Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

Campbell Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

purchase.

Processing Information:

Processed by Special Collections Staff in 2007.

Biographical Information:

Joseph W. Campbell was a farmer in Albemarle County, Virginia. Payroll and muster records indicate Joseph served for a time in Captain Samuel Brown's Company of the 33rd Regiment of the Virginia Militia as a Private during the War of 1812. He is referred to as œCapt. JW Campbell on a number of documents. He also began a family farm that was approximately 800 acres mostly in Albemarle County with a small portion located in adjoining Louisa County. Campbell grew tobacco, wheat and timber, raised livestock, operated a saw mill and a blacksmithing shop from his farm. Census records and tax statements indicate he was a slave holder. According to the 1820 United States Census, Campbell held six slaves. In 1850 his holdings grew to 26 slaves, both male and female aging from 2 to 65. Later in his life his affairs were overseen jointly with his son-in-law, Stephen F. Sampson. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Scope and Contents

The Campbell Family Papers is a collection of business records, personal documents and photographs belonging to the Campbell and Sampson families of Albemarle County, Virginia dating from 1795 to 1945. The great majority of the documents are the business records of Joseph Watson Campbell (1795-1875). These include tax bills and receipts, accounts between Campbell and various merchants, receipts for goods and services received and rendered, promissory notes and papers relating to other family matters including the execution of the estate of Campbell's father-in-law, John Rogers and the practice of slavery. The collection includes personal correspondence between the children and grandchildren of the Sampson family. Photographs, mostly unidentified, are among the documents included. The remaining documents are those pertaining to his children and grandchildren.

Arrangement of Materials:

The papers are organized in nine series. Within each series, the papers are arranged in chronological order. The series are: I. Tax Bills, II. General Accounts, III. John Rogers' Estate (Execution of), IV. Slave Holdings, V. Promissory Notes, VI. Receipts, VII. Correspondence, VIII. Miscellaneous Documents, and IX. Photographs.

Related Material

Additional papers belonging to the Campbell Family are housed at the Library of Virginia cited as Campbell-Sampson Family Papers, 1829-1909. Accession 43211.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Agriculture--Virginia--History--19th century
• Albemarle County (Va.)--History--19th century
• Blacksmithing--Virginia
• Correspondence
• Financial records
• Legal documents
• Merchants--Virginia--Albemarle County
• Photographs
• Receipts (financial records)
• Slavery--Virginia--19th century
• Slavery--Virginia--History--19th century
• Tobacco--Virginia--History--19th century