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], Virginia Social Science Association Records, Ms1964-004, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Virginia Social Science Association Records were donated to Special Collections in several accruals, dated 1964, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1987, 1989, and 1992.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Virginia Social Science Association Records commenced in August, 2011 and was completed in September, 2011.

Administrative History

The Virginia Social Science Association (VSSA) was founded at the University of Virginia on May 8, 1926, in a meeting arranged by W. E. Garnett of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Established "to provide a common meeting ground for men and women of the academic, professional and pragmatic realms who are working or interested in the social sciences--in those sciences which deal with man's everyyday human relationships with his fellow-man--economics, sociology, history, political science and law," the association had 59 charter members and within three years had grown to nearly 200. The group held its initial annual conference at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1927, with the location changing with each successive year. Since 1966, the VSSA has published the Virginia Social Science Journal .

Scope and Content

This collection contains the records of the Virginia Social Science Association, including correspondence, committee minutes and reports, annual meeting programs and working files, presentation papers, committee reports, and financial and membership records.

The correspondence contains letters to and from various organizational officials, as well as committee reports, financial statements, membership lists, and other materials. Included is correspondence of the association's various secretary-treasurers from 1936 to 1960. From 1961 to 1967, the correspondence is comprised of the files of George T. Blume, who served in turn as VSSA secretary-treasurer, vice-president, president, and publications committee chair during those years. Also included is the correspondence of VSSA presidents R. Wayne McCubbins (1972-1973), John Wood (1973-1974), Charles Lane (1975-1976), and Arthur B. Gunlicks (1976-1977). The collection also includes the correspondence of James F. Herndon, who served as VSSA president and on the executive, development awards, and ad hoc self-study committees during the years 1980-1990, and as the local arrangements chair for the VSSA's 1989 annual meeting, held at Virginia Tech. Also included is correspondence of Catherine Seaman, VSSA president from 1987 to 1988.

Though the collection includes a small selection of files from committees, much of the material relating to committee work is filed with the correspondence and the annual meeting papers. The files devoted to the annual meetings also include business meeting minutes, programs, registration lists, and correspondence on planning and presentations, as well as presentation texts.

The collection also includes copies of the association's newsletter, VSSA News ; financial records, including receipts, account statements, and audit reports; and files on membership and subscriptions, including mailing lists.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by file type, including correspondence, committees, annual meetings, newsletters, financial records and membership lists.

Related Material

Virginia Tech University Libraries also has volumes of the Virginia Social Science Journal (call number H1.V5) and the VSSA's published annual proceedings (call number H11.V8 and LD5655.A761 C57 no.1-10 Spec VT), available via the library catalog.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• University History
• Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (1896-1944)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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