Guide to the Collection 183. Staley Estate Papers, 1834 - 1960

Guide to the Collection 183. Staley Estate Papers, 1834 - 1960

Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Copyright Notice
Preferred Citation
Acquisitions Information
Processing Information
Biographical Note
Collection Arrangement
Online Catalog Headings
Container List
 Appalachian State University
© 2005 Appalachian State University. All Rights Reserved.

Contact Information:

Special Collections
Carol G. Belk Library and Information Commons
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina
28608 USA
Phone: (828) 262-4041
Fax: (828) 262-2553
Email: spcoll@appstate.edu
URL: http://www.library.appstate.edu/appcoll

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Appalachian State University W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection
Creator: Francis P. Staley (1806-1888)
Title: Collection 183. Staley Estate Papers, 1834 - 1960
Language of Material: Material in English
Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult Appalachian State University.
Abstract: The Staley Estate Papers are a collection of receipts, correspondence and ephemera generated by several generations of the descendants of Frank Staley, who worked as a dry goods merchant and a depot agent in Wythe and Smyth Counties, Virginia.
Extent: 2.5 linear feet, 2 archival boxes

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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

An appointment for research is required. No restrictions to access. No Inter-Library Loan.


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Copyright Notice

Standard federal copyright laws apply.


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Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Collection 183. Staley Estate Papers, W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, NC, USA.


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Acquisitions Information

The W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection purchased this collection from Bookworm and Silverfish in 1998. This collection was opened to the public on 13 November 2002.


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Processing Information

Processed by Kathryn Staley, 13 November 2002

Encoded by Kathryn Staley, 28 June 2005


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Biographical Note

Originally, the Staley family lived in Wythe County, Virginia. They subsequently moved to Smyth County, Virginia. Francis D. Staley (1806-1888) was a dry goods merchant in Marion, Virginia. He also worked as the depot agent. He and his wife Jane Akers Staley (1810-1885) raised several children: Emily (b. 1834), Walter S. (1836-1906), Charles R. (1838-1878), Albert (b. 1840), Frank Junior (b. 1851).

Walter Staley also operated a Marion flour mill, Hull and Staley, with his son Henry and D.D. Hull. Walter and his wife Pauline A. Hull Staley (1841-1903) had several children: Henry Boyd (1871-1948), Walter Hull (1872-1958), David Denton (1876-1951). Henry ran H.B. Staley Company, which sold flour. He married Margaret Preston Rhea (1876-1945) and had three children: Henry Boyd Jr. (1903-1939), Nell, and Pauline. Boyd attended Fishburne Military School in Waynesville, Virginia.


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Collection Arrangement

The Staley Estate Papers are organized into five series: 183A. Checks; 183B. Correspondence; 183C. Pocketbook Contents (Correspondence, Court Documents, Monthly Statements, Receipts, Tax Receipts, Miscellaneous); 183D. Receipts and Monthly Statements; 183E. Miscellaneous; 183F. Three Dimensional Objects.


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Online Catalog Headings

Appalachians (People) -- Family relationships
H.B. Staley Company
Hull and Staley
Hull, D. D
Mercantile system -- Virginia -- Marion
Staley family
Staley, Francis D., 1806-1888
Staley, Henry Boyd, 1871-1948
Staley, Walter S., 1836-1906

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Container List

Checks Series. (1873-191--)
Checks Series contains checks made for and by Staley family members, chronological order.
Box Folder
1 1 Checks, 1873-191–
Correspondence Series. (1839-1946, undated)
Correspondence Series contains correspondence to Staley family and their family members, chronological order. Some letters were generated by the Rhea family. Many letters are to Henry Boyd Staley, Jr. from Henry Boyd Staley while Jr. was a cadet at Fishburne Military Academy in Waynesville, Virginia. Sr. gave much paternal advice. Includes many envelopes, some of which have Staley Flour advertisements.
Box Folder
1 2 Letters, 1839-1946, undated
3 Letters, 1839-1946, undated
4 Letters, 1839-1946, undated
5 Letters, 1839-1946, undated
6 Letters, 1839-1946, undated
7 Letters, 1839-1946, undated
Pocketbook Contents Series. (1834-1880, undated)
Pocketbook Contents Series contains tax receipts, merchandise receipts, promissory notes, correspondence, alphabetical and chronological. These documents were found in a 28 x 9 cloth wallet with thread sewn into it making six pockets. Each pocket has a label which read from left to right: "Bill's", "Bill's", "Receipts", "Important Letters and Notes", "Acct's" and "Memorandums". The documents were not in logical order when found. Documents for Jno. Akers included.
Box Folder
1 8 Correspondence, 1858-1874
Court Documents, 1834-1879, undated
Monthly Statements, 1869-1876
Box Folder
1 9 Monthly Statements, 1876-1880
Receipts, 1858-1880
Box Folder
1 10 Tax Receipts, 1870-1879
Miscellaneous, 1874, undated
Receipts and Monthly Statements Series.
Receipts and Monthly Statements Series contains receipts primarily from dry good stores, chronological order. Six receipts for meals originated from Marion's Southwestern Lunatic Asylum and includes the name Tom Staley. Many letterheads from O.C. Sprinkle, Pharmacist are included.
Box Folder
1 11 Receipts and Statements, 1868-196–, undated
12 Receipts and Statements, 1868-196–, undated
13 Receipts and Statements, 1868-196–, undated
14 Receipts and Statements, 1868-196–, undated
Miscellaneous Series. (1866-1921, undated)
Miscellaneous Series contains various materials, no order. This includes deeds, a partial section of undated Civil War era newspaper, direction for glycerine, letterhead of Hull and Staley Company, the card of Mrs. Lucie V. Hill, recipe for cholera remedy, section of a poem, Tribute of Love and Esteem for Mrs. Pauline Staley (dated 1903), flier for musical comedy "Jimmie", flier for Dickinson Dairy Feed, dues for Staley and Sheffey, Insurance Agents Marion Chapter due on 1901, medical book "Heal Thyself", prescription for Sexual Weakness and Small Weak Parts, "My Trip to Mars" by Katherine Hage Sharitz, 1878 state license for retail of goods for F.P. Staley, February 7, 1877 issue of The Richmond Price Current, two 1871 promissory notes to F.P. Staley, 1875 check to W. Spiller Staley from A.J. Staley, three tags of H.B. Staley Co.
Box Folder
1 15
Three Dimensional Objects Series. (undated)
Three Dimensional Object contains a 28 x 9 cloth wallet with thread sewn into it making six pockets. Each pocket has a label which read from left to right: "Bill's", "Bill's", "Receipts", "Important Letters and Notes", "Acct's" and "Memorandums".
Box
2 Wallet