Cassell, Charles Willis, Family Papers Charles Willis Cassell Family Papers 1883-1950 Ms.1984.170

Charles Willis Cassell Family Papers 1883-1950 Ms.1984.170


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Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech

Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu

Rosana Magoia, Student Worker

Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.1984.170
Title
Charles Willis Cassell Family Papers 1883-1950
Quantity
4.2 Cubic Feet, 11 boxes
Creator
Charles Willis Cassell family (Wythe County, Va.)
Language
The materials in the collection are in English.
Abstract
This collection consists of the papers of a Wythe County, Virginia, Lutheran minister, farmer and businessman and his family. It includes Cassell's personal, professional, and business correspondence; the personal correspondence of his wife and children; financial and legal records; diaries; notes on catechetics; and scrapbooks containing historical sketches of various Lutheran Churches, obituaries, family-related social events, and newspaper clippings concerning Cassell's services as pastor.

Administrative Information

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

The collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Charles Willis Cassell Family Papers, Ms1984-170, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

The Charles Willis Cassell Family Papers were purchased by the Special Collections and University Archives in 1984.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement and description of the Charles Willis Cassell Family Papers commenced in November 2003 and was completed in December 2003.


Biographical Note

Charles Willis Cassell, farmer, businessman and Lutheran minister, was born--probably in Wythe County, Virginia--on March 25, 1871, to Michael Cassell (1827-1898) and Eliza Ann Rapass (1830-1909). Cassell married Helen Roberta Buchanan (1875-1958) in 1899; the couple had four daughters--Eliza Helen (1903-1906), Anna Catherine (1910-1912), Rebekah, and Mary Brown (1908-1979)--and one son, Joseph B. Cassell, who also later became a Lutheran pastor.

Cassell was a prominent member of the Lutheran Church and served as pastor in several parishes, including Bland County (1896-1898); Tazewell County (1898-1905); Augusta County (1918-1922); Page County (1922- ?); Rockbridge County and others. During his work in the Synod of Virginia, he also compiled and edited--along with W. J. Fink and Elon O. Henkel--the History of the Lutheran Church in Virginia and East Tennessee (1930).

Cassell died April 14, 1937. He and his wife are buried in Kimberling Cemetery in Wythe County, Virginia.

Sources

Cassell C. W., Fink, W. J. and Henkel, E. O. editors. History of the Lutheran Church in Virginia and East Tennessee. [Strasburg, Va., Shenandoah Publishing House, 1930.] (BX8042 V8 C3 Spec/Large)

Scope and Content

This collection contains the papers of Wythe County, Virginia farmer, businessman and Lutheran minister Charles Willis Cassell and his family. Nearly half of the collection consists of letters to Cassell. While much of this correspondence concerns purely personal matters, many letters are related to Cassell's work in the Lutheran church and to his own personal business affairs. The personal correspondence of Cassell's wife Helen and three of their children (Mary, Rebekah, and Joseph) is included as well. The collection also contains a number of financial and legal records relating to Cassell's Wythe County farm and property which he owned in Marion, Virginia and Columbia, South Carolina. The collection includes a set of Cassell's personal diaries, together with notebooks and scrapbooks, many of which contain notes and newsclippings on Cassell's church duties and information on Virginia Lutheran history, apparently assembled preparatory to compilation of a book on the subject. A small group of printed materials (including a 1921 Marion College newspaper) completes the collection.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

Series I. Correspondence, 1883-1950. This series is comprised primarily of correspondence addressed to either Cassell or other family members. The series has been divided into the following subseries:

Subseries A. Charles Willis Cassell Correspondence, 1883-1934. This subseries includes Cassell's personal, professional and business correspondence. The personal correspondence (1883-1935), divided by subject matter and then organized chronologically, includes letters of sympathy following the death of various family members and letters relating to his marriage with Helen Buchanan.

Cassell's professional correspondence (1896-1927) relates to his work as home missionary pastor of the Lutheran Church. It includes letters regarding calls largely requiring Cassell's services as pastor in various Lutheran churches; letters concerning synodical matters such as the printing of the "The Monitor"(published by the Southwestern Virginia Synod), and letters and reports regarding a closer union between the Virginia and North Carolina Lutheran synods. Also included are letters concerning Cassell's role as financial secretary of Marion College.

The personal business affairs correspondence (1903-1934) is comprised of letters concerning Cassell's house in Marion, Virginia; letters from S.W. Hedrick (a farm manager in Rural Retreat, Virginia) relating to farm affairs; and letters concerning Cassell's property in Columbia, South Carolina. Many of these letters mention the economic difficulties Cassell had regarding this property as a result of World War I. The business affairs correspondence includes a few pieces of outgoing correspondence.

Subseries B. Family correspondence, 1897-1950. This subseries contains letters addressed to Cassell's wife, Helen Buchanan Cassell, and children--Mary, Rebekah, and Joe (Joseph?). Helen Cassell's letters include personal correspondence from family and friends both before and after her marriage. Mary Cassell's correspondence consists of letters from family and from Irvine MacNeill, a U. S. soldier during World War II. MacNeill's letters relate his experiences and feelings while training at Camp Lee and Camp Crowder, and later while serving at Drew Field (Florida) and Camp Gordon (Georgia). The subseries also includes the correspondence of Rebekah Cassell (largely from family and friends) and Joe (Joseph?) Cassell, as well as a set of invitations to various commencements, weddings and entertainments. Arranged by name of recipient, then chronologically, with invitations completing the subseries.

Subseries C. Other Correspondence, 1870-1947. This subseries includes correspondence sent to Miss Bertha Buchanan, Mrs. Mary Buchanan, Miss Mary Lookup, and Mr. and Mrs. Preston. Also included are letters to unidentified people. Arranged chronologically.

Series II. Financial Records, 1890-1935. This series has been divided among the following subseries:

Subseries A. Account books, 1899-1935. The account books mostly relate to Cassell's farm but also include bank, personal, trip and store account books. The books are all signed by C.W. Cassell, except one trip account book that apparently belonged to Mary Brown Cassell. The six farm account books contain detailed information regarding the sale of farm produce, statements on farm workers' hours and wages, conditions of crops, stock gains and losses and other farm income and expenditures. One book devoted to cattle sales also lists promissory notes and contributions made to schools, churches, libraries, etc. A personal account book, with notations regarding daily expenditures for groceries, gas, laundry, etc., is included as well.

Subseries B. Bank Account Records, 1899-1927. This subseries includes bank statements, checks, check stubs, and deposit slips from accounts held by Cassell at financial institutions in Graham, Rural Retreat, Stephen City, Roanoke, Marion, Buena Vista, Luray and Mt. Sidney, Virginia and Bluefield, West Virginia. The subseries is arranged by document type, then by name of institution, then chronologically.

Subseries C. Insurance Assessment Notifications, 1900-1913. These notifications were sent to Cassell from the Farmer's Mutual Fire Association of Wythe County, Virginia. The material is arranged chronologically.

Subseries D. Promissory notes, 1899-1926. This subseries includes promissory notes from Cassell to either individuals (e.g. Sidney Cassell) or institutions (e.g. Marion College). The notes are arranged chronologically.

Subseries E. Tax Records, 1915-1928. This subseries is largely comprised of taxes charged on the Cassells. The material is arranged chronologically.

Subseries F. Receipts, 1892-1925. This subseries includes receipts from different stores and the Norfolk & Western Railway Company. It also contains receipts indicating Cassell's payment on interest on mortgages for property in Columbia, South Carolina, and materials purchased to build a house there. Also included are receipts from various hospitals, the Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Philadelphia, Roanoke College, Presbyterian Minister Funds, etc. The subseries is organized by receipt type, then chronologically.

Subseries G. Farm Reports, 1924-1928. This subseries contains general statements of the farm work, time put in by regular help, special help employed, conditions of crops, increase or loss of stock, sale of stock, sale of grain not in exchange of work, sale of grain for work, sale of poultry and eggs, other sales, income and expenditures. The reports were sent to Cassell by S.W. Hedrick, the farm manager. The subseries is organized chronologically.

Subseries H. Miscellaneous financial records, 1901-1926. This subseries includes personal notations regarding Cassell's farm, a list of members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church that paid to support Cassell as pastor for the Bland Charge, the estate of V. J. Hudson, etc. This subseries is organized chronologically.

Series III. Legal Records, 1922-1927. This series is largely comprised of legal documents regarding Cassell's business affairs in Columbia, South Carolina. Among the papers are a charter for Caldwell T Co., court resolutions regarding a legal dispute on the construction of the Cassells' house there; a contract of sale between The Monticello Home Co. and Mrs. Helen R. Cassell, etc. The series is arranged chronologically.

Series IV. Personal Records, 1888-1934. This series is divided into the following subseries:

Subseries A. Diaries, 1893-1927. Cassell's diaries--ten in number--contain detailed records of his daily activities as a pastor of the Lutheran Church, personal reflections, letters received, and commentaries on weather, personal and family events. Arranged chronologically.

Subseries B. Notebooks, 1894-1895. Contains one notebook holding Cassell's notes on catechesis under Dr. Spaeth at the Lutheran Theological Seminary (Philadelphia).

Subseries C. Scrapbooks, 1897-1928. The scrapbooks include newspaper clippings concerning Cassell's services as Lutheran pastor, historical sketches of various Lutheran churches, obituaries and social events related to Cassell's family. (Note: newspaper clippings are pasted in ledger books also containing account notations from an unidentified church (1850-1852) and court judgments (1854-1856).

Subseries D. Miscellaneous personal records. This subseries includes Cassell's notes concerning the history of various Lutheran churches and pastors, newspaper clippings related to Lutheran churches, and other general materials.

Series V. Printed Materials, 1888-1934. The printed materials series includes a 1921 issue of "The Marion College Record," two booklets, pamphlets, programs, postcards, newspaper clippings and other ephemeral material.

Separated Material

The following item was transferred to the Rare Book Collection:

Water Supplies for Suburban and Country Homes: Dug Well Supplies (Richmond, VA: Virginia State Dept. of Health, 1939). (TD405 .W37 1939 Large Spec).


Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Charles Willis Cassell family (Wythe County, Va.)
  • Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
  • Women -- History

Container List

Series I. Correspondence
1883-1950
  • Subseries A. Cassell's Incoming Correspondence
    1883-1935
    • Personal correspondence
      1883-1935
      • box-folder 1 folder: 1
        Letters of sympathy following father's death
        1898
      • box-folder 1 folder: 2
        Letters relating to Cassell's marriage
        1899-1900
      • box-folder 1 folder: 3
        Letters of sympathy following daughter's death
        1906
      • box-folder 1 folder: 4
        Letters of sympathy following mother's death
        1909
      • box-folder 1 folder: 5
        Letter of sympathy following daughter's death
        1912, n.d.
      • General personal correspondcence
        • box-folder 1 folder: 6 1883-1894
        • box-folder 1 folder: 7 1895-1896
        • box-folder 1 folder: 8 1897-April 1898
        • box-folder 1 folder: 9 May-December 1898
        • box-folder 2 folder: 1 1899
        • box-folder 2 folder: 2 1900-1935, n.d.
    • Professional correspondence
      1896-1927
      • box-folder 2 folder: 3
        Letters concerning calls for pastoral work
        1896-1903
      • box-folder 2 folder: 4
        Letters concerning calls for pastoral work
        1904-1918
      • box-folder 2 folder: 5
        Letters concerning synodical matters
        1901-1924
      • box-folder 2 folder: 6
        Letters concerning Marion College
        1914-1927
      • box-folder 2 folder: 7
        General professional correspondence
        1896-1915
    • Business affairs correspondence
      1903-1934, n.d.
      • box-folder 2 folder: 8
        Letters from financial institutions
        1903-1934
      • box-folder 2 folder: 9
        Letters concerning business affairs in Columbia, South Carolina
        1914-1927
      • box-folder 2 folder: 10
        Letters concerning Cassell's property in Marion, Virginia
        1917-1918
      • box-folder 3 folder: 1
        Letters concerning farm management
        1924-1927, n.d.
      • box-folder 3 folder: 2
        General incoming business correspondence
        1898-1932, n.d.
      • box-folder 3 folder: 3
        Outgoing business correspondence
        1917-1932
  • Subseries B. Family Correspondence
    1897-1950
    • box-folder 3 folder: 4
      Helen Buchanan Cassell's correspondence
      1897-1938
    • box-folder 3 folder: 5
      Joe (Joseph?) Cassell's correspondence
      1915
    • Mary Brown Cassell's correspondence
      • box-folder 3 folder: 6 1915-1930
      • box-folder 3 folder: 7 January-April 1931
      • box-folder 3 folder: 8 May-December 1931
      • box-folder 3 folder: 9 1932
      • box-folder 3 folder: 10 January-April 1933
      • box-folder 3 folder: 11 May-September 1933
      • box-folder 3 folder: 12 October-December 1933
      • box-folder 4 folder: 1 1934
      • box-folder 4 folder: 2 1935-1941
      • box-folder 4 folder: 3 1942
      • box-folder 4 folder: 4 1943
      • box-folder 4 folder: 5 1944-1950
      • box-folder 4 folder: 6 n.d.
    • box-folder 4 folder: 7
      Rebekah Cassell's correspondence
      1933-1943
    • box-folder 4 folder: 8
      Invitations
      1890-1915
  • Subseries C. Other correspondence
    1870-1932
    • box-folder 5 folder: 1
      General correspondence to other people
      1870-1947, n.d.
    • box-folder 5 folder: 2
      General correspondence to unidentified people
      1932, n.d.
Series II. Financial Records
1890-1935
  • Subseries A. Account Books
    1899-1935
    • Farm account books
      • box-folder 5 folder: 3 1901-1908
      • box-folder 5 folder: 4 1910-1913
      • box-folder 5 folder: 5 1914
      • box-folder 5 folder: 6 1914-1916
      • box-folder 5 folder: 7 1919-1928
      • box-folder 5 folder: 8 1934-1935
    • box-folder 5 folder: 9
      Cattle sale book
      1902-1918
    • box-folder 5 folder: 10
      Personal account book
      1919-1927
    • box-folder 5 folder: 11
      Store account book
      1922
    • box-folder 5 folder: 12
      Trip account book
      n.d.
    • box-folder 5 folder: 13
      Bank account book (Graham, Virginia)
      1899-1905
    • box-folder 5 folder: 14
      Bank account book (Rural Retreat, Virginia)
      1899-1905
  • Subseries B. Bank Account Records
    1899-1927
    • Checks
      • box-folder 6 folder: 1
        Bank of Graham
        1899-1914
      • box-folder 6 folder: 2
        Augsburg Bank
        1900-1906
      • box-folder 6 folder: 3
        Bank of Rural Retreat
        1905-1913
      • box-folder 5 folder: 6
        People's Bank
        • box-folder 6 folder: 4 1906-1912
        • box-folder 7 folder: 1 1913-1915
      • box-folder 7 folder: 2
        Fidelity Banking and Trust
        1910
      • box-folder 7 folder: 3
        Colonial National Bank
        1914-1927
      • box-folder 7 folder: 4
        First National Bank of Rural Retreat
        1913-1927
      • box-folder 7 folder: 5
        Marion National Bank
        1915-1917
      • box-folder 7 folder: 6
        Bank of Marion
        1916
      • box-folder 7 folder: 7
        People's Bank
        1917
      • box-folder 7 folder: 8
        First National Bank of Luray
        1925-1927
    • Check stubs
      • box-folder 8 folder: 1
        Augsburg Bank
        1903-1907
      • box-folder 8 folder: 2
        Bank of Graham
        1904-1914
      • box-folder 8 folder: 3
        People's Bank
        1906-1915
      • box-folder 8 folder: 4
        Bank of Rural Retreat
        1907-1913
      • box-folder 8 folder: 5
        National Bank of Rural Retreat
        1914-1917
      • box-folder 8 folder: 6
        First National Bank of Rural Retreat
        1914-1929
      • box-folder 8 folder: 7
        Marion National Bank
        1915
      • box-folder 8 folder: 8
        People's Bank
        1917
      • box-folder 8 folder: 9
        Weyer's Cave Bank
        1921-1922
      • box-folder 8 folder: 10
        First National Bank of Luray
        1923-1926
      • box-folder 8 folder: 11
        Unidentified banks
        1905
    • box-folder 9 folder: 1
      Deposit slips
      1909-1927
    • box-folder 9 folder: 2
      Bank statments
      1923-1927
  • Subseries C. Insurance Assessment Notifications
    1900-1913
    • box-folder 9 folder: 3
      Insurance assessment notifications
      1900-1913
  • Subseries D. Promissory Notes
    1899-1926
    • box-folder 9 folder: 4
      Promissory notes
      1899-1926
  • Subseries E. Tax Records
    1915-1928
    • box-folder 9 folder: 5
      Tax records
      1915-1928
  • Subseries F. Receipts
    1890-1925
    • box-folder 9 folder: 6
      Store and railway company receipts
      1892-1913, n.d.
    • box-folder 9 folder: 7
      Columbia business affairs receipts
      1914-1925
    • box-folder 9 folder: 8
      Medical receipts
      1893-1909, n.d.
    • box-folder 9 folder: 9
      General receipts
      1890-1924, n.d.
  • Subseries G. Farm Reports
    1924-1928
    • box-folder 9 folder: 10 1924
    • box-folder 9 folder: 11 1925
    • box-folder 9 folder: 12 1926
    • box-folder 9 folder: 13 1928
  • Subseries H. Miscellaneous Financial Records
    1901-1926
    • box-folder 9 folder: 14
      Miscellaneous financial records
      1901-1926, n.d.
Series III. Legal Records
1922-1927
  • box-folder 9 folder: 15
    Court judgments, wills contracts, etc.
    1922-1927, n.d.
Series IV. Personal Records
1888-1934
  • Subseries A. Diaries
    1893-1927
    • box-folder 9 folder: 16 September 25, 1893-July 1894
    • box-folder 9 folder: 17 August 1894-February 11, 1895
    • box-folder 10 folder: 1 February 12, 1895-1896
    • box-folder 10 folder: 2 1899-May 1901
    • box-folder 10 folder: 3 June 1901-July 1904
    • box-folder 10 folder: 4 August 1904-August 20, 1907
    • box-folder 10 folder: 5 August 22, 1907-June 1912
    • box-folder 10 folder: 6 August 1912-1914
    • box-folder 10 folder: 7 1921
    • box-folder 10 folder: 8 1927
  • Subseries B. Notebook
    1894-1895
    • box-folder 10 folder: 9
      Notebook
      1894-1895
  • Subseries C. Scrapbooks
    1897-1928
    • box-folder 11 folder: 1 1897-1913, n.d.
    • box-folder 11 folder: 2 1897-1928
  • Subseries D. Miscellaneous Personal Records
    • box-folder 11 folder: 3
      Miscellaneous personal records
      n.d.
Series V. Printed Materials
1888-1934
  • box-folder 11 folder: 4
    Booklets, pamphlets, programs, etc.
    1888-1934, n.d.