Use Restrictions

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

Access Restrictions

Collection open to 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 #], Page County Ledgers, 1831-1881, SC 0353, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

The ledgers were donated by Cletus Gaylon Waters in July 2023. Physical custody was transferred by Betsy Davison who had been using the materials for her own research.

Biographical/Historical Note

The proprietors identified in the collection include Emanual Grove (1812-1890), his son John William Grove (1844-1924), Emanuel's brother Joseph Grove (1805-1885), John Brumback, and John R. O'Neale (1812-1890) & Co. It's likely that Brumback was related to the Groves given that Emanuel Grove married Frances Brumback (1814-1880) and John W. Grove's second wife was Laura Ann Brumback (1851-1926).

John W. Grove and his brother Charles purchased the building at 27 E. Main Street in Luray and operated a general merchandise store in that location.

Scope and Contents

Bound accounts chiefly documenting business and financial transactions in Page County, Virginia. Several ledgers have Grove family members as proprietors and other unidentified ledgers are assumed to be connected to the Grove family.

With the exception of the Sanskrit copybook, the ledgers, account books, and daybooks all document business and financial transactions for goods and services involving Page County residents. Frequent surnames include Campbell, Mauck, Grove, Foltz, Koontz, Kite, Long, Phillips, Printz, Sours, Ruffner, Varner, Yager, and many others.

The Grammatik der Sanscrita Sprache copybook has a previous owner's signature, H[enry].W. Martens, on the handwritten title page as well as page 84 that's accompanied by "University of Virginia, November 11th 1843." The connection between Martens, his copybook, and the rest of the Page County ledgers is unclear.

Related Material

Grove and Brother Clothing Store Ledgers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Grove Family Papers, 1884-1932, SC 0292, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Separated Material

A 1784 edition of Herodian's Lebensbeschreibung der römischen Kaiser... , which also included H.W. Martens signature, as well as a September 18, 1830 issue of Niles' Weekly Register were separated from the collection and cataloged separately.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Account books
• Account books -- Virginia -- Page County
• Business records -- Virginia -- Page County
• Copybooks (instructional materials)
• Davison, Elizabeth A., 1956-
• Daybooks
• General stores -- Virginia -- Page County
• Grove family
• Industries -- Virginia -- Page County
• Ledgers (account books)
• Page County (Va.) -- Economic conditions
• Page County (Va.) -- History
• Waters, Cletus Gaylon