A Guide to the Mathews County (Va.) Organization Records, 1844-1970, undated
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
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Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
© 2012 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.
Processed by: Library of Virginia Staff
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Mathews County (Va.) Organization Records, 1844-1970, undated, [series or volume title]. Local government records collection, Mathews County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
Acquisition Information
These records came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Mathews County in an undated accession.
Processing Information
Prior to 2025, the various organization records in this collection were originally described as individual records, but they have been consolidated into one large organization record for the locality. Since 2025, these records additionally include identified but not processed records.
WPA Emergency Relief Administration were removed from the Mathews County Organization records in 2025 as they were deemed to be a County Administrative record.
Virginia Civil war Commission were removed from the Mathews County Organization records in 2025 as they were deemed to be a County Administrative record.
These records were processed by Sam Walters in 2012.
Encoded by S. Walter, 20212; updated by M. Mason, May 2025.
Historical Information
Context for Record Type: Organization Records, both volumes and loose records, are in some cases transferred to the Library of Virginia as components of court record transfers. These organization records in some cases were simply stored in the local court building for safe keeping by business owners. In other cases, organization records (particularly ledgers, account books, etc.) may have been filed in a court case as an exhibit. These organization record exhibits appeared both in chancery causes and in judgments, these records serving as exhibits for business dissolution cases, debut suits, and contract disputes.
Locality History: Mathews County was named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1790 when the county was formed from Gloucester County.
Lost Locality Note: Most records were burned in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War.
Scope and Content
Mathews County (Va.) Organization Records, 1844-1970, undated comprised of various records created by groups in Mathews County. Represented records largely consist of minutes, correspondence, and other loose records.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged
Related Material
Additional Mathews County Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."
See the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available on the Library of Virginia website.
Contents List
Historical Information: Swiss businessman, Henri Dunant, founded the Red Cross after witnessing a battle in Northern Italy in 1859. Dunant wished to begin an organization which would care for the sick and wounded in battle. In 1864, the Geneva Convention established the International Committee of the Red Cross and in 1901 Dunant received the first Nobel Peace Prize. In 1881, Clara Barton established the American Red Cross to aid in domestic relief efforts due to disaster. The Mathews County (Va.) Red Cross Chapter was organized May 12, 1917 with Mrs. Robert Hoskins as chairman; Miss Alice Healy, Secretary; and W. B. Smith, Treasurer.
The Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane hit Mathews County, Virginia on August 23rd, 1933, causing catastrophic damage. The storm was first noticed when it was east of the Windward Islands. By August 18th, the tropical storm was 900 miles east of Puerto Rico and within 150 miles of Bermuda, on August 21st it became a hurricane. On August 23rd at 9:20AM, the storm changed track and passed over Norfolk, Virginia and moved north. A second hurricane hit the mid-Atlantic just over a week later. The 1933 hurricane season left a destructive path all the way into Pennsylvania and remained the worst series of storms on record until Hurricane Isabel in 2003.
Scope and Content: Mathews County (Va.) Red Cross Records, 1933-1934, 1950-1970, record the Mathews County Chapter's history through financial documentation, donation information, meeting notes and various records of relief distribution. The bulk of the records (1933-1934) relate to relief efforts after the Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane hit Mathews County. Hurricane related records include merchant accounts and reimbursements, dwelling repairs - approved and disapproved, committee meeting minutes, a storm log, correspondence, warehouse invoices, dwelling repair plans, etc.
The bulk of the collection consists of disaster registration and redistribution cards, 1933-1934. The records are arranged alphabetically by surname of relief recipient. Information recorded in the disaster registration cards includes location of disaster relief operation; family surname; names and ages of family members; race; owner or renter of dwelling; predisaster address; current address; items needed (clothing, food, shelter, transportation, medical care, etc.) Should the request have been deemed valid by the Red Cross representative, a disaster redistribution card was filed with the disaster registration card listing the quantity and type of relief items the family received.
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Barcode Number 1184548: Red Cross Records, 1933-1960 (bulk 1950-1960)
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Barcode Number 1184549: Red Cross Records, 1960-1968
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Barcode Number 1184550: Red Cross Records, 1968-1970
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Barcode Number 1184542: Red Cross Hurricane Relief Records, 1933-1934
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Barcode Number 1184543: Red Cross Hurricane Relief Records, 1933-1934
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Barcode Number 1184544: Red Cross Hurricane Relief Records, 1933-1934
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Barcode Number 1184545: Red Cross Hurricane Relief Records, 1933-1934
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Barcode Number 1184546: Red Cross Hurricane Relief Records, 1933-1934
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Barcode Number 1184547: Red Cross Hurricane Relief Records, 1933-1934
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Barcode Number 1184553: Red Cross Hurricane Relief Records, 1933-1934
Scope and Content: Records include correspondence, flag, minute books, and other records from the Sally Tompkins chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
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Barcode Number 1184611: Sally Tompkins UDC Correspondence, 1908-1913
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Barcode Number 1184612: Sally Tompkins UDC Correspondence, 1908-1922
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Barcode Number 1184609: Sally Tompkins UDC Correspondence, 1908-1949
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Barcode Number 1184610: Sally Tompkins UDC Correspondence, 1908-1953
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Barcode Number 1184613: Sally Tompkins UDC Flags, undated
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Barcode Number 1184607: Sally Tompkins UDC Minute Books, 1908-1942
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Barcode Number 1184608: Sally Tompkins UDC Records, 1908-1949
Includes boxes containing material identified as organization records. These records may be flat filed or foldered but not fully processed.
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Barcode Number 1208352: Fiduciary Records; Health and Medical Records; Land Records; Marriage Records and Vital Statistics; Miscellaneous Records; Military and Pension Records; Organization Records; Overseers of the Poor Records, 1844-1904