A Guide to the William F. Graves Collection, 1911-1914
A Collection in
Special Collections
Collection Number Ms2010-040
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Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
USA
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Email: specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu/
© 2010 By Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rights reserved.
Processed by: John M. Jackson, Special Collections Staff
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish material from the William F. Graves Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: William F. Graves Collection, Ms2010-040 - Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Acquisition Information
The William F. Graves Collection was donated to Special Collections in 2000.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement and description of the William F. Graves Collection commenced and was completed in June 2010.
Biographical Information
William F. Graves, the son of Peyton Graves, was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia on September 29, 1832. A few years after the death of his father, Graves moved with his family to Bedford County, Virginia, where he became a farmer. In 1858, he married Mary J. Johnson; the couple would have 11 children. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Graves enlisted as a sergeant in Company F of the Second Virginia Cavalry. In August 1861, he was promoted to lieutenant, and soon thereafter elected company captain. Later, he was promoted to major; and just before war's end, to lieutenant colonel. Following the war, Graves returned to Bedford County and resumed farming and milling. In 1871, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and continued to serve through five consecutive terms. In later years he would serve as mayor of Vinton, Virginia. He died on July 3, 1923.
Scope and Content
This collection contains materials relating to William F. Graves, a native of Pittsylvania County, Virginia and a major in the 2nd Virginia Cavalry during the Civil War. The collection contains biographical sketches of Graves and the typescript text of a speech made by Graves at the unveiling of the Bedford Confederate monument. The typescript text of another Confederate memorial speech is also included as is the handwritten text of a third, similar speech attributed to Graves. Also within the collection is a typescript roster for Company F of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry (also known as the Bedford Southside Dragoons), including notes on wounds, deaths, captures, and desertions. The collection also contains a single sheet of genealogical information on the family of Docie Johnson Garrett Wells.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by document type.
Index Terms
- Civil War
- Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Subjects:
Contents List
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Newspaper clipping - "Address Recalls Dedication of Another Memorial Day" n.d.
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Newspaper clipping - "Early Vinton Leader Wore the Gray 62 Years" n.d.
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"William Fountain Graves" - typescript copy of sketch in History of Roanoke Countyn.d.
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Typescript text of speech delivered by Graves at unveiling of Bedford Confederate monument 1911
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Texts of speeches delivered by Graves to Confederate veterans n.d.[2 items - one handwritten, one typescript]
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Roster of Company F, 2nd Virginia Cavalry 1914
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Genealogy of Docie Johnson Garrett Wells family n.d.