Southwest Virginia collection
Statement of programs and library needs
Special Collections strives to preserve and document the history of this region of Virginia so the Southwest Virginia Collections. It reaches across many general and specific collections such as genealogy, Civil War, culinary arts, as well as the the University Archives. Because the field is so broad, and the narrow areas of interest represented on the Virginia Tech campus are so numerous, Special Collections tries to maintain a balanced approach in purchases. This area of collecting is, however, so important to the success of Special Collections that it receives priority treatment over many other areas of collecting, with exceptions such as University Archive. The Christiansburg Institute and genealogical research are particularly emphasized.
As with all other areas of collecting in Special Collections, the assignment of a conspectus level must take into consideration the holdings of the rest of the library.
I. Collection areas
A. Area: Southwest Virginia History
B. Classes and Levels
F 232.A5 Alleghany County Research
F 232.B5 Bland County Research
F 232.B6 Botetourt County Research
F 232.B94 Buchanan County Research
F 232.C27 Carroll County Research
F 232.C8 Craig County Research
F 232.D2 Dickenson County Research
F 232.F4 Floyd County Research
F 232.F7 Franklin County Research
F 232.G4 Giles County Research
F 232.G7 Grayson County Research
F 232.H6 Henry County Research
F 232.L4 Lee County Research
F 232.M7 Montgomery County Comprehensive
F 232.P3 Patrick County Research
F 232.P9 Pulaski County Research
F 232.R6 Roanoke County Research
F 232.S3 Scott County Research
F 232.S6 Smyth County Research
F 232.T2 Tazewell County Research
F 232.W3 Washington County Research
F 232.W8 Wise County Research
F 232.W9 Wythe County Research
F 234 Cities and Towns within
the counties listed above Research
C. Chronology
All periods.
D. Geographic Guidelines
Southwest Virginia is described in B above, but Appalachian literature, history, and culture is also of great interest.
E. Languages
Primarily English.
F. Treatment
Monographs, reference works, manuscripts, photographs, ephemera, and periodicals are collected, both current and retrospective imprints.
G. Formats
Printed materials, photographs, manuscripts (such as letters, diaries, account books, and the like), ephemera, art, and objects. Digital resources are also sought, such as images and audio recordings.
H. Multiple copies
Though there is little duplication within Special Collections, there is duplication, particularly with current imprints, between titles in Special Collections and in the open stacks. This is necessary because of the heavy demand for these titles. Duplicate copies are collected when there are distinguishing marks in both copies or when condition dictates a copy for use and a copy(s) for preservation.
II. Acquisition Strategy
Acquisitions heavily reliant on gifts, particularly gifts of manuscripts, photographs, and ephemera. Purchases are made whenever funds permit.
III. Collection Notes
No materials dealing with Southwest Virginia are excluded.
The department does not "compete" with other repositories in the area. Otherwise, no areas are excluded.
This is one of the most important areas of collecting in Special Collections. The collection on Montgomery County, Blacksburg, and Virginia Tech are especially strong. In many instances, Special Collections is the only public source available for local history in Southwest Virginia.
This collection is heavily used both by students and by the general public. The University Archive, the railroad collection, the Civil War collections, and the genealogicaly materials are natural corollaries to this collection, and they are often used in tangent with one another.
Revised 11/2000
