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Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)© 2010 By Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rights reserved.
Processed by: Special Collections Staff
Collection is open for research.
Permission to publish material from Elden E. Billings Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Elden E. Billings Collection, Ms91-036, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
The Elden E. Billings Papers were donated to Special Collections in 1991 with additional materials added.
The processing, arrangement and description of the Elden E. Billings Collection commenced and was completed in August 2008. Earlier processing of the collection had been done in 1992. Additional description was completed in 2010.
This collection contains subject files, clippings, memorabilia and artifacts related to the American Civil War. There are seven series, five of which predominately contain Civil War materials. The other two series in the collection also contains files on other subjects of Billings' historical interests, including aspects of military and United States history.
The collection is arranged in seven series: Series I: Civil War Files and Prints; Series II: Other Subject Files; Series III: Lincoln Materials; Series IV: Elden E. Billings - Personel Files; Series V: Publications; Series VI: Primary Documents; and Series VII: Artifacts. Files in each series are arranged alphabetically by folder or item title.
Series I: Civil War Files and Prints contains subject files on various Civil War topics including specific battles, locations, regiments, and historic figures, as well as works of art, maps, and images. Other files include information on railroads, prisons, ethnic or social groups, and branches of the military.
Series II: Other Subject Files contains files on various topics, some tangentially related to the Civil War. Topics include, but are not limited to, figures from US military history, World Wars I and II, the Mexican War, railroads,
Series III: Lincoln Materials contains historical information about aspects of Lincoln's life and presidency. The series also includes cartoons, newsletters, portraits, and memorabilia.
Series IV: Elden E. Billings - Personal Files contains biographical information and photographs, correspondence to and from Billings, book catalogs, and notes relating to speaking events and writings.
Series V: Publications contains newsletters and journals, mostly from the Civil War period or about the Civil War. Other publications relate to Civil War Roundtables, historical societies, and military history.
Series VI: Primary Documents contains two subseries, Subseries A: Scrapbooks and Subseries B: Manuscripts. Subseries A: Scrapbooks includes several related to Civil War regiments or individuals. Subseries B: Manuscripts includes originals and typed copies of diaries, correspondence, and ephemera from the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.
Series VII: Artifacts contains several portraits, daguerrotypes, and photographs of Civil War figures, including Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. This series also contains medals, coins, calling cards, stamps, and other memorabilia. There are two non-Civil War related items: a print of an elephant fight from India, and a notebook that belonged to Ulysses S. Grant III.
A portion of the Civil War books in the Special Collections Rare Book Collection were donated by Elden E. Billings. The department also houses a portrait of Elden E. "Josh" Billings.