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], Alexander McNutt Glasgow Family Papers, 1823-1903, Ms1989-010, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Alexander McNutt Glasgow Family Papers were purchased by Special Collections in 1989.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Alexander McNutt Glasgow Family Papers commenced and was completed in June, 2013.

Biographical Note

Alexander McNutt Glasgow, son of John and Martha ("Patsy") McNutt Glasgow (1798-1866), was born five miles from Lexington (Rockbridge County), Virginia, on October 24, 1820. He earned bachelor of arts (1842) and bachelor of law degrees from Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) and would continue to live at "Tuscan Villa," the Glasgow family's Rockbridge County home, for the remainder of his life. He farmed (tobacco and grains), operated a general mercantile business, and served as a judge in the county court and as an elder in the local Presbyterian church. Records show that during the American Civil War Glasgow joined Company I, 4th Virginia Infantry in April, 1862, serving on detached duty in Staunton until being discharged in July. In 1863, he served as a captain leading the South River Home Guard.

On May 12, 1874, Glasgow married Laura B. Mackey (1853-1909), daughter of Henry and Nancy Hamilton Mackey, and the couple would have six children: Alexander M., John Henry ("Harry"), Elizabeth V., Lucy G., Mary T., and Otelia M. Glasgow. Alexander M. Glasgow died on August 4, 1894, and was buried in Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, Virginia.

Scope and Content

This collection contains the papers of the Glasgow family of Rockbridge County, Virginia. The collection includes such materials as correspondence and financial/legal documents relating to farmer and businessman Alexander McNutt Glasgow; his parents, John and Martha McNutt Glasgow; wife Laura Mackey Glasgow; son John Henry "Harry" Glasgow; other children; and related families.

Alexander Glasgow's papers comprise the majority of the collection. The papers relate largely to business matters, personal finances, and several estates for which Glasgow acted as administrator (including that of his uncle, Anderson McNutt, of Mississippi). Also among Glasgow's papers are folders relating to Ben Salem Church and a Richmond and Alleghany Railroad siding and crossing at South River. A folder devoted to school is largely composed of secondary school and Washington and Lee University grade reports for Glasgow's children.

The papers of Glasgow's parents and wife consist entirely of receipts and account statements. The papers of son J. "Harry" Glasgow, too, hold such materials but also contain several pieces of correspondence, including two letters from his brother, Alexander M. Glasgow, Jr. Among the other relatives represented are the Alexander N. Bell and Lucius Desha families, the collection holding small selections of correspondence and other papers from each family. The collection also holds financial papers of Edward I. Jones (and his business, Buena Vista Plumbing and House-Heating Company) and John Kerr. Folders of general correspondence and financial/legal documents contain a few materials relating to other family members and other, unrelated (sometimes unidentified) individuals. A folder of printed materials and mementos at the end of the collection contains, among other things, a handbill with instructions for water-proof leather blacking, a handwritten recipe for green tomato pickles, a business card for veterinarian E. E. Terry, and a lock of hair.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by name of family member with which materials are associated, followed by materials associated with individuals outside the immediate family or unidentified.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• Rockbridge County (Va.)

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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