Cleveland Family Papers

The Cleveland Family Papers, 1880-1958, are comprised primarily of photographs of Elizabeth and Annie Cleveland and other Cleveland family members. Additional materials include documents related to the deaths of Annie Cleveland and Elizabeth Cleveland. Photocopies of box labels pertaining to Cleveland Sadler are also included.

The 16 black-and-white photographs of Elizabeth Cleveland feature professional portraits and group shots. Most of the photographs are undated, but likely date from the late-nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Some photographs feature Elizabeth with family members (Lucinda Gillespie, Margaret Gillespie, Lucinda Shepherd) and others feature her with classmates or colleagues from Hollins University. Many of the photographs are inscribed with the subjects’ identities. Other persons featured include Etta Moore, Genevieve Rudd, Roe Hurt, Leila Turner, Joe Turner, Robert Hollins Alberti, Sadie White, and Alice Kelsey. Photograph studios featured include André Studio; Dean’s Studio and Gitchell’s Studio in Harrisonburg; Maury in Salem, Virginia; Fred Walter in Staunton, Virginia; Thuss and Bingham in Memphis, Tennessee; P. G. Pickerill in Little Rock, Arkansas; and Merin-Baliban in Philadelphia.

A photograph of Annie Cleveland features her seated in a wheelchair surrounded by four children. The inscription on the back of the photograph indicates that these children are her nieces and nephews Vergilia Sadler, Mary Sadler, Cleveland Sadler, and Hugh Sadler. The photograph is undated, but likely dates to the late-nineteenth century. There are also four photographs ranging in date from 1909 to 1954 featuring Vergilia Sadler. In two of these, both dated 1909, Vergilia is dressed as a Brethren minister for the play Cohee and Tuckahoe.

Documents related to Annie Cleveland’s death in 1916 include one single-sheet program from her memorial service on January 14, 1917, as well as a packet of typed papers and a bound pamphlet recapping the events and speeches delivered at the memorial service. The pamphlet contains speeches delivered by university president Julian Burruss, history faculty member John Wayland, student Zola Hubbard, Reverend W.F. Watson, and Mr. C.A. Mason as well as remembrances by Vera B. Pettit, Floyd W. King, Bettie L. Gray, Emma D. Thomas, Mrs. N.B. Gay, and Willie M. Shiflett. Excerpts from Annie Cleveland’s diary are also included in the pamphlet. An 1880 article written by Annie Cleveland entitled “My Father” is also included. Two newspaper clippings of Elizabeth’s 1958 obituary are included.

Lastly, the collection contains photocopies of box labels that housed The Schoolma’am yearbooks. Two unannotated 1915 yearbooks were removed from the collection and discarded. The box labels indicate that the yearbooks were owned by or intended for Cleveland Sadler, nephew to Elizabeth and Annie Cleveland. One box read, “Cleveland Sadler,” and the second box, “This book I saved for Cleveland Sadler, unless he has one. I think Elizabeth might like it now, in the home.”