Conditions Governing Use

The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Rutherford R. Houston Papers (RG 62.0037), Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Harriet Houston Donaldson, Houston's granddaughter, in 1988.

Biographical / Historical

Rutherford R. Houston graduated from Washington College, now Washington and Lee University, in 1854.

Scope and Contents

This collection includes a paper written by Houston entitled "A trip on foot to the top of the House Mountain," which details a trip he made on May 22, 1852 while a Washington College student. House Mountain is located in Rockbridge County, Virginia. The collection also includes his Graham Philanthropic Society membership certificate. The certificate wasn't formally dated. The date 1800 appears on the certificate but the actual year he was presented the certificate was not entered. It was typical at the time to print certificates from a lithograph and handwrite in the month, day, and the last two digits of the year. The certificate is signed by Society members. The Society was one of a few literary societies that formed at Washington College.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Donaldson, Harriet Houston
• Virginia -- House Mountain
• Washington College. Graham Philanthropic Society
• Washington and Lee University--Alumni and alumnae