This collection contains a photograph album comprised of approximately 240 photographs (all c. 1890) of scenes in southwestern Virginia, particularly the counties of Bland, Craig, Giles, and Smyth. Locales featured within the collection are Bane, Broadford, Chatham Hill, Craig Creek, Dismal Creek, Doe Creek, Holston River, Kimberling Creek, Laurel Gap, Meadow Creek, Mountain Lake, New Castle, Newport, No Business Creek, Plasterburg, Rich Valley, Rocky Hollow, Saltville, Sinking Creek, Staffordsville, Wabash, Walkers Creek, and Wilderness Creek. The photographs include images of such structures as houses, railroad stations, Mountain Lake lodge and cottages, gristmills, and sawmills. The photographs include very few people and only one named individual: Arch L. Spessard. The name "J. C. Porter" appears on the back inside cover. Whether Porter created the photographs is unknown.