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], J. D. Kingsbury Papers, Ms1989-054, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The J. D. Kingsbury Papers were donated to Special Collections and University Archives prior in 1989.

Processing Information

The processing and description of the J. D. Kingsbury Papers commenced and was completed in February 2022.

Biographical Note

J. D. Kingsbury was a missionary from the American Sunday-School Union of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Monongalia and Marion counties, Virginia (now West Virginia), in 1854.

Scope and Content

This collection contains the papers of J. D. Kingsbury, a missionary of the American Sunday-School Union of Philadelphia, working in Marion and Monongalia counties, Virginia (now West Virginia) and living in Fairmont. Included in the collection are two letters from American Sunday-School Union officers Geo. [George Starr] Scofield and W. E. [William E.] Boardman, apparently responding to a discouraging letter from Kingsbury, in which he had requested to be assigned to a different area. Both writers advise Kingsbury that the outlook in his area will improve. "Now you are on the ground," writes Boardman, strike a good blow[.] Make your mark for all coming time, as I have no doubt you will." Another letter, written in Clarksburg by "Ray," a missionary assigned to counties adjacent to Kingsbury's, discusses Kingsbury's plan to finish work and leave the area and Ray's own failure to accomplish much in the field. Also included are two letters from J. S. McKinney [likely John Spencer McKinney] of Palatine (Marion County). In the first, McKinney offers to purchase book sets ("The Cheap Sunday School and Family Library" and "The Very Cheap Library") from Kingsbury and notes that a new Sunday school is to be established at nearby Winfield. In the second letter, McKinney describes the activities of his Sunday school, then notes a recent mishap that befell his church: "[A] huricain past over our place and unrooft our church ..." Together with these letters is a printed form letter, signed by W. E. Boardman, appointing Kingsbury a missionary and describing in detail his duties.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• Religion
• Virginia -- History
• West Virginia

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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