Religion Collections in Libraries and Archives: A Guide to Resources in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia Table of Contents - Preface/Acknowledgements - Abbreviations Lists of Entries: District of Columbia - Maryland - Virginia

Randolph-Macon College
McGraw-Page Library
Methodist Collection

Access Policies

Appointments may be made by calling (804) 752-7323. Photocopying is generally done by staff for patrons. The charge is ten cents per page with a $1.00 minimum. The collections do not contain birth, marriage, or death records.

Reference Policy:

Telephone, email and mail reference questions are accepted. The Library attempts to respond to all inquiries.

Borrowing Privileges:

Not a circulating collection. Faculty, students, staff, and the general public may use materials in the Special Collections Study.

Networks/Consortia:

OCLC through SOLINET, Richmond Academic Library Consortium (RALC), SOLINET.

Partial holdings are listed on OCLC. OCLC searches may be done for researchers.

Background Note:

Chartered in 1830, Randolph-Macon College was founded by the Methodist Church. The college originally opened its doors in Boydton, Virginia in October of 1832.

Description of Collections

Books and monographs:

2,815 books with inclusive dates from the 18th to the 20th century. The strength of the collection is printed collections relating to the history of the Methodist Church in Virginia. This includes the Methodist Episcopal Church; Methodist Episcopal Church, South; Methodist Church; Evangelical Association; United Brethren in Christ; Evangelical United Brethren; Methodist Protestant Church and the United Methodist Church.

The book collection is included in MaconCat, the library catalog.

Periodicals and newspapers:

41 current subscriptions, 74 titles. The collection covers mainly the 19th and 20th centuries. The major emphasis is Virginia Methodism. Of special interest are the Annual Conference Records (1773-) and the Richmond Christian Advocate (1847- , with a few gaps).

Finding aids include the Periodical List, the Index to Obituaries and the Subject Index to the Richmond Christian Advocate. Most serials are also included in MaconCat.

Archives, manuscripts, correspondence, and oral histories:

19,973 cubic feet covering mainly the 19th and 20th centuries. The main focus of the collection is Virginia Methodism with the following special highlights: Virginia Methodist Conference Records; Bishop John Early Papers and Bishop Paul Neff Garber Papers. There is also a Randolph-Macon College Archives, a small collection containing personal papers, Methodist history and early administrative correspondence pertaining to Methodism and Education in Virginia (1820-). The manuscripts and archives in the Virginia Methodist Collection do not contain birth, marriage, or death records. A genealogist will find the records useful only if they are looking for information about an ordained minister in the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Church.

Finding aids are available for the materials not included in MaconCat. Judee Showalter is the archivist and can be reached at (804 )752-7257.

Microforms:

49 microfilm reels of the Richmond Christian Advocate.

Finding aids include the Periodical List, the Index to Obituaries and the Subject Index to the Richmond Christian Advocate.

Vertical files:

550 vertical files primarily from the nineteenth to the twentieth century. The emphasis of this collection is on Virginia Methodism and includes the following material types: historical sketches, pamphlets, sermons, diaries, church histories, news clippings, and photographs. The collection has a file list.

Paintings, photographs, slides, and prints:

Photographs and prints from the 19th and 20th centuries. Photographs and prints include Methodist founders and conference-related material.

Subject Headings