Virginia Carter Castleman photograph collection

Collection — Box: C, oversize: unknown container

Identifier: PC-00-001

Staff Only

Scope and content note

This collection consists of nineteen photographs showing many aspects of student life at Drexel in 1898-1899. It includes interior shots of the Main Building, the library in the Main Building, student boarding facilities, the Drexel Museum, the exterior of Boarding House Row, and University of Pennsylvania buildings. The photographs show library employees and students at work, Drexel president James MacAlister in his office, and art students painting in a studio. Also included with the collection is one folder of research notes compiled for an exhibit in 2005. The captions written on the photograph enclosures were not written by Castleman but rather were added later (possibly by Drexel library staff).

Dates

1898-1899

Creator

Castleman, Virginia Carter (Person)

Biographical Note

Virginia Carter Castleman, an 1899 graduate of Drexel's library school, was born in Herndon, Virginia, in 1864. Her mother established the Herndon Seminary for Girls in her residence around 1870. Her father was an Episcopal clergyman. Prior to her time at Drexel, Ms. Castleman attended the Edgeworth Institute in Baltimore. While attending Drexel in 1898 and 1899, she wrote the Drexel Ode. After graduation she worked as a book cataloger at the University of Pennsylvania, then as an instructor in Washington, D.C., and Boise, Idaho. At some point after 1904, Ms. Castleman returned to her hometown in Virginia. Along with her sisters, she formed a library association and eventually established a lending library for Herndon. During her life, Virginia Castleman published a number of books including works of fiction, poetry and children’s books. She also published the reminiscences of Kitty Kitchen, a Herndon resident whose husband fought for the Union during the Civil War. Virginia Carter Castleman died in Herndon in 1937.

Source: https://books.google.com/books?id=E_IKCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=Virginia+Carter+Castleman+herndon&source=bl&ots=2qKCOmw9pb&sig=DWPLeKl3wTHIIKXp3a6jmEt-zl0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBib6nk6_MAhUD5CYKHZ5aBv8Q6AEINTAH#v=onepage&q=Virginia%20Carter%20Castleman%20herndon&f=false

Extent

0.16 Cubic Feet (19 photographs)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

This collection consists of nineteen photographs showing aspects of student life at Drexel in 1898-1899.

Provenance

According to a 28 May 2003 memo from Guy G. Garrison, Ph.D., Professor and Dean Emeritus: "This pack of photos has been around the College for a long time. They were presumably given to Drexel at some point by Virginia C. Castleman, a graduate of the Library School in 1899, and the author of the Drexel Ode. The Mrs. Gardner Hendrix, whose name is on the torn Publishers' Weekly envelope [retained with collection], is presumably Fannie Hendrix, a long-time Drexel staff support member, perhaps 1930s to 1950s..." This memo is included with the file of research notes.