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.

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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], Margaret S. K. Ross Diary, 1915, Ms2024-092, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Margaret S. K. Ross Diary was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in July 2018.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Margaret S. K. Ross Diary was completed in September 2024.

Biographical Note

This diary belonged to Margaret Selden Kennedy Ross (1902-1982) of Warrenton, Virginia. Ross belonged to a family with a rich political history. Her grandfather was a physician named Dr. Stephen Dandridge Kennedy (1834-1914), whose father was Maryland Senator Anthony Kennedy. Her grandmother was Mary Selden Kennedy, author of the book Seldons of Virginia and Allied Families. Ross married Zachary Landsowne in 1921. After he died in 1925, she married John Caswell in 1927 and moved to Washington D.C. Ross lived there until her death in 1982.

External Sources:

United States Federal Census, 1930.

"Margaret Selden Kennedy 'Betsy' Ross Caswell" entry, findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55029638/margaret_selden_kennedy_caswell, accessed on September 18, 2024.

Kennedy, Mary Seldon. Seldons of Virginia and Allied Families. New York: Frank Allaben Geneological Society, 1911. https://ia801305.us.archive.org/28/items/seldensofvirgini01kenn/seldensofvirgini01kenn.pdf, accessed on September 18, 2024.

Marriage announcement, The Washington Herald, Washington, D.C., December 8, 1921, https://www.newspapers.com/image/76056080/, accessed on September 18, 2024.

"Stephen Dandridge Kennedy." UVA Unionists. https://community.village.virginia.edu/unionist/node/592, accessed September 18, 2024.

Scope and Content

This collection contains the diary of Margaret Selden Kennedy Ross of Warrenton, Virginia. The diary dated February-September 1915 is made of leather and cloth. According to the first page, Ross's aunt, Mary Willoughby Kennedy, gave her this book on February 18, 1915. "My Diary Margaret Ross," is written on the front of the book in red ink. The entries within depict the daily life of a young girl in the early 20th century. Margaret mostly talks about school, teachers, and classmates, with whom she spent most of her time. The last page of the book is a guide to the shorthand Margaret used for various names throughout the diary.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Diaries
• Virginia -- History
• Women -- History

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Margaret S. K. Ross Diary by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).