J. W. Tate Ledgers

Collection

Identifier: SC 0301

Not requestable
Staff Only

Scope and Content

The J. W. Tate Ledgers, 1888-1905, comprise four account books documenting Tate's blacksmith business in the Amberly area of Rockingham County, Virginia. Additional materials include correspondence, printed ephemera, and an incomplete autobiographical sketch of Luna Tate, J. W. Tate's daughter.

The ledgers include the names of Tate's customers, services or materials provided, and their respective cost.

In her autobiographical sketch, Luna Tate describes her family's farm, her father's blacksmith shop, schooling, and travels. A five-page biography of Christopher Columbus written by Luna Tate, likely for a school assignment, is included. Correspondence is from family in Ohio (Dayton and Clayton) and friends in Waynesboro, Virginia.

Dates

1888-1905

Creator

Tate, J. W. (John William), 1858-1915 (Person)

Access Restrictions

Collection is 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 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

John William Tate (1858-1915), son of John Henry Tate (1833-1898) and Sarah A. Tate (1822-1898), was a life-long resident of the Amberly/Greenmount area of Rockingham County, Virginia. He was a blacksmith by trade and also served as the postmaster of the Amberly post office, established in 1891. He married Sarah Fulk (1867-1950) with whom he had three children - Edward Carl Tate (1888-1966), Luna C. Tate (1891-1918), and William Newtown Tate (1894-1979). According to Luna Tate's autobiographical sketch, included in this collection, Edward and William Tate oversaw the 55-acre family farm while their dad ran the blacksmith shop.

Extent

0.2 cubic feet (5 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Acquisition Information

Acquired from Tim Abbott Americana in November 2019.

Bibliography

Obituary of John W. Tate, Daily News-Record, November 3, 1915.
Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 31 January 2020), memorial page for John William Tate (8 Dec 1858–2 Nov 1915), Find A Grave Memorial no. 58158477, citing Antioch United Church of Christ Cemetery, Rockingham County, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by RaderFarm (contributor 47191113) .