Conditions Governing Use:

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.

Conditions Governing Access:

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.

Preferred Citation:

P.D. Gwaltney & Co. Records, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Gift.

Historical Note:

P. D. Gwaltney moved to Smithfield in 1870 and founded a business with his cousin O. G. Delk. By 1875, the company was known as P. D. Gwaltney and Col. In 1880, Gwaltney and his son, P. D. Gwaltney , Jr. went into business together. P. D. Gwaltney died in 1915 and his son died in 1936. In 1981, the company became a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods

Scope and Contents

This collection is stored off-site. At least 48 hours advanced notice is required for retrieval. Account books and other business records of P. D. Gwaltney & Co., a ham packing plant in Smithfield, Virginia. Dating from approximately the 1870s to 1940s, the collection includes 426 manuscript account books, 8 printed volumes and 37 record cartons of invoices, banking and packing slips, contracts and some correspondence.

Arrangement of Materials:

The account books are numbered and arranged in approximate date order. The boxes of records are arranged by type of material.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Account books
• Ham industry--Virginia--Smithfield--History.