Viola James Collection
Scope and Content
The Viola James Collection contains membership cards for James as a member of the Clarksburg, West Virginia chapter of the Women of the Ku Klux Klan, which are in a wallet marked with the initials "KKK". The collection also has a blank application form and printed Christian literature related to the organization. It also includes a small framed tintype of two unidentified little girls.
Dates
- c. 1920s
Creator
- James, Viola Ethel Cox, 1892-1965 (Person)
Language of Materials
The material in this collection is in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions
may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for
assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or
digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using
our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can
be requested using our publication/exhibition form:
http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Biographical Note
Viola Ethel Cox James (1892-1965) was born to Newman M. Cox and Martha Martin in Clarksburg, West Virginia. She was a member of the Women of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. She married Charles Burrell James (1885-1949) in 1912, and they had a son, Festus Burrell James (1921-2016). She worked as a homemaker.
External sources:
U.S. Federal Census, 1930-1950
"Viola Ethel Cox James", findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5953961/viola-ethel-james, accessed on May 31, 2023.
"Festus Burrell James", findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167963443/festus-burrell-james, accessed on May 31, 2023.
"Viola James" in the West Virginia, U.S., Deaths Index, 1853-1973, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/1208160:2568, accessed on December 7, 2023.
"Viola E Cox" in the West Virginia, U.S., Marriages Index, 1785-1971, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/10099128:2538, accessed on December 7, 2023.
"Charles B. James" in the West Virginia, U.S., Deaths Index, 1853-1973, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/1723285:2568, accessed on December 7, 2023.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
The Viola James Collection contains membership cards for James as a member of the Clarksburg, West Virginia chapter of the Women of the Ku Klux Klan, which are in a wallet marked with the initials "KKK". The collection also has a blank application form and printed Christian literature related to the organization. It also includes a small framed tintype of two unidentified little girls.
Source of Acquisition
The Viola James Collection was donated to Special Collections and University Archives in June 2015.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Viola James Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Viola James Collection was completed in May 2023.
- Title
- Viola James Collection, c. 1920s
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sterling Bryant, Student Assistant
- Date
- 2023 (CC0 1.0)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu