Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Garber Family Papers, 1871-1985. Accession 52500. Private Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from Tim Abbott.

Biographical Information

Abraham Garber (1760-1848) was born in York County, Pennsylvania to John H. Garber (1717-1787) and Barbara Miller Garber (1733-1808). Garber moved with his family to Shenandoah Valley, Virginia around 1775, and he spent the remainder of his live in the surrounding area. Garber was a devout member of the Church of the Brethren, and built the congregation's first house of worship in Augusta County. In addition to being a founder of the Middle River Congregation, Garber also served as an elder in the church until his death. Garber married Elizabeth Humbert Garber (1760-1938) and settled with his wife in New Hope, Augusta County on land which came to be known as "Garber Farm". The couple had seven children: John Garber (1792-1854), Daniel Garber (1793-1883), Jacob Garber (1797-1876), Sarah "Sallie" Garber Whitmore (b. 1803), Mary Garber Arion (1805-1864), Samuel Garber (1806-1892), and Esther Garber Stoner (1811-1880).

Scope and Content

Papers, 1871-1985, of the Garber family of Augusta County, Virginia, consist of photograph albums, cabinet card photographs, diaries and scrapbooks, and general papers. The photographs and photograph albums depict members of the Garber and Glick families, their homes and other property, as well as their travels. Scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings relating to the Garber family and the Church of the Brethren, as well Garber genealogical information, handwritten notes, postcards, receipts, and other ephemera. Diaries and other notebooks detail the daily life of 20th century members of the Garber family, and record important familial and local events. General papers include broadsides advertising community events, a program from the 1928 commemoration of Abraham Garber, and papers relating to elections and council meetings of the town of New Hope.