Browse Items (1533 total)

The group photo was taken on August 14, 1942 at the Louisa Observation Post; their group name, “Three Roses and Two Thorns”, is written on the back of the photograph, along with their nicknames.

In this photo, one observer – Pauline Towsey – stands inside the shack used by the group during their volunteer time.

Joseph Wilson Randolph – a native of Mineral, Virginia – served in the United States Army Air Corps and is now buried in Louisa. His older brother Edward was a serviceman stationed in Hawaii during the Pearl Harbor attack. In December 1942, Joseph…

This card was mailed to Mr. Persons, of the Bank of Quantico, in Quantico, Virginia. Quantico was, and still is, a marine corps training center located in northern Virginia. Leiutenant Ralph K. Lawson, of the 11th Regiment of the United States…

Victory Mail, also known as V Mail, was the product of a newly adoptedmethod for mail processing and delivery. In 1942, V Mail, originally from England,became an alternative method to first class postal services. Microfilmed reproductionswere created…

In 1836, Sarah Ann Quarles Chandler reluctantly left Louisa County for Cooper County, Misssouri. To read her full journal in pdf format, click on the associated file tab on the right. Her journal begins:

September 16th 1836:
This day set off…

Constructed in 1937, Buchenwald Concentration Camp was one of the largest concentration camps in Germany. The prisoner population was only male until about 1943. Most of the prisoners were political prisoners, Jehovah's Witnesses, German military…

Prior to departure, many officers were provided with checklists like the one here. This was to ensure that legal and medical issues were taken care of so the focus would be on their duty in helping to win the war. This structured list, and ones…

Physical and mental requirements for service were, and still are, important to the military – as they help to determine how a person will fit into a certain role and the likelihood of success in that field. Physical combat is not the only aspect to…

This photograph, taken October 7, 1943, shows Ralph Maddox in his World War II uniform. Photographs of family members, oftentimes in uniform, were mementos cherished by loved ones back home, as their fathers, sons, brothers, and cousins served…

In early 1942, sugar was rationed; each rationing book contained 28 stamps, each stamp good for one week's ration of sugar. It is estimated that 3/4 pound of sugar was considered aweek's ration. To prevent people from stocking up on sugar, the…

On November 29, 1942 coffee joined the list of rationed items in the United States. While coffee production itself was not affected by the war, the distribution suffered as a result of the prioritization of the military's shipping needs. Demands…

Miscellaneous items could be purchased with the use of the stamps marked "Spare."

Stamps, such as these from the third ration book, were used to purchase various rationed items of the time.

During World War II, there was a great demand for various materials, such as rubber, iron, and steel. Junk drives, scrap drives, and other types of collection initiatives were made in an attempt to get the public involved and to donate old, unused…

This World War II medal, awarded to Byrd W. Long for his service in the United States Navy, is known as the World War II Victory medal. Made of red brass, the medal is a little less than 1.5 inches across; all members of the Armed Forces of the…

First Lieutenant Joseph N. Porter was initially an Army Exchange Officer and later a Supply Officer, Administrative. Between October 1942 to December 1944, Porter handled the requisition and distribution of Army post exchange supplies to the entire…

This certificate verifies Captain Joseph N. Porter's role in the Army of the United States between October 1942 and December 1944; the certificate also notes the ribbon and medal to be awarded to Mr. Porter for his service as an Exchange Officer in…

This response letter, dated September 8, 1933, was sent to Mr. W.A.C. Pettit of Fredericks Hall. While the contents of Pettit’s original letter to the Commissioner of Insurance and Banking are unknown, the response letter provides several details…

This 1933 notice, from the Virginia Bankers Association, lets bank employees know about the legal holiday declared by Governor Pollard. Notice the wording of this letter, such as the phrases “unusual situation” and “cool thought”; these suggest…