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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterFinding Aid Authors: Brian Tilley.
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.
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.
James Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Gift in memory of Cyrus R. James and Annie E. S. James (1981) and gifts of Leah James (1982, 1985, 1986).
Processed by Brian Tilley in 1987.
Cyrus Rosser James (1855-1937), Methodist minister in Virginia. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Correspondence of Cyrus Rosser James (1855-1937), Methodist minister in Virginia (on the Buckingham, Heathsville, North Mecklenburg and Whitestone Charges), with his family including his wife, Annie (Shields) James and his children. Also includes account books, accounts, photographs, scrapbooks, printed books and postcards.
Other Information:
A PDF document of this inventory is available online.
Additional information may be found at http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/findingaids/81_J23_James_Family.pdf
Between Harriet Ann James and her son Cyrus Rosser James concerning family news, health, taxes, and money; poor health of Harriet and Ann James emphasized (See also oversize file).
Released deed of trust from Geo[rge] E. Hopkins to Mrs. H[arriet] A[nn] James: note of clerk of York Co., Va.: original deed found in York Co. Deed Book No. 21, page 67.
Letters between each other; R.N. Crooks, insurance agent, Anna Crowther describes her trip to Germany; Zeriah Gillion's reaction to sermons by Reverend James, citing several specifically; Reverend W.R. Smithy: and Arthur James, son of Cyrus Rosser and Annie James: includes Cyrus Rosser James' certificate as Elder in Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Of Cyrus Rosser James and wife Annie Shield James with their children Arthur, Alfred, and Clara and cousin Sue Errors [?] concerning family health, gardening, money, Methodist conferences, sermons, schooling, especially Randolph Macon College.
Of Cyrus Rosser James and wife Annie Shield James and daughters Annie and Clara to Alfred James at Randolph Macon College: topics emphasized are the scarcity of money, James family, temperance movement, conference (Methodist) news, family social news, Rhodes scholarship, personal news.
Mostly from Cyrus Rosser and Annie Shield James, his parents: also his sisters Lillie and Clara: family news mostly with talk of the whiskey problems, church conferences, money, gardening, social life, football, and religion.
Correspondence between Alfred James and his mother and father, sisters Clara and Annie, brother Arthur, Aunt Tizzie [?]. Emmet B. Faison, L.E. Mumford, H.M. Breech, Harry Gavey; mostly family news and Alfred's school and work, his debate at school, money, conferences, salary of father, Rhodes scholarship, religion, parents moving to Petersburg, Virginia.
Mostly between Alfred and his parents Annie and Cyrus James, brother Arthur, sisters Lillie and Annie and cousin E. Marshall [?] concerning family and local news. Rhodes scholarship, the actual application process and congratulations. CR moved to Petersburg, Va; change in payment-- now paid weekly.
Alfred was at Oxford for the Rhodes Scholarship; tells of touring England, France and Italy, scholarly achievements, health-- he was very ill for a few months; lengthy letters, come are incomplete; also letters to Alfred James from Grandmother Matilda Collins Shield.
James describes daily scholarly routine in Oxford as well as trips in England, France, Switzerland and Italy; trips are describes in great detail, Bruges, Florence, Ghent, Brussels, Milan, Rome, Mt. Vesuvius, Pisa, Genoa, Paris; also letters from Lillie James to Alfred about her music and voice lessons Alfred paid for. 12 items.
Alfred returned from England and entered school in Chicago; Arthur worked on Panama Canal; Clara tells of money problems; and Annie Shield James gave Christmas news to her mother Matilda Shield and also to Alfred James.
Alfred James traveled around in Wisconsin; Lillie wrote about family news and how she likes the Concord, Va. home better than Batesville, Va; Arthur James needed money to pay expenses so he could get out of Chicago; Benjamin Rosser James needed moeny to pay for schooling at the College of William and Mary, and Annie Shield James writes about family news from Concord, Virginia.
mostly to Alfred James from family members; Benjamin rosser James wrote while attending the College of William and Mary mostly reporting good grades and need for money; Annie Shield James wrote her son on family news and congratulating for his marriage to Mabel Williams; Cyrus Rosser James who performed the ceremony wrote thank you letters; sisters Lillie, Leah, and Annie all wrote about the marriage; brother Arthur wrote from the army where he was in the cavalry stationed in Virginia and moving to Brownsville, Texas; Also included are letters from Albert Teaching Agency and Ohio Wesleyan University trying to get Alfred James a position; also lyrics to two songs, "Nora O'Neal" and "The Sun-Bright Clinic" sent by S.H. Johnson.
Alfred James involved in two controversies; one, his job at Ohio Wesleyan was claimed by Albert Teaching Agency to be a result of their recommendation, and they wanted a commission. Alfred did not think they helped him get the job; two, Alfred rented a house in Arkansas from Prof. David Thomas and had a dispute over rent, settled by arbitration; still awaiting news from draft; took over a life insurance policy; Arthur was in army and wrote of experience especially training with Negro units; relating family news were Lillie, Annie Shield James and a poem by Alfred.
From Arthur James, an artillery officer in France and Italy; tells of his combat experience, relationship with other officers and French people, Negro officers, peace and casualties; also letter of Benjamin Rosser James, Lieutenant of Infantry who was not in Europe but was training when war ended; also letters of Alfred James who was offered and accepted teaching job at the University of Pittsburg for $1500.
For loss of her son from F.B. Adams, Kensington, Maryland. Benjamin Rosser James gets out of army and ends up in West Virginia working for United States Steel Corporation starting in coal mines, became shipping clerk; Mabel and Alfred James tell of experiences in Pittsburgh where money is tight but Alfred doing well as professor at University of Pittsburgh; they have a son, William; Mabel was taken care of by obstetrician, Dr. Zogler, and knew of the sex of the child before it was born; Annie Shield James writes to her mother Matilda Collins Shield.
Arthur James writes from Richmond asking for family news; Benjamin Rosser James writes from West Virginia where he is working for Solvay Collieries Company, tells of woman, Julia Neal, whom he marries in 1920; also tells of true religious conversion-- became a true believer in the Northern Methodist Church with Julia Neal; Alfred James and wife Mabel write of Alfred's work as Professor of History at Pittsburg, hard time with small salary and high expenses such as housing and family health; also Christmas card of Clara James sent to her grandmother Shield and birth announcement of John Maxwell Hendrix, Jr., Lillie James Henrix's son; Annie Shield James writes to her mother Matilda Collins Shield.
Mostly communication of family news, such as health, visitation, and news of children; specific topics: William, son of Alfred and Mable James was seriously ill; Mother's Day cards; money, college loan at the College of William and Mary for Leah James; Alfred's insurance at Provident Mutal, Philadelphia, Pa; Benjamin Rosser James was given a Methodist circuit at two churches, Ravenwood and Ripley in West Virginia; detailed description of the churches and town of Ravenwood as well as salary and housing; Clara James marries Golden Carruthers, 1926; wedding details and backgroud of Golden, a deep sea fisherman who had been divorced; also a pamphlet on Charis clothiers- women's lingiere; those writing were Reverand and Mrs. Cyrus Rosser James, Leah James, Julie Neal James, Annie James Apperson, Arthur James, Clara James Carruthers, Lillie James Hendrix, Benjamin Rosser James, Alfred James, Mabel Williams James, and William James.
Annie Shields James writes her children about family news and their health and death of husband; Nellie James Land writes to Alfred James for missing big family event and needs clothes, hard times; Benjamin Rosser James is happy in his life's work of serving God; Clara James Carruthers writes from Florida in 1934 where her husband is physically and emotionally drained and in 1937 writes of a house they are going to rent in Virginia on the bay where they can fish.
Annie Shield James to Alfred telling him family news as how even a year after his death she misses her husband; she moved to North Carolina with daughter Leah; Arthur James writes of graduate school in University of Chicago Social Service Administrative; tells many of his ideas and qualifications as well as the work he is doing in the social service area: Arthur also writes his will leaving everything to a sister Leah: Benjamin Rosser James writes about his Methodist Ministry career; Alfred James tells about his teaching and family-- learning how to drive a car; Nellie James Land bought a house for sister Clara Caruthers in Virginia; also family news; political news-- Hitler and Mussolini and a newspaper clipping of the death of Mrs. Irving Messick.
from Arthur James about graduation with M.A. degree in social science from University of Chicago; also letter about Arthur's wrtitings from Douglas S. Freeman, Richmond, Va.; Benjamin Rosser James writes from his new church in Clarksville, West Virginia.
From Annie Shield James to Alfred James; several letters for each year: usually at Christmas and February, Alfred's birthday; family news as each letter tells about the activities of the family; Annie Shield James broke her shoulder and arm in 1942; moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, circa 1946; one letter from Lillie James Hendrix.
Two copies of C. Rosser James' article "An Untold Incident of McClellan's Peninsular Campaign" in volume 44, No. 2, June 1961, Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine.
from Annie Shields James, Alfred P. James, Arthur James, Clara James, Annie James, and Mabel James; family news and daily activities; Alfred's letters from England, Arthur from Harvard.
Examination questions, District conference, unsigned, topics: arithmetic, grammar, English history, history of Greece, spelling, Roman history, history of United States, geography.
Of Cyrus Wesley James and Cyrus B[asye] James.
Of Cyrus Basye James and Cyrus Wesley James; accounts dealing with personal needs, timber industry, slaves, land and taxes.
Of Cyrus Wesley James; death of Cyrus Wesley James reported by Sabbath School Society of Zion Church in York District, Va., possibility of suicide yet he was a good man and Christian; subjects of receipts were medical bills, personal needs, livestock, taxes, and slavery.
Of Harriet Anne James and Cyrus Rosser James; tax recipts from Grofton Township; Cyrus Rosser James certified teacher in York County, Virginia.
Of Harriet Ann James and Cyrus Rosser James; deeds of land granted Cyrus Rosser James from R.W. Dawson and Victoria James Dawson; receipts for various items such as legal services, taxes, books, grave digging; certificate that Arthur Shield was Confederate soldier and was permanently wounded; Cyrus Rosser James was certified to teach in York Co., Va.: last will and testament as well as list of property of Harriet Ann James; other bonds and receipts included.
Of Cyrus Tosser James, both personal and for management of property, of Harriet Ann James, his deceased mother; receipts from Singer Manufacturing company, Albion [?] Simmons, Ogburn and Petty-- dealers in General Merchandise and Homier and Clark, artist and photographers, Richmond, Va.
Of Cyrus Rosser James, receipts from medical, dental, candy, clothing, and department stores, a letter from White House in response to a letter by Cyrus Rosser James; Arthur James report from Chesapeake Male and Female Academy; billing information from Blackstone Female Institute.
Of Cyrus Wesley James, Harriet Ann James, Alfred James, Cyrus Rosser James.
Reports the weather with scattered entries, ususally on monthly basis; written possibly by Cyrus Basye James, includes family listings of Cyrus Basye James and Mary White James, birth dates of eight children and Thomas James and Betsy James-- birth dates of their 11 children. Also listed as MsV 1.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, Buckingham Charges, Va. Conference, accounts received and paid, preacher's salary, collections, list of children baptised, accounts kept by names of churches. Indexed by church name. Also listed as MsV 2.
Contains only this note in 3 p. pad: "Aug[ust] the 21st 1870. Bro. Bray at Buckingham Parsonage. Where will he be at next year this same." Also listed as MsV 3.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, North Mecklenburg Circuit, Va. Conf[erence]. Accounts received and paid, travelling expenses, pastor's salary, missions, accounts received for other purposes. Table of contents by church. Also listed as MsV 4.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, North Mecklenburg Circuit, Va. Conf[erence]. Accoutns received and paid, travelling expenses, pastor's salary, missions, accounts received for other purposes. Table of contents by church. Also listed as MsV 5.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, North Mecklenburg Circuit, Va. An. Conf[erence], accounts received for benevolent assessments, conference collections, missions, parsonage salary, other. Also lists of those baptised. Indexed by church and type of payment. Also listed as MsV 6.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, North Mecklenburg Circuit, Va. Conf[erence]. Accounts received and paid, travelling expenses, parson's salary, assessments, missions, cash receipts and books sold. Also listed as MsV 7.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, Heathsville Circuit Va. An. Conf[erence] accounts paid and received, travelling expenses, salary, assessments, benevolent calls, marriages, baptisms, missions, other subjects. Also listed as MsV 8.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, Heathsville Circuit, Va. Conf[erence] accounts received for salary, missions, benevolent assessments, other objects. Also listed as MsV 9.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, Heathsville Circuit, Va. An. Conf[erence]. Accounts received and paid for salary, benevolent collections, missions, other objects, expenses of church. Listed by Churches. Also listed as MsV 10.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, Heathsville Circuit, Va. Conf[erence]. Accounts received from salary, missions, benevolent collections, other objects. List of those deficient and unbaptised. Also listed as MsV 11.
C[yrus] R[osser] James. Whitestone Circuit Va. Conf[erence] accounts received and paid, travelling expenses, money raised for Virginia Bible Society, unpaid collections. List of baptised, married, and those joining the church. Also listed as MsV 12.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, Whitestone Circuit, Va. Conf[erence]. Accounts received for salary, missions, benevolent collections, other collections, education, list of baptised and stewards of churches. Listed by churches. Also listed as MsV 13.
C[yrus] R[osser] James, Whitestone Circuit, Va. Conf[erence]. Accounts received and paid, salary of pastor and elders, benevolent collections for conference, education, church extension, missions, travelling expenses, list of stewards and temperance meetings. Listed by church. Also listed as MsV 14.
Sermons preached by C[yrus] R[osser] James, Bedford Circuit, lists date, place, topic of sermon and time of service. Also listed as MsV 15.
C[yrus] R[osser], Buckingham Circuit, Va. Conf[erence] accounts received for salary, missions, benevolent collections, list of stewards. Also listed as MsV 16.
Containing mementoes of service in Richmond Light Infantry Blues. 1914-1917. Arthur W. James. Includes pictures, newspaper clippings, brochures on the infantry, honorable discharge certificate. Also listed as MsV 17.
Containing newspaper clipping of Arthur W. James and welfare agency, hundreds of articles. Also listed as MsV 18.
Of Arthur W. James containing thousands of articles. Most deal with James and the welfare agency. Also listed as MsV 19.
3" x 4 1/4", black and white, of Cyrus Basye James and his wife Mary White James.
2 1/2" x 3 1/2", black and white, of Cyrus Rosser James and his older sister Victoria (James) Dawson as child.
2 1/4" x 2 3/4", black and white, of Cyrus Rosser James at age 5.
1 3/4" x 2 1/4", black and white, of Cyrus Wesley James.
2" x 2 1/2", black and white, of Harriet Ann James holding a book.
1 1/2" x 2", black and white, of Arthur Henry Shield in Confederate uniform.
In frame, 2" x 2 1/2", black and white, of unidentified woman.
Mostly to or from Alfred Hictor James.
12" x 14 1/4", of the land of the heirs of Edw[ard] Wright, Sen[ior]. Mentions Chisman's Creek, York Co., Va.; [?] James: Edw[ard] Wright, Jun[ior]; and [?]. Belvin.