Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collection Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Hedrick Family Papers, 1856-1959, SC 0171, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Gift of James C. Hedrick III, April 29, 2008.

Processing Information

The collection was subject to a large-scale renumbering project and assigned a new collection number in April 2019. The collection was formerly assigned collection number SC 4043. The arrangement of the collection was also simplified in April 2019. Two account books and a wedding gift record book were digitized in 2008-2009, and the original material was returned to the donor. Miscellaneous documents were also digitized and originally placed in series 5: "Digitized Materials;" That series has been dissolved, and the digitized content is integrated with the rest of the paper documents in the finding aid.

Biographical Information

The Hedrick family has been a part of the Elkton community for many generations. During the French and Indian War, a George Hedrick was listed as an Augusta County soldier [later Rockingham County]. During the Civil War, a George W. Hedrick and C.L Hedrick served in the River Rangers, a Confederate cavalry from East Rockingham County, while an H.C. Hedrick served under Company A, 3rd Battalion, Virginia Reserves.

Scope and Content

The Hedrick Family Papers, 1870-1959, is comprised of legal documents, financial documents, correspondence, ephemera and digitized account books.

Legal documents include a large number of summonses addressed to George W. Hedrick to appear before Rockingham County Court. The second folder includes documents pertaining to tax and tax collection. Some examples include receipts for paid taxes from both Rockingham County and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Of particular interest is a signed letter from former governor Harry Flood Byrd to Mr. Hedrick discussing new tax policy in 1927. Personal financial documents include bank notes from Rockingham Bank and the First National Bank of Harrisonburg, promissory notes involving the harvesting of wheat crops, and a document regarding the Stonewall Road Board in 1900 that itemizes equipment and labor costs to be reimbursed to James C. Hedrick. Receipts from locations such as the Wetzel Seed Company, the United Wool Grower's Association, Shenandoah Valley Livestock Sales, and the Rockingham Petroleum Cooperative are also represented. Correspondence consists of letters and envelopes, several of which contain unique stamps and cancellations. Most of the correspondence in this series is personal and usually between cousins, brothers, sisters, and friends. Miscellaneous, 1892-1922, consists of three publications and handwritten documents describing the establishment of a Reform Church of McGaheysville, campaign business cards for the office of Commissioner of the Revenue for Plains District, and a certificate of promotion for James Hedrick from "B" class to "A" class of second grade from 1905. One of the church publications is an abstract of acts and proceedings of the Reformed Church in the United States published by the Quenzel Printing House in Martinsburg, W.Va. in 1892. The other two items are 1919 and 1922 annual reports of the Reformed Church of the U.S., representing St. Michael's Frieden's, Brown Memorial, and Island Ford Churches.

The collection also includes digitized material. Two accounting books belonging to C.L. Hedrick and George W. Hedrick, as well as a list of wedding gifts for Mr. and Mrs. John H. Sipe were scanned and returned to the donor. The "Miscellaneous" digitized items in this collection also have been photocopied and these copies are in the collection, including 19th Century letters and envelopes, a 1889 promissory note from George W. Hedrick to Abner Shacklett for $210.00, and a 1932 "Get Well Soon" card from Maud R. Lemley to Mrs. Annie Hedrick. Newspaper clippings from the Twin City Sentinel in Winston-Salem, NC regarding Pastor Dr. W. H. Causey are also included.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Account books
• Elkton (Va.) -- History -- Sources
• Family papers
• Financial statements -- Virginia
• Hedrick, James C., III
• Letters (correspondence)
• Promissory notes
• Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
• Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History -- Sources
• Summonses