John H. MacMillan's lecture "Black Gold Dilemma" explores the volatility of oil prices and the geopolitical impacts on energy security, focusing on the U.S.'s dependency on imported oil, particularly from OPEC nations. MacMillan discusses the dramatic drop in oil prices in 1986, the potential consequences of conflicts in the Persian Gulf, and the long-term challenges posed by the reliance on finite fossil fuel resources. He emphasizes the need for strategic energy planning, considering alternatives to petroleum to ensure a sustainable energy future. The paper also examines shifts in energy consumption patterns and the importance of developing new energy sources.
Digitized scan of a Bill of Sale recording the sale and transfer of enslaved person Peggy Dean to Charles Minor Blackford in March 1846.
The original document, which has been partially laminated, is held in JML Manuscript 1793, the Blackford Family Collection, Box 1, Folder 22 at Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Blackford Family Collection Held At Jones Memorial Library In Lynchburg, Virginia. The Collection Includes Correspondence, Lists Of Enslaved Persons, A Letter From James G. Minor In Monrovia, Liberia, And Other Papers Related To The Blackford Family.
Parts of this collection have been digitized and are available under the Blackford Family Collection ITEM SET.
Digital images of pages from the Jones Memorial Library Manuscript Collection 1793: Blackford Family Collection, Box 1, Folder 3.
Digital scan of document entitled "Registry of Negroes, Ages-Births-Sales as December 12th, 1858". The two-page typewritten document is held at Jones Memorial Library in manuscript collection 1793, the Blackford Family Collection, in Box 1, Folder 2.
The document names and enumerates 21 enslaved persons from the Blackford estate in 1858. First names are listed; no surnames are listed.
Although the list is titled as of December 12, 1858, it includes the names of enslaved persons born and deceased after that point in time and therefore appears to be a list of persons enslaved by Blackford until their emancipation at the end of the Civil War.
Named enslaved persons include: William (Big Bill), Gabe, Alley, William, Jack, Thomas, Maria, Jane, Jenney, Ellen, Mary, Dick, Henry, William, Fanny, Caroline, Becky, Henry, Beverly, Caleb, and Charles.
Of the 21 enslaved persons on the list, three are named William (ages 37 years, 25 years, and 4 years) and two are named Henry (one aged 6 years and one born March 1858).
In addition to the names of the enslaved persons the list includes two typed notes, with one note mentioning a colt.
The materials in this folder include typed transcriptions and photostatic copies of newspaper obituaries and primarily photocopies of handwritten information entered in family bibles.
There is one handwritten two page list with names and birthdates of persons titled "Ages of Negro Children Belonging." The birthdates for these enslaved persons span from 1815 to 1836. It is presumed that these persons were enslaved by the Blackford family
Digital scan of document entitled "Registry of Negroes, Ages-Births-Sales as December 12th, 1858". The two-page typewritten document is held at Jones Memorial Library in manuscript collection 1793, the Blackford Family Collection, in Box 1, Folder 2.
The document names and enumerates 21 enslaved persons from the Blackford estate in 1858. First names are listed; no surnames are listed.
Although the list is titled as of December 12, 1858, it includes the names of enslaved persons born and deceased after that point in time and therefore appears to be a list of persons enslaved by Blackford until their emancipation at the end of the Civil War.
Named enslaved persons include: William (Big Bill), Gabe, Alley, William, Jack, Thomas, Maria, Jane, Jenney, Ellen, Mary, Dick, Henry, William, Fanny, Caroline, Becky, Henry, Beverly, Caleb, and Charles.
Of the 21 enslaved persons on the list, three are named William (ages 37 years, 25 years, and 4 years) and two are named Henry (one aged 6 years and one born March 1858).
In addition to the names of the enslaved persons the list includes two typed notes, with one note mentioning a colt.
Text of a lecture delivered to the Sphex Club in Lynchburg.
The paper "Blackwater Creek Trail Walks: Come, Take a Walk With Me" by Thomas C. Tiller describes Tiller's personal reflections and experiences while walking along the Blackwater Creek Trail. He contrasts this talk with his previous topics on political and social issues, focusing instead on the local natural beauty, history of the area including the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and personal observations. Tiller shares anecdotes about wildlife, the changing seasons, and the interconnectedness of the natural environment with personal memories and broader historical contexts.
Blue Ridge Chapter Daughters ff The American Revolution (Dar) Papers Held At Jones Memorial Library In Lynchburg, Virginia. The Papers Include Minutes, Financial Records, Yearbooks, Scrapbooks, And Other Materials.
Text of a lecture to the Sphex Club in Lynchburg,. The paper discusses the complexities of the silicone breast implant controversy, particularly the interplay between scientific evidence, legal actions, and media influence. It covers historical developments, case studies, and the roles of various stakeholders. The author examines how misconceptions and legal processes can overshadow scientific facts, using specific examples from medical history.
Manuscript Collection 1396 is the Dunbar High School Library Papers. Four folders are included in this collection. The papers are from the Dunbar Branch of the Jones Memorial Library. The Dunbar Branch was opened in 1924 at the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, a segregated school serving African American students in Lynchburg during the Jim Crow era.
The Dunbar Branch was established by Jane Maud Campbell, director of the Jones Memorial Library. Campbell requested assistance from the Louisville Free Public Library, which was a leader in training African American librarians, to get the branch established. Librarian Rachel Davis Harris traveled from Louisville to Lynchburg to establish the branch and help train Anne Spencer, the Dunbar Branch's first permanent librarian. Spencer served as librarian at the branch from 1924 until 1945.
Included in Folder 1 are a variety of lists published by the Louisville Free Public Library to aid librarians in purchasing books for collections serving African Americans. Also included in the folder are two handwritten lists with additional titles; these lists may have been compiled by Jones Memorial Library staff. Of note is a 24 page typewritten list compiled by Reverend Thomas Blue and Rachel Harris of the Louisville Free Public Library titled "A List of Books Selected From Titles in the Western Colored Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library Recommended for First Purchase." This list includes marks suggesting that staff from Jones Memorial Library intended to purchase particular titles, with handwritten numbers suggesting the quantity of each title ordered. It is possible that these titles were ordered for use at the Dunbar Branch in Lynchburg.
James Burroughs Noell's paper discusses the foundation and impact of the Lowell Institute in Boston, established in 1836 by John Lowell's will. It highlights the institute's commitment to free public lectures and education, its influence in Boston, New England, and beyond, and notable speakers like Sir Charles Lyell and Louis Agassiz. The paper appreciates the Lowell family's contributions and the institute's relationships with Harvard and MIT.
Digital image of a four page printed theatre program for The Bowman Opera House performance of A Trial By Jury on 10 April 1899 in Lynchburg, Virginia. The comedic program is for a performance by neighbors and friends in Diamond Hil, Lynchburg.
This academic paper by Julius Sigler explores the unique and revolutionary vision of Thomas Jefferson for a secular, state-supported University of Virginia, contrasting sharply with the religiously affiliated institutions of its time. Sigler details Jefferson's educational philosophy, emphasizing a broad curriculum and student self-governance, which unfortunately led to numerous challenges, including student riots and faculty conflicts. Despite these struggles, with the political support of allies like Joseph Carrington Cabell and the resilience of its faculty and alumni, the University of Virginia not only survived but thrived, embodying Jefferson's vision and contributing to the evolution of public higher education. The paper underscores the University's turbulent early years, marked by clashes between student autonomy and societal expectations, and the eventual establishment of an honor code and elective system that influenced American higher education broadly.
The Braxton Family Papers (Accession No. 2026-0012) consist of materials documenting the religious, civic, and community activities of Myrtle W. Braxton and her family, primarily centered around Rose Chapel Baptist Church in Amherst County, Virginia, and the broader African American community of the Lynchburg/Amherst County region. Materials include cassette audio recordings, church programs, songbooks, music manuscripts, photographs, books, DVDs, and personal and organizational papers, spanning approximately 1936 to 2011.
NOTE: This is an unprocessed collection. The finding aid is based on a preliminary box-level assessment conducted on May 19, 2026, written with the assistance of ClaudeAI. Description is subject to change upon full processing.
This is an unprocessed collection. Access may be limited pending full processing and staff review. The collection contains several obsolete formats that may complicate access, including:
• 143 cassette audio tapes
• VHS cassettes
• DVDs
Researchers wishing to access audio or video materials should contact library staff in advance to arrange playback equipment.
Brightwell Family Ration Books For 1942-1945 Held At Jones Memorial Library In Lynchburg, Virginia. The Ration Books Were Issued During World War 2 For The Purchase Of Sugar, Gasoline, Alcohol, And Other Items.
Brown's Cove Research Papers Held At Jones Memorial Library In Lynchburg, Virginia. The Collection Includes Maps And Plats, Deeds From 1739-2007, And Papers Related To Four Historic Houses In Brown'S Cove, Albermarle County, Virginia: Brightberry, Headquarters, Mount Fair, And Walnut Level.
Bryant-Proffitt Family Collection.
Also digital reproductions of material in MS 1293 the Bryant-Proffitt Family Collection held at Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The collection finding guide is included.
Digitized material includes Folder 1-9, Folder 2-1 and Folder 4-4.
Material may be under copyright.
Accuracy and completeness of information in this collection has not been verified by Jones Memorial Library.
Buildup to Extinction by John W. Landis provides a critical examination of humanity's trajectory towards potential self-destruction due to the nuclear arms race. Landis creatively uses the concept of an "anthroposcope" to observe and critique global nuclear policies, disarmament efforts, and the paradoxical nature of human progress. The paper outlines the history of nuclear disarmament talks, highlighting the consistent failure to reach a consensus due to political distrust and strategic interests. Landis advocates for a shift from prohibition to substitution strategies in disarmament, emphasizing the importance of education and mutual understanding in preventing nuclear war. He suggests focusing disarmament discussions on establishing an effective inspection and control system as a prerequisite for any arms reduction, aiming to bridge the East-West divide and foster ongoing dialogue for global security.
The paper, "Burgers in Their Own Words," presented by James M. Elson to the SPHEX Club, explores the history of Lynchburg, Virginia, through the personal anecdotes and writings of its residents, spanning from the city's founding to the onset of the Civil War. The paper highlights the local culture, notable figures, and the social and economic conditions of Lynchburg, emphasizing the impact of slavery, tobacco economy, and community values.
