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], Lucy Lee Lancaster Papers, Ms1990-069, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Lucy Lee Lancaster Papers were received from the estate of Lucy Lee Lancaster in the 1988 and 1989.

Processing Information

The arrangement and description of the Lucy Lee Lancaster Papers was completed in January 2001. The finding aid was revised when it was encoded in 2007.

There are also unprocessed additions to the collection, which are available on request.

Biographical Information

Lucy Lee Lancaster was born in Blacksburg in 1905 and lived there until she died in 1989. She was one of the first women admitted to the previously all-male Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (popularly known as VPI, now known as Virginia Tech). Lancaster graduated in 1925. After graduation she took courses from the New York State Library and later attended Columbia University Library School from which she received a master's degree in library science. Lancaster worked at Virginia Polytechnic Institute library for the rest of her career.

Lancaster was a member of many local organizations and an active member of the VT alumnae society. She was elected as first president of the Blacksburg Junior Women's Club, which formed in 1935. In 1979 she received the Founder's Day Award from Virginia Tech.

Scope and Content

The Lucy Lee Lancaster Papers document Lancaster's school careers, community involvement, and her abiding interest in genealogy and travel.

Unprocessed additions to the collection are available on request.

Arrangement

The Lucy Lee Lancaster Papers are divided into five series.

Series I: Biographical Materials is divided into general groupings of information about Lancaster and her family. Materials are not organized at a folder level. Information includes personal items such as class notes from grade school through graduate school, ephemera such as membership cards and poetry, photographs, and materials belonging to other family members. There are several family bibles and photographs. [These were formerly boxes 1-13 of the Personal Biographical Materials grouping.]

Series II: Correspondence contains personal correspondence as well as work-related materials regarding administration, reference questions, and bibliographies. Correspondence is arranged chronologically. There are also many postcards. Postcards sent to Lancaster are arranged by date, while those she collected as souvenirs are arranged alphabetically by place. [These were formerly boxes 1-14 of the Correspondence grouping.]

Series III: Genealogy Materials is listed in two subseries but stored alphabetically. While the focus is mostly research about various family members and branches, there is also material about family reunions and general genealogy research and workshops. [These were formerly boxes 1-5 of the Genealogy grouping.]

Series IV: Membership Organization Materials is arranged alphabetically by name of organization. It include papers from many groups in Blacksburg as well as VPI associations. Lancaster often served as secretary in the groups, so minutes and correspondence are present. [These were formerly boxes 1-7 of the Memberships grouping.]

Series V: Travel Materials includes notes and diaries from extensive travel that are arranged chronologically. These include initial correspondence sent to inquire about a place, itineraries, journals, receipts for purchases, and photographs. [These were formerly boxes 1-4 of the Travel grouping.]

Related Material

The following collections also at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives contain some materials related to Lucy Lee Lancaster:

Blacksburg Oral History Project Records, Ms1985-005

United Daughters of the Confederacy, Dr. Harvy Black Chapter Records, Ms1990-050

Lucy Lee Lancaster photographs in the Named/Individual Photograph Collections

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Blacksburg (Va.)
• Civil War
• Faculty and staff
• Lancaster, Lucy Lee, 1905-1989
• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• Montgomery County (Va.)
• Photographs
• Students and alumni
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• University History
• Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (1896-1944)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1944-1970)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1970-)
• Women -- History

Rights Statement for Archival Description

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