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 open to 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.

Provenance

The scrapbook was likely initially donated to the JMU Alumni Association.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Sarah McCulloh Lemmon Scrapbook, circa 1914-1991, SC 0047, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

The scrapbook was transferred to Special Collections, likely by the James Madison University Alumni Association, at an unknown date.

Bio/Historical Note

Sarah McCulloh Lemmon was born in Davidsonville, Maryland on October 24, 1914 to William Presstman Lemmon and Anna Stewart Lemmon. By her own account, Lemmon moved frequently during her childhood, living in Atlanta, Georgia; Natural Bridge, Virginia; Roanoke, Virginia; and Nashville, Tennessee. Lemmon enrolled at the State Teachers College in Harrisonburg in the fall of 1930. While enrolled, Lemmon participated in numerous extracurricular activities, among them the Art Club, Y.W.C.A, Debate Team, and several athletic teams. Additonally, Lemmon served as Editor-in-Chief of The Breeze during her senior year. In recognition of her varied interests and talents, Lemmon received the double superlative of "Most Literary/Most Intellectual" of the Class of 1934. Lemmon graduated from the State Teachers College in 1934 with a degree in high school education.

After leaving Harrisonburg, Lemmon went on to a distinguished academic career. She earned a master's degree in history from Columbia University (1936) and a Ph. D. in history from UNC-Chapel Hill (1952). She taught at the high school level from 1934 until 1947 when she began teaching history at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina. In addition to teaching, Lemmon served as the history department head before retiring in 1984. During her career, Lemmon published extensively on North Carolina history, including books on the state's participation in the War of 1812, World War I and World War II, and on the Pettigrew family of North Carolina. In 1997, Lemmon was the inaugural recipient of the Ronald E. Carrier Alumni Achievement Award which aims to recognize alumni who have demonstrated significant achievements of enduring value to society.

Lemmon's intellectual pursuits were far-reaching and unabated in the face of her advancing age. In 1991, at the age of 77, Lemmon became the first person to earn a degree in art history from Meredith College. After moving from Raleigh to Southern Pines, North Carolina in 1991, Lemmon became very active in the local Episcopal Church, and in 1995, at the age of 81, she was ordained an Episcopal minister. Lemmon passed away on September 28, 2002 at the age of 87. She is buried in Marietta, Georgia at the Saint James Episcopal Cemetery.

Scope and Content

This collection contains the pages from a single scrapbook constructed by Sarah McCulloh Lemmon in 2001. The scrapbook recounts Lemmon's life story from her 1914 birth in Davidsonville, Maryland, through her schooling, professional years, and extensive travel, concluding in 1991 when she received her bachelor's degree in art history from Meredith College. Comprising this scrapbook are personal photographs, timelines, greeting cards, newspaper and magazine clippings, certificates, postcards, and biographical entries written by Lemmon.

Subjects and places featured in the photographs include: Lemmon's childhood; State Teachers College (James Madison University) campus; the JMU farm (College Camp); Glen Burnie High School (Annapolis, Marlyand); New York City; Nassau, Bahamas; Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, Tennessee; United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; tennis champion Don Budge; Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico; Grand Canyon, Arizona; San Juan Capistrano, California; Yosemite National Park, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming; Mount Rushmore, South Dakota; LaGrange College, Georgia; Fort Benning, Georgia; Cuba; Meredith College, North Carolina; Honduras; and Portugal.

Arrangement

The scrapbook remains bound and is housed in a flat box.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Education, Higher -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
• Harrisonburg (Va.) -- History
• James Madison University -- Students -- History
• Letters (correspondence)
• Meredith College (Raleigh, N.C.) -- Students
• Photographs
• Postcards
• Printed Ephemera
• Scrapbooks
• State Teachers College at Harrisonburg (Harrisonburg, Va.) -- Alumni and alumnae
• State Teachers College at Harrisonburg (Harrisonburg, Va.) -- History
• State Teachers College at Harrisonburg (Harrisonburg, Va.) -- Students
• State Teachers College at Harrisonburg (Harrisonburg, Va.) -- Students -- Social life and customs
• Universities and colleges -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History