A Guide to the Leri Melissa Thomas Papers, 1926-1995 (bulk 1988-1992) SC 0156

A Guide to the Leri Melissa Thomas Papers, 1926-1995 (bulk 1988-1992) SC 0156


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James Madison University Libraries Special Collections

880 Madison Drive
MSC 1704
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/

Lindsay Mannell and Chris Bolgiano, Tara Mastrangelo

Repository
James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
Identification
SC 0156
Title
Leri Melissa Thomas Papers 1926-1995 1988-1992
Quantity
0.33 cubic feet, 1 box
Creator
Thomas, Leri Melissa
Language
English .
Abstract
The Leri Melissa Thomas Papers, 1926-1995 (bulk 1988-1992), consists of one box of files documenting the relationship between Shenandoah National Park (SNP) and residents and officials in several counties adjoining the park, especially Madison, Augusta, and Rockingham counties, Virginia.

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk. (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Leri Melissa Thomas Papers, 1926-1995 (bulk 1988-1992), SC 0156, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

Leri Thomas donated the collection to Special Collections in September 1998.

Processing Information

In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in 2017-2018. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 4015 .


Bio/Historical Note

In 1979, Leri Melissa Thomas moved to Madison County within five miles of Shenandoah National Park. In the late 1980s, when the park inaugurated a study of its surrounding lands, she became a leader in the private property rights movement that protested the potential expansion of the park. She contacted government officials at all levels and publicized the public concern over the park's Related Lands Study (also known as Adjacent Lands Study) and other activities. Among her neighbors were descendants of people who had been dispossessed by the park in the 1920s and 1930s, when the park was first established.

Scope and Content

This collection is composed of one box of files documenting the relationship between Shenandoah National Park (SNP) and residents and officials in several counties adjoining the park, especially Madison, Augusta, and Rockingham Counties, 1926-1995. The documents, which are mostly photocopies, constitute a wide variety of materials, including newspaper clippings, newsletters, correspondence, memos, reports, maps, minutes of meetings, and surveys. Some materials were obtained from SNP and other federal agencies by Ms. Thomas through Freedom of Information Act requests. She has made notes on and/or highlighted many of the materials.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged topically into thirteen folders.

Related Material

Shenandoah Park Oral History Collection, 1964-1999, SdArch SNP, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Appalachians (People) -- 20th century
  • Augusta County (Va.) -- History
  • Blue Ridge Committee for Shenandoah National Park Relations
  • Compensation (law) -- United States
  • Depressions -- 1929 -- United States
  • Environmental monitoring -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park
  • Eviction -- Government policy -- United States
  • Floods -- Virginia -- Madison County
  • Gore Tract (Madison County, Va.)
  • Hunting -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
  • Hunting -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park
  • Hunting customs -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
  • Land use -- Government policy -- United States
  • Land use -- Law and legislation -- United States
  • Land use -- Virginia
  • Land use surveys -- Virginia
  • Light Tract (Madison County, Va.)
  • Madison County (Va.) -- History
  • Mountain life -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
  • Mountain people -- Government policy -- Virginia
  • National parks and reserves -- Virginia -- History
  • Page County (Va.) -- History
  • Poaching -- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.)
  • Poaching -- Virginia -- Shenandoah National Park
  • Private property rights movement
  • Real property -- Virginia
  • Research (documents)
  • Right of property -- United States
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- History
  • Rose River Tract (Madison County, Va.)
  • Rural-urban migration -- Virginia
  • Shenandoah National Park (Va.) -- History
  • Shenandoah National Park (Va.). Related Lands Study
  • Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History -- 20th century
  • United States. Bureau of Land Management
  • United States. National Park Service

Location of Originals

Some originals are retained by the donor.


Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Augusta County (Va.) -- History
  • Gore Tract (Madison County, Va.)
  • Light Tract (Madison County, Va.)
  • Madison County (Va.) -- History
  • Page County (Va.) -- History
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- History
  • Rose River Tract (Madison County, Va.)
  • Shenandoah National Park (Va.) -- History
  • Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History -- 20th century

Container List

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 1
Related Lands Study
1926-1992
Scope and Content

Letters, memos, laws, minutes of meetings, newsletters, reports, and other documents on the adjacent lands study conducted by SNP.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 2
Adjacent Lands Surveys
1980s-1990s
Scope and Content

Forms containing survey information for Madison and Rockingham counties.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 3
SNP Acquisitions
1979-1992
Scope and Content

Letters and other documents concerning SNP acquisitions, and the role of The Conservation Fund in securing those acquisitions.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 4
Gore Tract
1989-1992, undated
Scope and Content

Letters, memos, surveys, maps, etc., related to SNP interest in the Gore Tract in Madison County.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 5
Rose River Tract
1991, undated
Scope and Content

Documents related to SNP interest in the Rose River Tract in Madison County.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 6
Light tract
1981-1990
Scope and Content

Documents related to SNP interest in the Light property in Madison County.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 7
Page County
1988-1992, undated
Scope and Content

Documents concerning the Park's interest in several tracts of land in Page County.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 8
Park Jurisdiction
1969-1992, undated
Scope and Content

Documents concerning Park boundaries and concurrent jurisdiction.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 9
Property Rights and Anti-Park Expansion
1979-1992, undated
Scope and Content

Newsletters and other documents concerned with private property issues in general and specifically as related to SNP, including the pamphlet Us vs. NPS, co-authored by L. Thomas.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 10
Blue Ridge Committee on SNP Relations
1992-1993, undated
Scope and Content

Documents concerning formation of an advisory committee to SNP of the eight bordering counties.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 11
Newspaper articles
1978-1991
Scope and Content

Miscellaneous articles related to SNP.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 12
Hunting/Poaching
1977-1992
Scope and Content

Letters describing several incidents in or near SNP.

Mixed Materials [1000885896] box: 1 folder: 13
Report of Floods
1995
Scope and Content

A 15 p. report by L. Thomas entitled, "The floods of 1995: a case study of Madisonian attitudes and experiences in the wake of flood relief efforts," which links attitudes and behaviors in response to floods to those concerning SNP. Includes some biographical information on L. Thomas.