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Preston Family (Charles Peale Didier Collection) Papers,

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-1985-020

Scope and Content

The Didier Collection of Preston Family Papers includes papers of James Patton, Patton's grandson William Preston, and Preston's eldest son, John Preston, all of Montgomery County, Virginia. The Preston family was important in the surveying, settlement, military affairs, and government of Southwest Virginia in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their papers consist of business and legal documents, surveys, and correspondence. Much of the collection relates to John Preston (1764-1827), treasurer of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1810 to 1819. For further information on the Preston family, see John F. Dorman, The Prestons of Smithfield and Greenfield in Virginia (1982).

Dates

  • Creation: 1747 - 1897

Creator

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish from the Preston Family (Charles Peale Didier Collection) Papers must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Full Extent

1.5 Cubic Feet (3 boxes; 1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Didier Collection of Preston Family Papers includes papers of James Patton, Patton's grandson William Preston, and Preston's eldest son, John Preston, all of Montgomery County, Virginia. The papers consist of business and legal documents, surveys, and correspondence.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in series by individual or family name. Within each series, materials are arranged chronologically with undated materials at the end.

Materials relating to James Patton are in Box 1, Folders 1-4. Those relating to William Preston (1729-83) are in Box 1, Folders 5-13. John Preston materials are in Box 2, Folders 1-39, and materials relating to members of his family in Box 2, Folders 40-41. Box 3 contains miscellaneous and unidentified papers. Wherever possible, materials are arranged chronologically.

Acquisition Information

The Preston Family (Charles Peale Didier Collection) Papers were donated to Special Collections in 1985. Additional materials were donated in March and April 1990. Later additions are denoted by folder numbers containing the letter "a."

Related Material

Special Collections has a number of other collections related to the Preston family, including:

  1. Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, Montgomery County Branch Papers, 1754-1996. Ms62-001. Finding aid available online.
  2. John Preston Deed, 1826. Ms2005-014.
  3. John Preston Papers, 1806-1830, 1844, n.d. Ms1994-034. Finding aid available online.
  4. Preston Family (Alice Preston Moore Collection) Papers, 1745-1882. Ms1962-004.
  5. Robert Taylor Preston Papers, 1849-1871 (Bulk 1861-1862). Ms1992-003. Finding aid available online.
  6. Smithfield Preston Foundation Papers, 1784-1881. Ms1997-002. Finding aid available online.
  7. William Preston Land Grant, 1773. Ms1994-027.
  8. Willard Preston Genealogy, c.1998. Ms2009-121. Finding aid available online.
  9. George Green Shackelford Papers, 1899-1990 (Bulk 1955-1989). Ms1983-008. Finding aid available online.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Preston Family (Charles Peale Didier Collection) Papers commenced and was completed in 1985. Additional materials were processed, arranged, and described in 1990. Some addition description and arrangement was completed in November 2014.

Title
Preston Family (Charles Peale Didier Collection) Papers, 1747-1897
Status
Completed
Subtitle
A Collection in Special Collections
Author
Special Collections Staff
Date
© 2009 By Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rights reserved.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308