Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Hummel, Virginia Papers, Ms1998-014, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Virginia Hummel Papers were donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1998.

Processing Information

This collection was processed and described prior to 2003. The orginal 2002 web version of the finding aid was funded in part by a grant for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Further arrangement and description was completed in February, 2025.

Biographical Note

Virginia Hummel, born on September 28, 1916, was an English teacher with Blacksburg High School and an avid amateur historian of Blacksburg and Appalachian regional history. Much of the subject matter of the materials concerns the history of Blacksburg and Montgomery County, Virginia. Hummel died on May 19, 1998, at the age of 81.

Scope and Contents

The Virginia Hummel Papers consist of materials created and gathered by Virginia Holden Hummel of Blacksburg. An amateur historian especially interested in Blacksburg history and genealogy, she collected many materials related to the region, including newspaper clippings, research notes, photographs, maps, and blueprints.

Series I: Correspondence, 1830-1996, n.d. This series contains correspondence to and from Hummel and family members, thank-you cards addressed to Hummel, graduation announcements, and stamps.

Series II: Family Papers, 1864-1998, n.d., includes materials related to Hummel and her family, including Elizabeth Evan's application to the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Hummel's essays on Shakespeare, a poem by Mary Benton Hummel, drawings and photographs, and Virginia Hummel's nomination for the 1992 Governor's Award for Volunteering Excellence.

Series III: Financial and Legal Records, 1841-1952, n.d. This series consists of financial and legal materials such as deeds, receipts, bills, shipment records, and notes on deeds.

Series IV: Genealogy, 1946-1980, n.d., contains materials related to Hummel's genealogy research such as records of marriages, births, and deaths, an ancestral chart, and notes on families.

Series V: Local History, 1872-1997, n.d. This series consists of research materials related to the history of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, and Montgomery County, including VPI bulletins, maps, VPI publications, articles related to the state of Virginia, Blacksburg town calendars, photographs, brochures, and notes.

Series VI: Subject Files, 1995, n.d., is largely comprised of articles not related to Hummel's research on local history, such as articles on ancient history.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into series based on topic. Within each series, items are arranged first chronologically, then alphabetically if there is more than one item from the same year. The series are as follows:

Series I: Correspondence, 1830-1996, n.d. This series contains correspondence to and from Virginia Hummel and other members of her family.

Series II: Family Papers, 1864-1998, n.d., consists of various papers relating to Virginia Hummel and her family, including some of Hummel's schoolwork, applications for membership, an obituary, and photographs.

Series III: Financial and Legal Records, 1841-1952, n.d., includes financial and legal materials such as deeds, bills, and appointment letters.

Series IV: Genealogy, 1946-1980, n.d. This series is comprised of genealogy research and compiled notes on the history of various families.

Series V: Local History, 1872-1997, n.d., contains materials related to Hummel's research on local history including Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, and Montgomery County. Materials include articles, calendars from the town of Blacksburg, notes, photographs, maps, and blueprints.

Series VI: Subject Files, 1995, n.d., includes research files that are not related to local history.

Related Material

The Virginia Hummel Papers were donated alongside materials related to the Draper-Preston Neighborhood Association. The Blacksburg Historic District Project Records are possibly the result of these materials. See finding aid here.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Blacksburg (Va.)
• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• Montgomery County (Va.)
• Women -- History

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Virginia Hummel Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).