Vaiden A. Thornton Collection
Scope and Content
The collection contains two blueprints drafted by the Agricultural Engineering Department of VPI in Richmond, Virginia. One of the blueprints depicts a dairy house with a capacity for 10-20 cows, designed by H.H.G. in December of 1935. The other blueprint shows a milking shed designed by Bryne Wheary in September 1938.
There are thirty-nine work-related papers, mostly receipts, advertisements, and order forms created between 1930 and 1952; some items are undated. Notable items include a pay stub dated in 1952 for working in the medical division of Connecticut Life Insurance Company; a September 23, 1936 groceries receipt for Lunsford and Wootton; two 1952 prescriptions from Blackwell Smith's for Aureomycin, Penicillin, and Duracillin; and a letter detailing the 37th Annual Christmas Seal Sale for the Sussex County Tuberculosis Society.
The collection includes eight account books relating to Thornton's diary business, created between 1935 and 1953. A few of these account books contain slips of paper covered with scribbled equations, including a blank Piedmont Sanatorium admission application form in the 1935-137 account book.
Dates
- Creation: 1930-1953, n.d.
Creator
- Thornton, Vaiden A. (Person)
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Biographical Information
Dr. Vaiden A. Thornton, M.D., ran a diary operation at Miling Farm, located in Stony Creek, VA, from 1936 to 1953. He also had his own ice business and worked as a medical examiner for several insurance companies, including Connecticut Life Insurance Company.
Thornton's wife was named Bessie C. Thornton and the couple had three children, including Mary V. and J. Douglas Thornton. Their other son, William Carr, was born on June 22, 1911 and died on November 17, 2005.
Full Extent
1.1 Cubic Feet (2 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection contains account books, dairy building blueprints designed by Virginia Tech, and various work-related papers created between 1930 and 1953. A few of the items are undated. Thornton ran a dairy and ice operation in Stony Creek, VA, in addition to his job as an insurance company medical examiner.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by material type. Within each material type, materials are arranged chronologically.
Acquisition Information
The Vaiden A. Thornton Collection was purchased in 2010.
General Physical Description note
2 boxes, 1 oversize folder; 1.1 cu. ft.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Vaiden A. Thornton Collection were commenced and completed in June of 2010.
- Title
- A Guide to the Vaiden A. Thornton Collection, 1930-1953, n.d.
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Julia Viets
- Date
- © 2010 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
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu