John V. Coxe Papers
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Not requestable
Scope and Content Information
The John V. Coxe Papers, 1933 – 1987, consist of one disbound scrapbook of materials separated into three folders. The collection includes captioned photographs, newspaper clippings, and a few documents consisting of camp reports and letters. The collection provides considerable evidence relating to the history of the C.C.C., particularly that of Camp #3 in the Shenandoah National Park. The scrapbook was created by John Coxe, known as Jack, and documents daily life and work within Camp NIRA, Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) Camp #3, Company 1387, from 1933-1934. The newspaper clippings date primarily from the 1980s and feature interviews from former C.C.C. members, including John Coxe. Other clippings include information relating to various aspects of the C.C.C. and C.C.C. members from the 1930s through the 1980s. Photographs document daily life in the camp, and show men working on various projects within the Shenandoah National Park. A few photographs document a C.C.C reunion in the 1980s. Also included are a few pictures of President Roosevelt on a tour of inspection of the C.C.C. camps. Documents include camp reports from Camp NIRA and correspondence to and from John Coxe regarding employment after his time in the C.C.C.
Dates
- Creation: 1933-1987
Creator
- Coxe, John V. (Person)
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.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collection Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Bio/Historical Note
The Civilian Conservation Corps was created as a part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal in 1933 and operated until 1942 to provide employment during the Depression to young, unmarried men ages 18-25. All work related to the conservation of natural resources and resulted in the creation of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Camp NIRA, named after the National Industrial Recovery Administration, was established on June 20, 1933 and was the third camp created in the Shenandoah National Park along Skyline Drive. It was located near Spotswood, one of the main entrances to the Park, along a south slope and protected by Bald Face Mountain. John V. Coxe, known as “Jack,” was a part of Company 1387 at Camp NIRA during the years 1933-1934. Some of the projects completed by Company 1387 include the creation of parking overlooks, development of the South River Picnic Grounds, construction of the Dean Mountain reservoir, and the creation of trails and roads for fighting fires.
Extent
0.16 cubic feet (3 folders)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The John V. Coxe Papers consist of a disbound scrapbook of photographs and documents detailing life in the Civilian Conservation Corps at Camp NIRA, Camp #3, Company 1387, from 1933 - 1934. Also included are newspaper clippings from the 1930s - 1980s relating to various aspects of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three folders.
Acquisition Information
JMU Special Collections received this collection on deposit from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society in February 1998.
Separated Material
The original C.C.C. patch formerly located at the beginning of the binder was withdrawn by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society on May 16, 2000 for display by the Society.
Processing Information
This material was originally in a three ring binder, with photos attached to black construction paper and captions typed on separate slips of paper. Approval was secured from Scott Suter, Historical Society Curator, for purposes of long-term preservation, to remove photos from the black paper and reaffix on acid-free bond paper with captions typed as they appeared in the original scrapbook. In the original scrapbook, some photographs were placed behind other photographs; in the new arrangement all photographs are affixed individually. Newspaper clippings were reproduced on acid-free paper.
In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 3098.
Subject
- Coxe, John V. (Person)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.) -- History (Organization)
- Civilian Conservation Corps (U.S.). Company 1387 (Bald Face Mountain, Shenandoah National Park, Va.) (Organization)
- United States. Forest Service. Southern Region -- History (Organization)
- United States. Army. Corps, 3rd -- History (Organization)
Source
- Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society (Depositor, Organization)
- Title
- A Guide to the John V. Coxe Papers, 1933-1987
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Chris Bolgiano, Kate Morris
- Date
- April 1999, June 2013
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the James Madison University Libraries Special Collections Repository
820 Madison Drive
MSC 1706
Harrisonburg Virginia 22807
(540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu