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: [item], [box], [folder], "Whitethorne Photographs of Kentland for Margaret K. Cowan" Photograph Album, Ms2021-020, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The "Whitethorne Photographs of Kentland for Margaret K. Cowan" Photograph Album was donated to Special Collections and University Archives in November 2015.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the "Whitethorne Photographs of Kentland for Margaret K. Cowan" Photograph Album completed in July 2021.

Administrative History

Kentland Farm was established by James Randal Kent in Montgomery County, Virginia, in the early 1800s. Kentland Farm is now owned and managed by Virginia Tech.

Source:

Kentland Farm Historic and Archaeological District, https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/060-0202/

Biographical Note

Margaret Kent Cowan (1905-1992) was the daughter of James Randal Kent Cowan and great-granddaughter of James Randal Kent, who built Kentland Farm in Montgomery County, Virginia, in the early 1800s. Cowan went to college in New York City and lived there briefly working as an art teacher before moving to Blacksburg, Virginia. She also worked in the Montgomery County Treasurer's Office. Cowan eventually beacame the Treasurer of Montgomery County, a position which she held for twenty years.

Source:

"OBIT-COWAN, M." Roanoke Times, The (VA), April 3, 1992: B2. Accessed from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.lib.vt.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0EAEA28D7B7FDB85 .

Scope and Content

This collection contains a spiral bound photograph album entitled "Whitethorne Photographs of Kentland for Margaret K. Cowan" that contains photographs of Kentland Plantation and surrounding areas. This collection also contains a sheet of paper, probably from a scrapbook, with photographs of Kentland and Walnut Spring in Montgomery County, Virginia.

Related Material

See the following materials related to the Kent family, which are also at Virginia Tech Special Collections and University Archives:

Black, Kent, and Apperson Family Papers, Ms1974-003

James Randal Kent Papers, Ms1987-031

Elizabeth Kent Adams Papers, Ms1990-045, which also contains materials about Kentland

Bell, Kent, Cloyd, Withrow Family Collection, Ms2008-040

Francis Bell Letter, Ms2024-088

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Cowan, , Margaret Kent, 1905-1992
• Kentland Farm
• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• Montgomery County (Va.)
• Photographs
• University History

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the "Whitethorne Photographs of Kentland for Margaret K. Cowan" Photograph Album by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).