Finding aid to the Joseph Allen Gills Collection

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
JOSEPH ALLEN GILLS (1906-2002) COLLECTION
The collection includes genealogical materials on Gills and related families of
Appomattox County, Virginia; business papers and scrapbook of William Pitzer Gills and
the estate settlement of his wife, Judith Albertha (O’Brien) Gills; and miscellaneous
correspondence, photographs, and memorabilia of members of the Gills family. Also
included are the military records (1924-1966) of Joseph Allen Gills.
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

BOX 2

2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-6
2-7

BOX 3

3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-7
3-8

Gills, Borden, Fowle, Pitzer, O’Brien families
Cornelia Kyle Gills - Miscellaneous
Judith Albertha (O’Brien) Gills - Business Papers (1924-1949)
Judith Albertha (O’Brien) Gills - Business Papers (1950-1951)
Judith Albertha (O’Brien) Gills - Business Papers (1952-1958)
Judith Albertha (O’Brien) Gills - Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous invitations
William Pitzer Gills (1859-1941) - Business papers, estate
settlement
William Pitzer Gills (1859-1941) - Scrapbook
William Pitzer Gills (1859-1941) - Scrapbook
William Henry Gills (1825-1912) - Miscellaneous papers
Rebecca Shanks - Miscellaneous
Mary Taylor (Gills) Copenhaver - DAR application
Mary Taylor (Gills) Copenhaver - Correspondence
Mary Taylor Gills - College Graduation Booklet (1924)
Mary Taylor Gills - Wedding booklets (1934)
Mary Taylor Gills - Memory book (1934)
William Haller Copenhaver (1899-1940) - Correspondence,
funeral register
Photograph album (undated)
Gills in America - Halbert’s
Military Service - CSA
Miscellaneous clippings
Miscellaneous photographs
Some During the War Experiences - Mrs. M. W. Ragland
I heard of a man who… - Charles Rutherford
Joseph Allen Gills (1906-2002) - Military records 1924-1945
Joseph Allen Gills (1906-2002) - Military records 1946-1960
(Continued)
MS1258

JOSEPH ALLEN GILLS (1906-2002) COLLECTION, cont’d.
BOX 3

3-9
3-10

Joseph Allen Gills (1906-2002) - Military records 1942-1966
Joseph Allen Gills (1906-2002) - Miscellaneous

BOX 4

4-1
4-2
4-3

Box of miscellaneous decorations (mostly military)
Critic-Crest (E. C. Glass High School) - 1926-1927
Elementary school teaching units (Lynchburg Public Schools)
Souvenir Program - Tobacco Festival 1941
Scrapbook – Kathleen Wood Gills (High school 1926-1927)
Pittman family Bible
Notary seal (Gill), E.C.Glass memorabilia (2001 reunion)

4-4
4-5

BOX 5

Van Toliver Wood family Bible

[BOX 6]

Scrapbook - Cornelia K. Gills - 1920-1948

[BOX 7]

Oil painting - Gills Home in Appomattox County

[BOX 8]

(Oversize)
Diplomas (High School) (1920-1927)
Certificates (Business School) (1922-1928)
Diplomas (Church) (1921-1927)
Military Commissions (1950-1966)
Certificates of Merit & Appreciation (1963-1974)

MS1258

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
JOSEPH ALLEN GILLS (1906-2002)
Joseph Allen Gills, son of William Pitzer Gills and Albertha O’Brien, was born in
Appomattox County, Virginia, on 8 June 1906. He was a graduate of Virginia
Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia, in 1928 and taught at E. C. Glass High
School in Lynchburg, Virginia, until he retired in 1972.
During World War II he was a First Lieutenant and battery commander in the
Coast Artillery Corps from 1942 until 1944. Following his active military duty, he
served in the Quartermaster Corps, U.S. Army Reserves. He retired in 1966 as a Captain
in the Quartermaster Corps. He was an instructor for the Veteran’s Administration in
Lynchburg for several years. For many years he also operated the Gills Gun Shop in
Lynchburg.
J. Allen Gills married Kathleen Taliaferro Wood, daughter of Van Toliver Wood
and Katy Davis Ogden, in Lynchburg on 14 April 1933.
Joseph Allen Gills died in Lynchburg on 1 January 2002 and was buried in Fort
Hill Memorial Park, with military honors.
[Obituary, News & Advance, 3 January 2002, Sect. C, p. 2, col. 1: Joseph Allen Gills Collection, MS1258,
Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, Va.]

MS1258

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
JOSEPH ALLEN GILLS (1906-2002) COLLECTION
The collection includes genealogical materials on Gills and related families of
Appomattox County, Virginia; business papers and scrapbook of William Pitzer Gills and
the estate settlement of his wife, Judith Albertha (O’Brien) Gills; and miscellaneous
correspondence, photographs, and memorabilia of members of the Gills family. Also
included are the military records (1924-1966) of Joseph Allen Gills.

[Detailed finding guide available with the collection.]

MS1258