Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open to researchers without restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Researchers must register and agree to all copyright laws and archives policies before using the collection. Please contact the Shenandoah County Library before visiting to use this collection.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item] Liberty Iron Furnace Collection, 1809-1917, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia, USA. [Identification of item], , , [Series Name], Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia, USA.

Acquisition Information

Placed on long term, permenant loan in memory of Samuel G. Clark of Liberty Furnace Virginia.

Processing Information

This collection was stored in a structure near the site of the original Liberty Furnace. Most letters, receipts, and loose documents were stored in a large desk. These items have been processed and archived together. Ledgers and other bound items were stored in open shelves. Loose items from these bound volumes have been stored in a document box with notations detailing their original location. Items too large for document storage have been placed in oversize folders and stored in the archives map case and noted in the inventory.

Biographical/Historical Information

In 1822 Walter Newman befan operating a furnace on a 900 acre piece of property he owned along Stony Creek, west of Edinburg Virginia. Newman called this site Liberty Furnace, a name that isretained today. Iron ore was mined and various furnaces were operated to refine that ore between that year and the early part of the 20th century.

Scope and Content

The Liberty Iron Furnace Collection consists of approximately 34.5 linear feet of material. This includes 224 folders of documents, 74 folders of documents previously stored in ledger books, a collection of technical drawings, maps and plat drawings, surveys, and approximately 51 ledgers, checkbooks, day books, and other bound items. They are stored in 29 boxes, 8 rolled storage boxes, and 19 oversize folders. The collection is organized into the following seven series

Series 1, Letter Box March 31 1918 includes of correspondence found in a letter box labeled March 31, 1918. The correspondence covers the 1909-1910 period and is sorted alphabetically as found in the letter box.

Series 2, Letter Box, Receiver L.S. Company, 1891-1892 includes correspondence found in a letter box Labeled Receiver L.S. Company, 1891. The documents covers the 1909-1912 time period and is sorted as found in the letter box.

Series 3, Receivership Documents, July 1891-February 1892 includes receipts and documents related to the time period when the Liberty Iron Company was placed in receivership. It is sorted chronologically as originally found.

Series 4, Dedford Company Correspondence, 1901-1909 includes items related to the Shenandoah Iron and Coal Company's transactions with the Dedford Company of Luray Virginia which purchased lumber and bark for its tannery operation.

Series 5, Bark Reports and Receipts, 1905-1911 includes reports and receipts for bark shipped by the Shenandoah Iron and Coal Company to various businesses during that period. These are sorted chronologically and were found together.

Series 6, Correspondence, 1909-1917 includes a wide array of records, correspondence, and other documents related to the operations of the Shenandoah Iron and Coal Company and its successor from 1909-1917. These are sorted chronologically and were found stored together.

Series 7, Ledgers, 1874-1913 includes a wide array of bound record books including ledgers, employment logs, day books, account books, checkbooks, receipt books, and other journals. It covers the operation of the Wissler furnaces, the Liberty Iron Company, and Shenandoah Iron and Coal Company and is stored as size permits.

Series 8, Maps and Plats, 1891-1899 includes maps of the company's rail line, surveys of company land holdings, and maps related to the company's operation. The bulk appear to have been created sometime around 1900, but the bulk of the items are undated.

Series 9, Technical Drawings, undated includes a single folder with technical drawings related to the company's machinery. While most of the items have identifying labels, they are undated.

Series 10, Payroll Records, 1905-1910 includes payroll sheets retained by the company between 1905 and 1910. They list employees and the amount they were paid by month. They are sorted chronologically and were found stored together.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in ten (10) series.