Special Collections Research Center
spcoll@wm.eduFinding Aid Authors: Anne T. Johnson.
Administrative Information
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:
Civilian Conservation Corps Photographs, Petersburg and Waverly, Virginia, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary
Acquisition Information:
Gift.
Processing Information:
Grouped by subject and put into milar sleeves.
Biographical Information:
Captain Joseph James Matthews was a Captain in the United States Calvary and the Commander of Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1364 in Petersburg and Company 376 in Waverly, Virginia. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Scope and Contents
71 photographs of people, buildings and grounds at the Civilian Conservation Corps camps in Petersburg, Virginia and Waverly, Virginia. The Petersburg Camp, a predominantly white camp, was Company 1364, and the Waverly Camp, a predominantly black camp, was Camp P-55, Company 376. Captain Joseph James Matthews was the commander and responsible for the construction and landscaping of the camp, plus the training of the men.
Alice Erickson, the daughter of Captain Joseph James Matthews, gave the following information about the camps.
Captain Matthews: Captain Matthews was commander of the two camps, the predominantly Black camp in Waverly, Virginia and the predominantly White Camp in Petersburg, Virginia.
The Camps: Her father's philosophy was that since the camps were home to these men, they should reflect this image. He initiated plantings of many trees, bushes and flowers to beautify the grounds. He also used stone to build walls, fences, water fountains and the entranceway columns. He wanted to create a pleasant atmosphere.
Gray Lumber Company in Waverly, Virginia was the supplier of the lumber for the buildings at the camps.
The Men: Captain Matthews had high expectations of the men in his company. He expected them to be neat and regimental in appearance. The men were required to send money home. Their primary jobs were building railroads, working in the camp kitchen and learning new skills.
Arrangement of Materials:
Alphabetical by camp number, family names or topics.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- African Americans--Virginia--History--20th century
- Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.) Company 1364 (Petersburg, Va.)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.) Company 376 (Waverly, Va.)
- Petersburg (Va.)--History--20th century
- Photographs
- Waverly (Va.)--History--20th century
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.) Company 376 (Waverly, Va.)
- Waverly (Va.)--History--20th century
Container List
3 photographs. Alice Erickson said the CCC Camp had battle reenactments and these pictures are from one of them. Captain Joseph James Matthews sitting on horse and other horse scenes.
7 photographs. View of possibly the Waverly Camp from an airplane or a nearby high point. Entrance to camp with notation on bottom: Civilian Conservation Corps, Camp Va. P-55 – Co. 376, Waverly, Va., J.J. Matthews, Capt. Cav. Res., P.X. Studio Ft. Des Moines, Ia. Entrance to camp with sign, "CCC, CAMP 55, Waverley, VA." Recreation Hall with three men on front porch. Recreation Hall. Street scene during construction, with pile of rocks and tents. 2 Street scene with buildings and vehicles.
6 photographs. Group picture of men in uniform and in chef attire, group picture of men in uniform (4) and an individual man standing near building.
18 photographs. Equipment Shed, Recreation Hall, Shower Hall, Mess Hall, Headquarters, back of barracks with wooden fence, building with example of low stone fence, building with part of "1364 C.C.C." written on the sidewalk, road and buildings in snow and others.
16 photographs. Chefs in front of Dining Hall. (3) Three men, two CCC men and one man in a light suit, on front steps of the Hospital building which is bordered by a post wooden fence planted with rose bushes. (2) Two men on the front steps of the Hospital building with ambulance in front of building (2) Man with dog. (4) Group of men on steps. Man sweeping. Single man standing near buildings. Group of men, some in uniform, in front of the Forestry Office. Group of men, all in suits, in front of the Forestry Office.
3 photographs. Man digging a ditch, vehicles with men standing at attention (2) and men in a field.
11 photographs. Captain Matthews by himself and with groups of two or more men. Captain Matthews with dignitaries during a visit (2). Captain Matthews with Eleanor Roosevelt during her visit to the Petersburg CCC Camp. (2)
2 photographs. Matthew Family near a building with a camp dog.
5 photographs. Stonework near entrance, water fountain, and fences.