Finding aid to the Earl Alvin Gerhardt, Jr. Collection
Text
JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION
The collection includes articles, pamphlets, notes, newspaper clippings, etc.,
relating to the history of Lynchburg, Virginia, and the surrounding area and the creation
of the city museum. Topics include historic buildings, education, slavery, AfricanAmerican businesses, as well as biographical studies such as John Warwick Daniel
(1842-1910), and a study of New London Academy in Forest, Virginia. Also included
are the records of the Lynchburg Hosiery Mill Association, a benefit association for
workers in the mill, records of the closing of Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, and records of the
Burton Hosiery Company.
[Detailed finding guide available with the collection.]
MS1229
JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION
The collection includes articles, pamphlets, notes, newspaper clippings, etc.,
relating to the history of Lynchburg, Virginia, and the surrounding area and the creation
of the city museum. Topics include historic buildings, education, slavery, AfricanAmerican businesses, as well as biographical studies such as John Warwick Daniel
(1842-1910), and a study of New London Academy in Forest, Virginia. Also included
are the records of the Lynchburg Hosiery Mill Association, a benefit association for
workers in the mill, records of the closing of Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, and records of the
Burton Hosiery Company.
BOX 1
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-6
1-7
1-8
1-9
1-10
1-11
1-12
1-13
1-14
1-15
BOX 2
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-7
2-8
Lynchburg Historical Society (1936-1962)
Lynchburg Historical Society (1963-1968)
“Lynchburg Historical Society 1934-1969” (Evelyn L. Moore)
Miller-Claytor House
“Memoir” (Susan Leigh Blackford) (Lynchburg Historical Society)
Publications (Lynchburg Historical Society)
Historic Lynchburg Foundation (1967- )
Point of Honor
Museum of Living History (1) – the Old Court House
Museum of Living History (2) – Other Court Houses, Court House
Hill
Museum of Living History (3) – Lynchburg City Museum (19331972)
Museum of Living History (1973- )
Museum of Living History – Correspondence
Museum of Living History – Consultant Service
Museum of Living History – Miscellaneous
Bicentennial – Miscellaneous
Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission
Theme City Proposal – Fredericksburg, Virginia
Theme City Proposal – Alexandria, Virginia
Bicentennial (Virginia) – Correspondence
Bicentennial Era / Bicentennial Newsletter (1970-1976) (U.S.)
Virginia Independence Bicentennial News (1971-1973)
Miscellaneous correspondence & notes (1972-1980)
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d.
BOX 3
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-7
3-8
3-9
3-10
3-11
3-12
3-13
3-14
3-15
Academy of Music
Archaeology
Automobiles – Piedmont, Dawson, Kline
Banks
Beale Treasure
Blackwater Creek
Chamber of Commerce
Churches
Westminster Presbyterian Church
City Government
Colleges
Court House
Courts
Diuguid Funeral Home – History
Fine Arts
BOX 4
4-1
4-2
4-3
4-4
4-5
4-6
4-7
4-8
4-9
4-10
4-11
4-12
4-13
4-14
4-15
4-16
4-17
4-18
4-19
4-20
4-21
Fire Department
Hospitals
Indians
Industrial Management Club of Lynchburg
James River
Libraries
Lynchburg Community Chest & Council, Inc.
Lynchburg Community Council
Lynchburg Foundry
Lynchburg Gas Company
Lynchburg Traction & Light
Newspapers
N.S. Savannah – Power plant
Packet Boat
Piedmont Club
Place names
Public health
Railroads
Reminiscences
Rotary Club of Lynchburg, Va.
Salvation Army (Lynchburg, Va.)
BOX 5
5-1
5-2
5-3
Schools, Public
Schools, Private
School Reports
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d.
BOX 5
5-4
5-5
5-6
5-7
5-8
5-9
5-10
5-11
5-12
5-13
5-14
5-15
5-16
5-17
5-18
5-19
5-20
BOX 6
6-1
6-2
6-3
6-4
6-5
6-6
6-7
6-8
6-9
“American High School” – Marion Rattray (1911-1912)
“Lynchburg High School (to 1935)” – Students
“Public Schools of Lynchburg”
Public Schools of Lynchburg – First Day Cover (1971)
“Teacher, Teacher” – A play by Garnell Stamps (1971)
“History of Public School Education for Negroes in Lynchburg
1877-1900” – Jeannette E. Irvine (1949)
“Negro Business in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1880-1910” – John
Langston Mitchell (1952)
“Participation of the Lynchburg, Virginia Negro in Politics
1865-1900” – Harry S. Ferguson (1950)
Silversmiths
“Slavery in Lynchburg” – Paul Waibel (1965)
SPHEX Club
Streets
Tobacco
Volunteer Agencies
Weather
YMCA
Zoo
People (A-F) (Miscellaneous clippings)
People (G-M) (Miscellaneous clippings)
People (N-Z) (Miscellaneous clippings)
John Warwick DANIEL – Memorial Addresses
“John Warwick Daniel: A Study in the Virginia Democracy”
Richard B. Doss (1955) (pp. 1-162)
“John Warwick Daniel: A Study in the Virginia Democracy”
Richard B. Doss (1955) (pp. 163-345)
“John Warwick Daniel: A Study in the Virginia Democracy”
Richard B. Doss (1955) (pp. 346-430)
A. H. Plecker photograph collection
Garland-Braxton family information/charts; History of Clifford
(Amherst County, Va.)
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d.
BOX 7
7-1
7-2
7-3
7-4
7-5
7-6
7-7
7-8
BOX 8
8-1
8-2
8-3
8-4
8-5
8-6
BOX 8
8-7
8-8
8-9
8-10
8-11
8-12
8-13
8-14
8-15
8-16
8-17
8-18
BOX 9
9-1
9-2
9-3
9-4
9-5
Miscellaneous Clippings – Historic Houses (Lynchburg area)
Index
7-9
Volume 8
General
7-10 Volume 9
Volume 2
7-11 Volume 10
Volume 3
7-12 Volume 12
Volume 4
7-13 Volume 13
Volume 5
7-14 Volume 14
Volume 6
7-15 Volume 15
Volume 7
“The News – 20th Century Edition” – Index, pp. 1-112
“The News – 20th Century Edition” – pp. 113-227
“Proposed Comprehensive Plan for the City of Lynchburg,
Virginia” (1971)
“Economic Summary of Lynchburg Virginia” (1948)
“Dixie’s Dead – Why They Died” – Lucian L. Knight
“Lynchburg in 1852” – Map
“Lunchburg”
“Lynchburg Becomes a City”
“Cultural Life in Lynchburg” – James Burroughs Noell
“Lynchburg’s Record” (Publication of the Chamber of Commerce
1956-1958)
“Lynchburg from 1756-1870: An Outline for School Children”
(1924)
“Something About Lynchburg Virginia” – Robert Slaughter (1890)
“Sketchbook of Lynchburg” – Edward Pollock (1887)
“Centennial Souvenir of Lynchburg, Virginia” – Hinton A. Helper
(1886)
“Lynchburg Men of the Confederacy” – Jennings
“Virginia’s Lost Industry” – Capron (1942)
“Hostesses in a Hospitable House (1000 Court St.)
“People and Places Mentioned…Sketches and Recollections…”
(Cabell, Blunt)
Miscellaneous notes and articles – Lynchburg
Miscellaneous clippings – Lynchburg businesses
Miscellaneous brochures – Lynchburg
Amherst County
Appomattox County
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d.
BOX 9
9-6
9-7
9-8
9-9
9-10
9-11
9-12
Bedford County
“New London Academy 1795-1941” – Samuel Clarke Morgan
(1941) (pp. 1-148)
“New London Academy 1795-1941” – Samuel Clarke Morgan
(1941) (pp. 149-260)
Campbell County
Nelson County
Eastern Virginia
Western Virginia
NOTE: BOXES 10-16 (LYNCHBURG HOSIERY MILL ASSOCIATION,
LYNCHBURG HOSIERY MILL, INC., AND BURTON HOSIERY COMPANY)
ARE SEALED UNTIL 2030 AND CANNOT BE REVIEWED WITHOUT
PERMISSION OF THE DONOR.
BOX 10
BOX 10
10-1
10-2
10-3
10-4
10-5
10-6
Lynchburg Hosiery Mill Association
Bylaws (1930 Revision, 1933, 1939)
Service Pins (1940-1955)
Service Pins (1956-1965)
Financial Records (1940-1955)
Financial Records (1955-1973)
Cash Book (1922-1934); Savings Account (1928-1965)
10-7
10-8
Association bank books
Cafeteria Set-up (1946-1947)
11-1
11-2
11-3
11-4
11-5
11-6
Lynchburg Hosiery Mill Association
Minutes 1924-1929
Minutes 1930-1934
Minutes 1935-1938
Minutes 1939-1942
Minutes 1943-1946
Minutes 1947-1950
12-1
12-2
12-3
12-4
12-5
Lynchburg Hosiery Mill Association
Minutes 1951-1954
Minutes 1955-1958
Minutes 1959
Annuities (Members A-D)
Annuities (Members E-J)
BOX 11
BOX 12
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d
BOX 12
12-6
12-7
Annuities (Members K-P)
Annuities (Members R-Z)
BOX 13
13-1
13-2
13-4
13-5
13-6
13-7
Register of Policies Expiring (1908-1921)
Hospital/Surgical Benefits
Retirement Income Plan
Group Annuity Contracts (1944-1960)
Annuity – Beneficiaries
Association miscellaneous information
BOX 14
14-1
14-2
14-3
14-4
14-5
14-6
14-7
14-8
14-9
14-10
Group Insurance Proposal
Annuity contracts (1943-1961)
Group Annuity Contract (497) – Administration manual
Internal record of operations (497) (1943-1951)
Cost and Benefits – Group Annuity Plan (1943-1956)
Annuity Purchase Payments (1943-1950)
Annuity Purchase Payments (1951-1961)
Annuity Purchase Payments (1968-1970)
Annuity Purchase Payments (1971- )
Acceptance of dividend (1972)
BOX 15
15-1
15-2
15-3
15-4
15-5
15-6
15-7
15-8
15-9
15-10
Union organizing effort (1941-1949)
Union organizing effort (1950-1956)
Sales records and accounts (1955-1967)
Profit and Loss ledger (1946-1964)
Commissions and expenses (1970-1971)
Hosiery Mill – Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet (1971)
Hosiery Mill – Tax data
Burton Hosiery Company (New York office) (1961)
Burton Hosiery Company (New York office) (1962-1972)
Burton Hosiery Company – Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet
(1968-1972)
BOX 16
16-1
16-2
16-3
16-4
16-5
16-6
16-7
Hosiery Mill – Inventory (1957-1967)
Hosiery Mill – Inventory (1971)
Hosiery Mill – Profit & Loss, Balance sheets (1972)
Hosiery Mill – Sale of stock (1972)
Hosiery Mill – Inventory (1972)
Hosiery Mill – Balance sheet (1973)
Aetna Business Credit vs. Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, Inc. (1974)
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d
BOX 16
16-8
16-9
16-10
16-11
Burton, Clarence Godber – Correspondence, Miscellaneous notes
Plant notices (1939-1969)
Textile Machine Works
Acme Seamless Hose Knitter
MS1229
JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
LYNCHBURG HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The first Lynchburg Historical Museum was organized by the Woman's Club of
Lynchburg in 1933, and opened to the public on 15 December 1934. A room in City Hall
was offered by City Council for this purpose.
During World War II, the museum was closed and its contents were stored in the Fort
Hill Fire Station. After several attempts to reopen, and with the Woman's Club giving up
the project, the new museum housed in the old Court House finally reopened on 16
November 1963. It was sponsored by the Lynchburg Historical Society.
LYNCHBURG HISTORICAL SOCIETY
In 1935, spearheaded by the Junior League of Lynchburg, the Lynchburg Garden
Club, the Architects Club and the Art Club, the Lynchburg Historical Society,
incorporated in 1936 as the Lynchburg Historical Society, Inc., was formed. The aims of
the organization included the “preservation of Lynchburg antiquities” and “to encourage,
foster and promote an interest in and study of the history of the City of Lynchburg”
along with maintaining a museum and to identify and work to preserve “historical
buildings, landmarks and other objects of historical value.” Its major project was to
move the Miller-Claytor House from its original site to its present location in Riverside
Park.
HISTORIC LYNCHURG FOUNDATION
Historic Lynchburg Foundation was incorporated in 1967. Its stated purposes
included “the acquisition, restoration and preservation of houses, buildings, monuments,
sites and objects in and around the city of Lynchburg that are connected or illustrative of
the history and culture of Lynchburg, Virginia, and the United States.” The initial project
of the Foundation was the restoration of Point of Honor, the historic Cabell “mansion
house” on Daniel’s Hill in Lynchburg.
The second property acquired by the Foundation was the Dabney-Scott-Adams House.
The restored house was planned as headquarters for the Foundation, the Lynchburg
Historical Society and the Lynchburg Branch of the Association for the Preservation of
Virginia Antiquities.
MS1229
The Foundation also supported the restoration of the Academy of Music, a historic
theater in Lynchburg.
LYNCHBURG HISTORICAL FOUNDATION, INC.
The Lynchburg Historical Foundation, Inc. was formed in 1972, out of the merger of
the Lynchburg Historical Society and the Historic Lynchburg Foundation. One of the
early projects of the Foundation was the establishment of a “living history museum” as a
bicentennial project begun in 1973. With the support of the Bicentennial Commission of
Lynchburg, it was felt that “both the renovation of the Court House and the development
of a living museum as an educational heritage to serve the citizens of Lynchburg could
well be combined into one [project].” It was hoped that the project could be completed
for an opening on July 3, 1976 “as a major feature of the Bicentennial Celebration.”
Today, the City of Lynchburg through the Department of Libraries and Museums
operates the museum.
LYNCHBURG HOSIERY MILLS, INC.
Joseph Godber Burton, of Nottingham, England, was interested in the
manufacture of hosiery and knit goods. With his uncle, he owned a bleach yard and
finishing plant. Later he affiliated himself with the firm of I. and R. Morley, one of the
world’s largest manufacturers and exporters of knit goods. In the late nineteenth century,
Burton, immigrated to Providence, Rhode Island, where he joined with a group of men to
establish one of the first “full-fashioned” hosiery mills in America.
In April 1899, the Midland Hosiery Company, forerunner of the Lynchburg
Hosiery Mill, was established as a branch of the Chemnitz Hosiery Company of
Providence. The original plant was situated at Fourteenth Street and Stephenson Avenue.
It contained 125 knitting machines and had a daily output of 500 pairs of men’s, women’s
and children’s and infants’ hosiery.
In 1900 Joseph G. Burton came to Lynchburg, Virginia, and was associated with
R. Colston Blackford in the establishment of a second hosiery plant. The mill was
located on Twelfth Street (now Fort Avenue) and consisted of a one-story brick building
approximately 100 feet by 40 feet. The site was ideal for the plant due to the springs of
water above the building which provided a gravity water supply to the dye house. The
mill was one of the first in the country to install the full automatic seamless knitter. The
Lynchburg Hosiery Mill went into operation with fifty of these knitting machines. The
company was incorporated as Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, Inc., in 1907.
In 1908, a two-story addition to the plant, 60 by 40 feet, was constructed, with
ninety additional knitting machines in operation. In 1919, a branch knitting plant was
opened at 410 Court Street for the manufacture of “goods in the grey” state (before
MS1229
bleaching or dyeing). Upon Joseph G. Burton’s death in 1921, his son, Clarence Godber
Burton, became president of the mill.
Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, Inc., was one of the first mills in the South to
manufacture government socks. The mill received its first contract from the Army in the
early years of the twentieth century and during World War I, a large part of its capacity to
the production of socks for the Army.
The mill was one of four mills to work with the government on a pre-shrinking
process with special emphasis on cushioned soled socks for field usage where laundries
were scarce. Before World War I, the company was engaged in the production of
cushioned soled golf socks and presented samples to the research and development
department of the Quartermaster depot. The cushion soled sock was adopted as standard
issue by the Army and became its principal marching sock. The mill also produced fullfashioned stockings for the Women’s Army Corps and heavy woolen desert top socks for
the British and American armies during the North Africa campaign.
Lynchburg Hosiery Mills also produced bomb parachutes for Army Ordnance,
woolen blankets for the Army and cargo parachutes for the Navy. During World War II,
the mill produced more than twenty-eight million pairs of hose for the armed forces.
Following the war, the mill became one of the largest producers of hosiery in the
country, turning out about 25,000 dozen pairs of half hose and 2,500 dozen pairs of ladies
full-fashioned hose per week. The company produced stockings of nylon, rayon and silk,
including mesh or clocked hose. Because temperature was an important factor in the
processing of nylon, the plant was completely air conditioned.
Women’s stockings, under the names of Natural Bridge and Silversheen, as well
as men’s fancy half hose are distributed through the New York office of the company.
From its small beginning, the Lynchburg Hosiery Mills grew to be among the top
ten percent in the production of hosiery in the United States.
In 1972, the mill was sold to a group of three Chicago-area businessmen. The
new owners pledge to keep production operations in Lynchburg and concentrated on the
manufacture and distribution of top-quality socks for the sports and leisure market. The
mill, with more than 200 employees in 1972, ranked among the leading employers of
Lynchburg when it was sold.
MS1229
LYNCHBURG HOSIERY MILLS ASSOCIATION
The Lynchburg Hosiery Mills Association was established circa 1920 “to promote
friendship among its members, to furnish a method of full and frank discussion of the
business of the mill in its relation to those who work for it, the promotion of constructive
criticism of methods of manufacture, working conditions, and manufactured product; and
for the creation of health benefit funds.” The Association was opened to all “white
persons” employed by the Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, Inc. The Shop Committee consisted
of the foremen of the several departments in the mill and was the governing body of the
Association. A separate committee, the Benefit Committee, had jurisdiction over the
payment of benefits, approving claims before payment and calling on ill or disabled
members. Members made weekly contributions to the Association, these being matched
by the company. In addition to claims for disability and sickness, the Association also
paid benefits for members laid off by the company.
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. (1930-
)
Earl Alvin Gerhardt, Jr., son of Earl Alvin Gerhardt, Sr. and Winifred Georgia
Burton was born 15 October 1930 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was educated in
Lynchburg schools and graduated from E. C. Glass High School in 1947. He graduated
from Davidson College in North Carolina in May, 1951, with a degree in economics and
business administration. He spent one semester in the Textile School at North Carolina
State College in Raleigh and one semester at Lebanon Valley College. He received a
master’s degree in historic museum administration from New York State University at
Cooperstown in May 1974.
During the Korean conflict, Mr. Gerhardt served two years as a first lieutenant in
the U.S. Army. Returning from military service, he spent a while working as a salesman
and was in sales and finance with the Lynchburg Hosiery Mills in Lynchburg. In the
early 1970s he decided to change careers to museum administration and returned to
graduate school.
During his career, Mr. Gerhardt was a founding director of the Virginia History
Federation and served as director, vice-president and president. In 1963, he was
chairman of the museum committee for the Lynchburg Historical Society and served as
director and curator of the Lynchburg Historical Museum in the old Court House The
Museum’s stated purpose was “to preserve a continuing picture of Lynchburg and its
people through the past and give permanent housing and display to valuable items
relating to important events in the history of the Lynchburg area.” To carry out that
purpose, Mr. Gerhardt inaugurated a plan for the Museum to publish occasional research
papers of local historic interest, written by various members of the Society, or other
students of history, to tie in with each new exhibit when possible. Under his direction,
these publications grew to include subjects of wider interest. In 1967, the Museum was
awarded a certificate of commendation by the American Association for State and Local
MS1229
History for excellence in exhibitions and publications in the local history field, in which
Mr. Gerhardt had won state-wide recognition. He served as president of the Society from
1970 until 1971.
Mr. Gerhardt was also a member of the American Association of State and Local
History and of the American Association of Museums. In 1974, he was named executive
director of the Rocky Mount Historical Association in Rocky Mount, Tennessee. In 1992
he became Director of museum studies program and the President Andrew Johnson
Museum and Library at Tusculum Colllege in Greeneville, Tennessee.
In 1993, Mr. Gerhardt received the James R. Short Award from the Southeastern
Museums Conference (SEMC) for distinguished service to the museum profession.
In 2000, Mr. Gerhardt was honored for meritorious service to Tusculum College.
In that same year, he became the first recipient of the Tennessee Association of Museums
(TAM) Millennium Award for exceptional accomplishments and service to the museum
field. (The award was later renamed the E. Alvin Gerhardt Award in his honor) He
served as vice-president of TAM 1975-1977 and as president 1977-1979. He was elected
vice-president of the Appalachian Consortium, a non-profit educational organization
which seeks to perpetuate, preserve and promote the heritage of Southern Appalachia.
In 1972, Mr. Gerhardt authored a pamphlet, The Battle of Lynchburg, June 17-18,
1864, for the Lynchburg Historical Society. He was also author of The Historic Museum
Survival Guide in 1988. In 1979, he was co-author with Liz M. Johnson of a museum
handbook, Rocky Mountain Education Handbook. He was also co-author with Robert
Andrew Howard of the book, Mary Patton: Powder Maker of the Revolution, in 1980.
Earl Alvin Gerhardt, Jr. retired from Tusculum College in 2000 after eight years
of service to the college and after 26 years in the museum field. Currently he is a
consultant for museums, historical societies, and architects in planning, landscape design,
and administration of museums.
[Earl Alvin Gerhard, Jr. Collection, MS1299, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, Va.]
MS1229
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION
The collection includes articles, pamphlets, notes, newspaper clippings, etc.,
relating to the history of Lynchburg, Virginia, and the surrounding area and the creation
of the city museum. Topics include historic buildings, education, slavery, AfricanAmerican businesses, as well as biographical studies such as John Warwick Daniel
(1842-1910), and a study of New London Academy in Forest, Virginia. Also included
are the records of the Lynchburg Hosiery Mill Association, a benefit association for
workers in the mill, records of the closing of Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, and records of the
Burton Hosiery Company.
[Detailed finding guide available with the collection.]
MS1229
JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION
The collection includes articles, pamphlets, notes, newspaper clippings, etc.,
relating to the history of Lynchburg, Virginia, and the surrounding area and the creation
of the city museum. Topics include historic buildings, education, slavery, AfricanAmerican businesses, as well as biographical studies such as John Warwick Daniel
(1842-1910), and a study of New London Academy in Forest, Virginia. Also included
are the records of the Lynchburg Hosiery Mill Association, a benefit association for
workers in the mill, records of the closing of Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, and records of the
Burton Hosiery Company.
BOX 1
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-6
1-7
1-8
1-9
1-10
1-11
1-12
1-13
1-14
1-15
BOX 2
2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-7
2-8
Lynchburg Historical Society (1936-1962)
Lynchburg Historical Society (1963-1968)
“Lynchburg Historical Society 1934-1969” (Evelyn L. Moore)
Miller-Claytor House
“Memoir” (Susan Leigh Blackford) (Lynchburg Historical Society)
Publications (Lynchburg Historical Society)
Historic Lynchburg Foundation (1967- )
Point of Honor
Museum of Living History (1) – the Old Court House
Museum of Living History (2) – Other Court Houses, Court House
Hill
Museum of Living History (3) – Lynchburg City Museum (19331972)
Museum of Living History (1973- )
Museum of Living History – Correspondence
Museum of Living History – Consultant Service
Museum of Living History – Miscellaneous
Bicentennial – Miscellaneous
Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission
Theme City Proposal – Fredericksburg, Virginia
Theme City Proposal – Alexandria, Virginia
Bicentennial (Virginia) – Correspondence
Bicentennial Era / Bicentennial Newsletter (1970-1976) (U.S.)
Virginia Independence Bicentennial News (1971-1973)
Miscellaneous correspondence & notes (1972-1980)
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d.
BOX 3
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-7
3-8
3-9
3-10
3-11
3-12
3-13
3-14
3-15
Academy of Music
Archaeology
Automobiles – Piedmont, Dawson, Kline
Banks
Beale Treasure
Blackwater Creek
Chamber of Commerce
Churches
Westminster Presbyterian Church
City Government
Colleges
Court House
Courts
Diuguid Funeral Home – History
Fine Arts
BOX 4
4-1
4-2
4-3
4-4
4-5
4-6
4-7
4-8
4-9
4-10
4-11
4-12
4-13
4-14
4-15
4-16
4-17
4-18
4-19
4-20
4-21
Fire Department
Hospitals
Indians
Industrial Management Club of Lynchburg
James River
Libraries
Lynchburg Community Chest & Council, Inc.
Lynchburg Community Council
Lynchburg Foundry
Lynchburg Gas Company
Lynchburg Traction & Light
Newspapers
N.S. Savannah – Power plant
Packet Boat
Piedmont Club
Place names
Public health
Railroads
Reminiscences
Rotary Club of Lynchburg, Va.
Salvation Army (Lynchburg, Va.)
BOX 5
5-1
5-2
5-3
Schools, Public
Schools, Private
School Reports
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d.
BOX 5
5-4
5-5
5-6
5-7
5-8
5-9
5-10
5-11
5-12
5-13
5-14
5-15
5-16
5-17
5-18
5-19
5-20
BOX 6
6-1
6-2
6-3
6-4
6-5
6-6
6-7
6-8
6-9
“American High School” – Marion Rattray (1911-1912)
“Lynchburg High School (to 1935)” – Students
“Public Schools of Lynchburg”
Public Schools of Lynchburg – First Day Cover (1971)
“Teacher, Teacher” – A play by Garnell Stamps (1971)
“History of Public School Education for Negroes in Lynchburg
1877-1900” – Jeannette E. Irvine (1949)
“Negro Business in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1880-1910” – John
Langston Mitchell (1952)
“Participation of the Lynchburg, Virginia Negro in Politics
1865-1900” – Harry S. Ferguson (1950)
Silversmiths
“Slavery in Lynchburg” – Paul Waibel (1965)
SPHEX Club
Streets
Tobacco
Volunteer Agencies
Weather
YMCA
Zoo
People (A-F) (Miscellaneous clippings)
People (G-M) (Miscellaneous clippings)
People (N-Z) (Miscellaneous clippings)
John Warwick DANIEL – Memorial Addresses
“John Warwick Daniel: A Study in the Virginia Democracy”
Richard B. Doss (1955) (pp. 1-162)
“John Warwick Daniel: A Study in the Virginia Democracy”
Richard B. Doss (1955) (pp. 163-345)
“John Warwick Daniel: A Study in the Virginia Democracy”
Richard B. Doss (1955) (pp. 346-430)
A. H. Plecker photograph collection
Garland-Braxton family information/charts; History of Clifford
(Amherst County, Va.)
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d.
BOX 7
7-1
7-2
7-3
7-4
7-5
7-6
7-7
7-8
BOX 8
8-1
8-2
8-3
8-4
8-5
8-6
BOX 8
8-7
8-8
8-9
8-10
8-11
8-12
8-13
8-14
8-15
8-16
8-17
8-18
BOX 9
9-1
9-2
9-3
9-4
9-5
Miscellaneous Clippings – Historic Houses (Lynchburg area)
Index
7-9
Volume 8
General
7-10 Volume 9
Volume 2
7-11 Volume 10
Volume 3
7-12 Volume 12
Volume 4
7-13 Volume 13
Volume 5
7-14 Volume 14
Volume 6
7-15 Volume 15
Volume 7
“The News – 20th Century Edition” – Index, pp. 1-112
“The News – 20th Century Edition” – pp. 113-227
“Proposed Comprehensive Plan for the City of Lynchburg,
Virginia” (1971)
“Economic Summary of Lynchburg Virginia” (1948)
“Dixie’s Dead – Why They Died” – Lucian L. Knight
“Lynchburg in 1852” – Map
“Lunchburg”
“Lynchburg Becomes a City”
“Cultural Life in Lynchburg” – James Burroughs Noell
“Lynchburg’s Record” (Publication of the Chamber of Commerce
1956-1958)
“Lynchburg from 1756-1870: An Outline for School Children”
(1924)
“Something About Lynchburg Virginia” – Robert Slaughter (1890)
“Sketchbook of Lynchburg” – Edward Pollock (1887)
“Centennial Souvenir of Lynchburg, Virginia” – Hinton A. Helper
(1886)
“Lynchburg Men of the Confederacy” – Jennings
“Virginia’s Lost Industry” – Capron (1942)
“Hostesses in a Hospitable House (1000 Court St.)
“People and Places Mentioned…Sketches and Recollections…”
(Cabell, Blunt)
Miscellaneous notes and articles – Lynchburg
Miscellaneous clippings – Lynchburg businesses
Miscellaneous brochures – Lynchburg
Amherst County
Appomattox County
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d.
BOX 9
9-6
9-7
9-8
9-9
9-10
9-11
9-12
Bedford County
“New London Academy 1795-1941” – Samuel Clarke Morgan
(1941) (pp. 1-148)
“New London Academy 1795-1941” – Samuel Clarke Morgan
(1941) (pp. 149-260)
Campbell County
Nelson County
Eastern Virginia
Western Virginia
NOTE: BOXES 10-16 (LYNCHBURG HOSIERY MILL ASSOCIATION,
LYNCHBURG HOSIERY MILL, INC., AND BURTON HOSIERY COMPANY)
ARE SEALED UNTIL 2030 AND CANNOT BE REVIEWED WITHOUT
PERMISSION OF THE DONOR.
BOX 10
BOX 10
10-1
10-2
10-3
10-4
10-5
10-6
Lynchburg Hosiery Mill Association
Bylaws (1930 Revision, 1933, 1939)
Service Pins (1940-1955)
Service Pins (1956-1965)
Financial Records (1940-1955)
Financial Records (1955-1973)
Cash Book (1922-1934); Savings Account (1928-1965)
10-7
10-8
Association bank books
Cafeteria Set-up (1946-1947)
11-1
11-2
11-3
11-4
11-5
11-6
Lynchburg Hosiery Mill Association
Minutes 1924-1929
Minutes 1930-1934
Minutes 1935-1938
Minutes 1939-1942
Minutes 1943-1946
Minutes 1947-1950
12-1
12-2
12-3
12-4
12-5
Lynchburg Hosiery Mill Association
Minutes 1951-1954
Minutes 1955-1958
Minutes 1959
Annuities (Members A-D)
Annuities (Members E-J)
BOX 11
BOX 12
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d
BOX 12
12-6
12-7
Annuities (Members K-P)
Annuities (Members R-Z)
BOX 13
13-1
13-2
13-4
13-5
13-6
13-7
Register of Policies Expiring (1908-1921)
Hospital/Surgical Benefits
Retirement Income Plan
Group Annuity Contracts (1944-1960)
Annuity – Beneficiaries
Association miscellaneous information
BOX 14
14-1
14-2
14-3
14-4
14-5
14-6
14-7
14-8
14-9
14-10
Group Insurance Proposal
Annuity contracts (1943-1961)
Group Annuity Contract (497) – Administration manual
Internal record of operations (497) (1943-1951)
Cost and Benefits – Group Annuity Plan (1943-1956)
Annuity Purchase Payments (1943-1950)
Annuity Purchase Payments (1951-1961)
Annuity Purchase Payments (1968-1970)
Annuity Purchase Payments (1971- )
Acceptance of dividend (1972)
BOX 15
15-1
15-2
15-3
15-4
15-5
15-6
15-7
15-8
15-9
15-10
Union organizing effort (1941-1949)
Union organizing effort (1950-1956)
Sales records and accounts (1955-1967)
Profit and Loss ledger (1946-1964)
Commissions and expenses (1970-1971)
Hosiery Mill – Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet (1971)
Hosiery Mill – Tax data
Burton Hosiery Company (New York office) (1961)
Burton Hosiery Company (New York office) (1962-1972)
Burton Hosiery Company – Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet
(1968-1972)
BOX 16
16-1
16-2
16-3
16-4
16-5
16-6
16-7
Hosiery Mill – Inventory (1957-1967)
Hosiery Mill – Inventory (1971)
Hosiery Mill – Profit & Loss, Balance sheets (1972)
Hosiery Mill – Sale of stock (1972)
Hosiery Mill – Inventory (1972)
Hosiery Mill – Balance sheet (1973)
Aetna Business Credit vs. Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, Inc. (1974)
(Continued)
MS1229
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. COLLECTION, Cont’d
BOX 16
16-8
16-9
16-10
16-11
Burton, Clarence Godber – Correspondence, Miscellaneous notes
Plant notices (1939-1969)
Textile Machine Works
Acme Seamless Hose Knitter
MS1229
JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
LYNCHBURG HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The first Lynchburg Historical Museum was organized by the Woman's Club of
Lynchburg in 1933, and opened to the public on 15 December 1934. A room in City Hall
was offered by City Council for this purpose.
During World War II, the museum was closed and its contents were stored in the Fort
Hill Fire Station. After several attempts to reopen, and with the Woman's Club giving up
the project, the new museum housed in the old Court House finally reopened on 16
November 1963. It was sponsored by the Lynchburg Historical Society.
LYNCHBURG HISTORICAL SOCIETY
In 1935, spearheaded by the Junior League of Lynchburg, the Lynchburg Garden
Club, the Architects Club and the Art Club, the Lynchburg Historical Society,
incorporated in 1936 as the Lynchburg Historical Society, Inc., was formed. The aims of
the organization included the “preservation of Lynchburg antiquities” and “to encourage,
foster and promote an interest in and study of the history of the City of Lynchburg”
along with maintaining a museum and to identify and work to preserve “historical
buildings, landmarks and other objects of historical value.” Its major project was to
move the Miller-Claytor House from its original site to its present location in Riverside
Park.
HISTORIC LYNCHURG FOUNDATION
Historic Lynchburg Foundation was incorporated in 1967. Its stated purposes
included “the acquisition, restoration and preservation of houses, buildings, monuments,
sites and objects in and around the city of Lynchburg that are connected or illustrative of
the history and culture of Lynchburg, Virginia, and the United States.” The initial project
of the Foundation was the restoration of Point of Honor, the historic Cabell “mansion
house” on Daniel’s Hill in Lynchburg.
The second property acquired by the Foundation was the Dabney-Scott-Adams House.
The restored house was planned as headquarters for the Foundation, the Lynchburg
Historical Society and the Lynchburg Branch of the Association for the Preservation of
Virginia Antiquities.
MS1229
The Foundation also supported the restoration of the Academy of Music, a historic
theater in Lynchburg.
LYNCHBURG HISTORICAL FOUNDATION, INC.
The Lynchburg Historical Foundation, Inc. was formed in 1972, out of the merger of
the Lynchburg Historical Society and the Historic Lynchburg Foundation. One of the
early projects of the Foundation was the establishment of a “living history museum” as a
bicentennial project begun in 1973. With the support of the Bicentennial Commission of
Lynchburg, it was felt that “both the renovation of the Court House and the development
of a living museum as an educational heritage to serve the citizens of Lynchburg could
well be combined into one [project].” It was hoped that the project could be completed
for an opening on July 3, 1976 “as a major feature of the Bicentennial Celebration.”
Today, the City of Lynchburg through the Department of Libraries and Museums
operates the museum.
LYNCHBURG HOSIERY MILLS, INC.
Joseph Godber Burton, of Nottingham, England, was interested in the
manufacture of hosiery and knit goods. With his uncle, he owned a bleach yard and
finishing plant. Later he affiliated himself with the firm of I. and R. Morley, one of the
world’s largest manufacturers and exporters of knit goods. In the late nineteenth century,
Burton, immigrated to Providence, Rhode Island, where he joined with a group of men to
establish one of the first “full-fashioned” hosiery mills in America.
In April 1899, the Midland Hosiery Company, forerunner of the Lynchburg
Hosiery Mill, was established as a branch of the Chemnitz Hosiery Company of
Providence. The original plant was situated at Fourteenth Street and Stephenson Avenue.
It contained 125 knitting machines and had a daily output of 500 pairs of men’s, women’s
and children’s and infants’ hosiery.
In 1900 Joseph G. Burton came to Lynchburg, Virginia, and was associated with
R. Colston Blackford in the establishment of a second hosiery plant. The mill was
located on Twelfth Street (now Fort Avenue) and consisted of a one-story brick building
approximately 100 feet by 40 feet. The site was ideal for the plant due to the springs of
water above the building which provided a gravity water supply to the dye house. The
mill was one of the first in the country to install the full automatic seamless knitter. The
Lynchburg Hosiery Mill went into operation with fifty of these knitting machines. The
company was incorporated as Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, Inc., in 1907.
In 1908, a two-story addition to the plant, 60 by 40 feet, was constructed, with
ninety additional knitting machines in operation. In 1919, a branch knitting plant was
opened at 410 Court Street for the manufacture of “goods in the grey” state (before
MS1229
bleaching or dyeing). Upon Joseph G. Burton’s death in 1921, his son, Clarence Godber
Burton, became president of the mill.
Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, Inc., was one of the first mills in the South to
manufacture government socks. The mill received its first contract from the Army in the
early years of the twentieth century and during World War I, a large part of its capacity to
the production of socks for the Army.
The mill was one of four mills to work with the government on a pre-shrinking
process with special emphasis on cushioned soled socks for field usage where laundries
were scarce. Before World War I, the company was engaged in the production of
cushioned soled golf socks and presented samples to the research and development
department of the Quartermaster depot. The cushion soled sock was adopted as standard
issue by the Army and became its principal marching sock. The mill also produced fullfashioned stockings for the Women’s Army Corps and heavy woolen desert top socks for
the British and American armies during the North Africa campaign.
Lynchburg Hosiery Mills also produced bomb parachutes for Army Ordnance,
woolen blankets for the Army and cargo parachutes for the Navy. During World War II,
the mill produced more than twenty-eight million pairs of hose for the armed forces.
Following the war, the mill became one of the largest producers of hosiery in the
country, turning out about 25,000 dozen pairs of half hose and 2,500 dozen pairs of ladies
full-fashioned hose per week. The company produced stockings of nylon, rayon and silk,
including mesh or clocked hose. Because temperature was an important factor in the
processing of nylon, the plant was completely air conditioned.
Women’s stockings, under the names of Natural Bridge and Silversheen, as well
as men’s fancy half hose are distributed through the New York office of the company.
From its small beginning, the Lynchburg Hosiery Mills grew to be among the top
ten percent in the production of hosiery in the United States.
In 1972, the mill was sold to a group of three Chicago-area businessmen. The
new owners pledge to keep production operations in Lynchburg and concentrated on the
manufacture and distribution of top-quality socks for the sports and leisure market. The
mill, with more than 200 employees in 1972, ranked among the leading employers of
Lynchburg when it was sold.
MS1229
LYNCHBURG HOSIERY MILLS ASSOCIATION
The Lynchburg Hosiery Mills Association was established circa 1920 “to promote
friendship among its members, to furnish a method of full and frank discussion of the
business of the mill in its relation to those who work for it, the promotion of constructive
criticism of methods of manufacture, working conditions, and manufactured product; and
for the creation of health benefit funds.” The Association was opened to all “white
persons” employed by the Lynchburg Hosiery Mills, Inc. The Shop Committee consisted
of the foremen of the several departments in the mill and was the governing body of the
Association. A separate committee, the Benefit Committee, had jurisdiction over the
payment of benefits, approving claims before payment and calling on ill or disabled
members. Members made weekly contributions to the Association, these being matched
by the company. In addition to claims for disability and sickness, the Association also
paid benefits for members laid off by the company.
EARL ALVIN GERHARDT, JR. (1930-
)
Earl Alvin Gerhardt, Jr., son of Earl Alvin Gerhardt, Sr. and Winifred Georgia
Burton was born 15 October 1930 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was educated in
Lynchburg schools and graduated from E. C. Glass High School in 1947. He graduated
from Davidson College in North Carolina in May, 1951, with a degree in economics and
business administration. He spent one semester in the Textile School at North Carolina
State College in Raleigh and one semester at Lebanon Valley College. He received a
master’s degree in historic museum administration from New York State University at
Cooperstown in May 1974.
During the Korean conflict, Mr. Gerhardt served two years as a first lieutenant in
the U.S. Army. Returning from military service, he spent a while working as a salesman
and was in sales and finance with the Lynchburg Hosiery Mills in Lynchburg. In the
early 1970s he decided to change careers to museum administration and returned to
graduate school.
During his career, Mr. Gerhardt was a founding director of the Virginia History
Federation and served as director, vice-president and president. In 1963, he was
chairman of the museum committee for the Lynchburg Historical Society and served as
director and curator of the Lynchburg Historical Museum in the old Court House The
Museum’s stated purpose was “to preserve a continuing picture of Lynchburg and its
people through the past and give permanent housing and display to valuable items
relating to important events in the history of the Lynchburg area.” To carry out that
purpose, Mr. Gerhardt inaugurated a plan for the Museum to publish occasional research
papers of local historic interest, written by various members of the Society, or other
students of history, to tie in with each new exhibit when possible. Under his direction,
these publications grew to include subjects of wider interest. In 1967, the Museum was
awarded a certificate of commendation by the American Association for State and Local
MS1229
History for excellence in exhibitions and publications in the local history field, in which
Mr. Gerhardt had won state-wide recognition. He served as president of the Society from
1970 until 1971.
Mr. Gerhardt was also a member of the American Association of State and Local
History and of the American Association of Museums. In 1974, he was named executive
director of the Rocky Mount Historical Association in Rocky Mount, Tennessee. In 1992
he became Director of museum studies program and the President Andrew Johnson
Museum and Library at Tusculum Colllege in Greeneville, Tennessee.
In 1993, Mr. Gerhardt received the James R. Short Award from the Southeastern
Museums Conference (SEMC) for distinguished service to the museum profession.
In 2000, Mr. Gerhardt was honored for meritorious service to Tusculum College.
In that same year, he became the first recipient of the Tennessee Association of Museums
(TAM) Millennium Award for exceptional accomplishments and service to the museum
field. (The award was later renamed the E. Alvin Gerhardt Award in his honor) He
served as vice-president of TAM 1975-1977 and as president 1977-1979. He was elected
vice-president of the Appalachian Consortium, a non-profit educational organization
which seeks to perpetuate, preserve and promote the heritage of Southern Appalachia.
In 1972, Mr. Gerhardt authored a pamphlet, The Battle of Lynchburg, June 17-18,
1864, for the Lynchburg Historical Society. He was also author of The Historic Museum
Survival Guide in 1988. In 1979, he was co-author with Liz M. Johnson of a museum
handbook, Rocky Mountain Education Handbook. He was also co-author with Robert
Andrew Howard of the book, Mary Patton: Powder Maker of the Revolution, in 1980.
Earl Alvin Gerhardt, Jr. retired from Tusculum College in 2000 after eight years
of service to the college and after 26 years in the museum field. Currently he is a
consultant for museums, historical societies, and architects in planning, landscape design,
and administration of museums.
[Earl Alvin Gerhard, Jr. Collection, MS1299, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, Va.]
MS1229
Dublin Core
Title
Finding aid to the Earl Alvin Gerhardt, Jr. Collection
Subject
Finding aids
Lynchburg (Va.)
Description
Finding aid to the Earl Alvin Gerhardt, Jr. Collection held at Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg, Virginia including notes and clippings related to the history of the city and the city museum.
Creator
George M. Jones Memorial Library
Publisher
George M. Jones Memorial Library
Date
2023
Rights
George M. Jones Memorial Library
Format
pdf
Language
English
Identifier
MS1229FA
Collection
Citation
George M. Jones Memorial Library, “Finding aid to the Earl Alvin Gerhardt, Jr. Collection,” Digital Collections, accessed April 19, 2024, https://digitaljones.omeka.net/items/show/258.