-1992

(3 folders)
Box 2
Correspondence: Christmas Cards and Letters 1993-1999, n.d.

(2 folders)
Box 2
Correspondence: Fairfax County Public Schools 1964-1995
Box 2
Correspondence: Ellen Jane Gilmer, grandmother 1939-1944
Box 2
Correspondence: Henry G. Gilmer, father 1940-1959
Box 2
Correspondence: Grandchildren 1986-1998
Box 2
Correspondence: Michael Horwatt 1994-1998
Box 2
Correspondence: Invitations 1992-2000, n.d.
Box 2
Correspondence: Eugenia Melton and Vera Gilmer, aunts 1977-1996, n.d.
Box 2
Correspondence: Letters to Newspaper Editors 1993-1995
Box 2
Correspondence: Recommendations and Support Letters 1985-1995
Box 2
Correspondence: University of Virginia Special Collections Library 1996
Box 3
Correspondence and Papers: David Wilhelm, grandson 1986-1996

(2 folders)
Box 3
Correspondence and Papers: David Wilhelm, III, son 1981-1999
Box 3
Correspondence: re Donald Wilhelm, IV, grandson 1986-1987
Box 3
Correspondence: Ellen Wilhelm, daughter 1959-1977
Box 3
Correspondence: Henry Wilhelm, son, and including some from his father, Donald Wilhelm, Jr. 1959-2000

(2 folders)
Box 3
Correspondence: Jane Wilhelm and family letters from Burma 1952-1953
Box 3
Correspondence: Jane Wilhelm Christmas Letters and Related Material 1976-1987, n.d.
Box 3
Correspondence: John Wilhelm, son, including some from his father, Donald Wilhelm, Jr. 1962-1963, 1967-2001, n.d.

(2 folders)

Series: II: Subject Files

Box 4
Aging 1992-1998, n.d.
Box 4
American Association of Retired Persons 1988-1990
Box 4
The Arts 1990-2000
Box 4
Astral Forecast, Enneagram, Hexagram, I Ching Numerology for Jane Wilhelm 1974-1998, n.d.
Box 4
"A Biography of Ms. Jane Wilhelm" by students at Terraset Elementary School 1998
Box 4
Lillian Brown 1988-1990, n.d.
Box 4
Business Cards and Ballot Cards for Vera D. Gilmer 1949, n.d.
Box 4
Dr. Eltse B. Carter 1988
Box 4
Certificates from Norton High School for Perfect Attendance 1927, 1929
Box 4
Courses Taught by Jane Wilhelm - "Bible as Living Literature" Grinnell College 1950-1951

(2 folders)
Box 4
Courses Taught by Jane Wilhelm - "Christian Education in the Church" George Washington University 1951-1952
Box 4
Courses Taught by Jane Wilhelm - "Proposed Course in Sociology" McLean High School 1959
Box 4
Courses Taught by Jane Wilhelm - Instruction for Assistant Principals, McLean High School 1959-1964
Box 4
Courses Taught by Jane Wilhelm - World Religions, Learning in Retirement Institute and Senior Academy, Reston Community Center 1991-1992
Box 5
Courses Taught by Jane Wilhelm - "Invitation to Philosophy" Learning in Retirement Institute 1991-2000

(2 folders)
Box 5
Courses Taught by Jane Wilhelm - Miscellaneous for the Learning in Retirement Institute 1992-2001
Box 5
Courses Taught by Jane Wilhelm - "Unions: What Does the Future Hold?" Learning in Retirement Institute 1994
Box 5
Cuba: Articles 1991-1994, 1997, n.d.

(3 folders)
Box 5
Cuba: Articles by Promoting Enduring Peace Trip Members 1993-1994
Box 5
Cuba: Articles re Cuba Information Project 1994
Box 5
Cuba: Articles - "The Concept of Human Rights : The History and Meaning of its Politicization," by Joy Gordon, Promoting Enduring Peace Cuba Trip Leader 1997 Apr-May
Box 6
Cuba: Correspondence - Adele K. O'Shaughnessy and George E. Everett, Promoting Enduring Peace Cuba Trip Travelers 1993
Box 6
Cuba: Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, "Torrecelli Bill" 1992-1993
Box 6
Cuba: Learning in Retirement Institute, "Contemporary Cuba" Course taught by Jane Wilhelm 1993
Box 6
Cuba: Miscellaneous 1993-1994
Box 6
Cuba: Notes by Ruth Emerson on Cuba and one letter 1993-1994
Box 6
Cuba: Promoting Enduring Peace Cuba Tour - Information and Itineraries 1993 Mar 9-19
Box 6
Cuba: Promoting Enduring Peace Cuba Tour - "The Struggle Against Racism, the Cuban Experience" 1994 Mar 8-18
Box 6
Cuba: Tourist Materials 1993
Box 6
Cuba: Travel Notebook and Other Notes by Jane Wilhelm 1993-1994
Box 6
Cuba: "Will the Revolution Outlast the Revolutionary?" Talk Given by Jane Wilhelm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, Reston, Virginia 1994 Oct 28
Box 6
Curriculum Vitae and Biographical Information 1995-2000
Box 6
Death - Advance Directives, Living Wills, and Euthanasia 1977-1997
Box 6
Death, Estate, and Wrongful Death Suit of Ellen Wilhelm 1985-1988
Box 7
Death and Grief 1989-1999, n.d.
Box 7
Death Penalty 2000-2001
Box 7
Diploma - Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 1937
Box 7
Dissertation by Linda Cato based on the Life of Jane Wilhelm 1997
Box 7
Education 1937-2001, n.d.
Box 7
Environment 1936-2000, n.d.
Box 7
Fairfax County, Virginia 1985-1999
Box 7
Fellowship Square Foundation, Inc. - Lake Ann and Tall Oaks Fellowship Houses 1987
Box 7
Genealogy - Gilmer Family 1942-1999, n.d.
Box 7
Genealogy - "The Gilmers in America" [1897]

(Copy)
Box 7
Genealogy - Kolstad Family 1988
Box 7
Genealogy - Memoir of Jane Ellen Wilhelm by Jane Wilhelm 1987
Box 7
Georgia Pacific Corporation and T. Marshall Hahn, Jr. 1989-1990
Box 7
Glaydin School, Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia 1954-1994, n.d.
Box 7
Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa 1961-1985
Box 7
Thomas Jefferson 1986-2000
Box 7
John F. Kennedy Inaugural Invitation, Reception for Distinguished Ladies 1961
Box 7
Lady Fairfax Award 2000
Box 8
Lifestyle, Society, and Health 1988-2001, n.d.
Box 8
McLean High School Alumni and Friends Association 1995-1997
Box 8
Memoirs, Materials for 1987-2001
Box 8
Memoirs of an Unidentified Individual n.d.
Box 8
Mental Health and Psychoanalytic Theory 1955-1956
Box 8
Millennium 1999
Box 8
News clippings re Henry G. Gilmer and Colgate Darden 1942
Box 8
News clippings re Norton and Wise County, Virginia 1990, n.d.
Box 8
News clippings and Printed re Tibet and the Dalai Lama 1993
Box 8
News clippings re Jane Wilhelm 1964-2001
Box 8
Norton High School Valedictory Address by Jane Wilhelm and Related 1931 May
Box 8
Norton, Virginia Centennial 1994-1997
Box 8
Obituaries and Friend's Deaths 1970-2001, n.d.
Box 8
Passport and Vaccination Record 1963-1979
Box 8
Politics 1972-1997
Box 8
Political and Social Issues 1962-2000, n.d.
Box 8
Quotations ca. 1953
Box 9
Quotations 1958-1994, n.d.
Box 9
Race and Racism 1977-2000, n.d.
Box 9
Religion 1956-2001, n.d.
Box 9
Report Cards and Transcripts of Jane Wilhelm 1920-1931, 1962-1963
Box 9
Reston: Articles Relating to Reston's History for "Selling Reston as an Open Community" Reston Museum 1998 Feb 26
Box 9
Reston: Best of Reston Awards 1994-1998
Box 9
Reston: Board of Commerce, Transportation System and RIBS (Reston Internal Bus System) 1988-1998
Box 9
Reston: Correspondence of Robert E. Simon, Jr., the developer of Reston, Virginia 1982-1999, n.d.
Box 9
Reston: Early Reston 1964-1991
Box 9
Reston: Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church 1996-1999
Box 10
Reston: Miscellaneous Development 1984-2001, n.d.
Box 10
Reston: Reston Community Committee Board of Governors 1985 Oct-Nov
Box 10
Reston: Reston Interfaith 1995-2000
Box 10
Reston: Reston 2000 Task Force 1988 Apr-Jun
Box 10
Reston: Reverend Embry Rucker 1985-1994
Box 10
Reston: Senior Academy, Reston Community Center, World Religions Class - Materials and Clippings 1996-1998
Box 10
Reston: Twentieth Anniversary 1985 Mar-May
Box 10
Reston: Unitarian Universalist Church 1991-2000, n.d.

(2 folders)
Box 11
Reston: Unitarian Universalist Church - Sermons 1991-1999
Box 11
School Psychology 1957-1962, 1981
Box 11
Sermons 1958-1959, 1996, 2000
Box 11
Society for Values in Higher Education - Correspondence, Newsletters and Budgets 1986-2000
Box 11
Society for Values in Higher Education - Assistant Directorship 1989-1990
Box 11
Society for Values in Higher Education - "History of the 1930's Decade" for Fellows Meeting, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 1994
Box 11
Society for Values in Higher Education - "It is Hard to Say Goodbye" 1990 Aug
Box 11
Society for Values in Higher Education - "Life in Performance: Reflections on Ritual, Religion, and Social Value" by Tom F. Driver 1992 Aug 9
Box 11
Society for Values in Higher Education - Recollections of the 1930s 1977, 1994
Box 11
Society for Values in Higher Education - "Socialization: Discontents and Contents" and "It Takes a Long Time to Grow Young" 1997 Aug
Box 11
Society for Values in Higher Education - "Struggling with Religious Tradition: My Spiritual Odyssey 1980 Jul
Box 11
Society for Values in Higher Education - 71st Annual Fellows Meeting, Scripps College 1995 Aug 3-8
Box 11
Society for Values in Higher Education - 73rd Annual Fellows Meeting, University of Maine, at Farmington 1997 Jul 31-Aug 5
Box 12
Kathryn H. Stone ca. 1950-1996
Box 12
Trips - China - Fresh Pond Travel and the U.S.-China People's Friendship Association 1978-1979
Box 12
Trips - Greece - Saga Holidays, including news clippings concerning Greece 1993-1994
Box 12
Trips - Italy - Saga Holidays, Information and Itinerary 1994
Box 12
Trips - Italy and Greece - Travel Journals 1994
Box 12
Trips - Italy - Tourist Materials and Souvenirs 1994
Box 12
Twin Oaks Community 1990-1997
Box 12
Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1961-2000
Box 13
Virginia Polytechnic Institute Board of Visitors Certificate 1968
Box 13
Virginia Standards of Learning 1995-1997
Box 13
The William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation - The Clinton Presidential Library 2000 Aug 25
Box 13
William and Mary, College of 1934-1993, n.d.
Box 13
Writings by Jane Wilhelm 1956-1999, n.d.

(2 folders)
Box 13
Writings - Notes and Quotations n.d.
Box 13
Writings by Jane Wilhelm - "Why Am I a Unitarian?" 1979-1994, n.d.

Series: III: Bound Volumes, Photographs, Memorabilia, and Miscellaneous Papers

Box 14
Bound Volumes - Autograph Book 1926-1932
Box 14
Bound Volumes - A Book of Days for the Literary Year with Annotations by Jane Wilhelm 1987
Box 14
Bound Volumes - Calendars 1962, 1989-1999
Box 14
Bound Volumes - Calendars 1988, 1994-1997
Physical Location: (oversize)
Box 14
Bound Volumes - Christmas Cards and Gifts 1995, 1999, n.d.
Box 14
Bound Volumes - Journals 1986, 1999
Box 14
Bound Volumes - Journal of Trip to China 1978
Box 14
Bound Volumes - Log Book kept by Visitors to The Four Winds Cabin, on Overlook Drive, Valley View Farms, Rileyville, Virginia, owned by Jane Wilhelm 1979-1999
Box 15
Bound Volumes - Masters Thesis at Duke University, "Some Aspects of the Ethical and Religious Thought of Thomas Jefferson by Lula Jane Gilmer 1937
Box 15
Bound Volumes - Meditation Journal 1995
Box 15
Bound Volumes - Miscellaneous Notebooks 1959, 1995, n.d.
Box 15
Bound Volumes - Photo Albums of Trip to China 1978 Nov-Dec

(2 folders)
Box 16
Bound Volumes - Photo Albums of Trip to China 1978 Nov-Dec

(2 folders)
Box 16
Bound Volumes -Photo Album of Trip to Cuba 1993 Mar
Box 16
Bound Volumes - Religion Notes 1989-1994
Box 16
Bound Volumes - Scrapbook of Cards and Letters of Congratulations upon the Birth of John Warren Wilhelm 1945
Box 17
Bound Volumes - Scrapbooks of Trip to China 1978 Nov-Dec

(2 volumes)
Box 18
Bound Volumes - Scrapbooks of Trip to China 1978 Nov-Dec

(2 volumes)
Box 19
Bound Volumes - Telephone and Address Books n.d.
Box 19
Bound Volumes - Telephone Answering Books 1997-1998, n.d.

(2 folders)
Box 19
Memorabilia - Pencil Tray made from the seats of Miles Stadium 1964
Box 19
Memorabilia - Plaque from Virginia Polytechnic Institute to Jane Gilmer Wilhelm for service on their Board of Visitors 1968
Box 19
Memorabilia - Plaque of Theta Rho Lambda Chapter Service Award to Jane G. Wilhelm 1969
Box 19
Memorabilia - Political and Slogan Pin Buttons 2001, n.d.

(2 small boxes)
Box 19
Memorabilia - Umbrella n.d.
Box 20
Memorabilia - Souvenirs from Trips Abroad ca. 1978-1994
Box 21
Negatives - Trip to China 1978
Box 21
Negatives - Trip to Cuba 1993
Box 21
Negatives - Trip to Greece and Italy 1994
Box 21
Photographs - Family ca. 1940-1997, n.d.
Box 21
Photographs - Family - Henry G. Gilmer, including group shots ca. 1890-1942, n.d.
Box 21
Photographs - Political Figures 1989, n.d.
Box 21
Photographs - Jane Gilmer Wilhelm 1918-1997
Box 21
Photographs - Trip to Cuba 1993-1994

(2 folders)
Box 21
Photographs - Trip to Greece 1994
Box 21
Photographs - Trip to Italy 1994
Box 21
Postcards - Cuba 1993-1994

(2 folders)
Box 22
Postcards - Greece 1994

(2 folders)
Box 22
Postcards - Italy 1994

(2 folders)
Box 22
Slides - China and Hong Kong 1978-1979

(3 folders)
Box 23
Slides - Cuba 1993-1994
Box 23
Slides - Italy 1994
Box 23
Slides - Italy and Greece 1994
Box 23
Slides - Reston 1967 May
Box 23
Slides - Reston, Virginia; Mark Edwards; and a Glaydin School Presentation, etc. 1976-1981, n.d.