Richmond Light Infantry Blues

A Guide to the Richmond Light Infantry Blues Records, 1871-1980
Call Number Mss3R4157cFA2


Abstract

Main Entry:Richmond Light Infantry Blues
Title: Records, 1871-1980
Size:ca. 4,100 items
Historical Note:

The Richmond Light Infantry Blues were established 1789 as a company of voluntary militia. Named for their distinctive blue and white uniforms, the company became the 19th Regiment of Virginia Militia in 1792 and part of the 1st Virginia Regiment in 1851. In 1861, they were detached from the 1st Virginia Regiment and served throughout the Civil War as Company A, 46th Regiment, Virginia Infantry. They rejoined the 1st Virginia Regiment after the close of the war, but were chartered as in independent company in 1877, remaining so until the Spanish-American War, when they comprised Companies H and M, 4th Regiment of Virginia Volunteers. During World War I the company was assigned as the Horse Battalion, 104th Ammunition Train, 29th Division. The company served as a battalion of infantry during World War II. When the National Guard was reorganized in the 1960s, the Blues became part of the 183d Infantry, 1st Battalion, 29th Division, Virginia Army National Guard. The unit was deactivated in 1996.

The Blues volunteered their assistance whenever and wherever a crisis arose. The first time the company saw active service was during Gabriel’s rebellion in August of 1800. The next time the Blues were an active military unit was during the War of 1812. They were involved in suppressing the Nat Turner rebellion in 1831; guarded John Brown after his capture at Harpers Ferry; and were mustered into the Confederate Army in 1861. The company later served in the Spanish-American War (1898) and in World Wars I and II, the Korean War (1950-1953) and the Berlin Crisis (1962).

The Richmond Blues were as much a social organization as a military unit. When the company was not involved in military matters, it participated in parades and general celebrations and in the reception of every distinguished visitor to the city of Richmond, ranging from General Lafayette in 1824 to American presidents in the present day. The company traditionally celebrated three annual events, including the Tenth of May (the anniversary of its founding), which was celebrated every year with an anniversary ball. Other important events in the company’s social calendar were George Washington’s Birthday and Christmas.

Summary Note: The records of Richmond Light Infantry Blues are arranged into three series. Series One, The First Virginia Regiment, includes correspondence, agendas, financial materials, photographs, speeches, and newspaper clippings documenting the organization’s activities, in particular the May 10th celebration of its founding. Series Two, The Richmond Light Infantry Blues Veterans Corps, concerns an organization established in 1925 to honor those who served in the Blues prior to their reorganization as part of the Virginia National Guard in 1968, and includes correspondence of officers, materials concerning annual meetings, and addresses of members. Series Three, The Blues Monument Memorial Corporation, concerns the group founded by A. Simpson Williams to erect a statue to the Blues, which was unveiled in 1978. The papers concern raising funds for the statue and include some historical materials concerning the Blues’ visit to Paris in 1926, and their attendance at various balls and parades throughout the twentieth century. Each series is arranged into three subseries based on format: correspondence, financial materials and administrative materials.
Provenance:Gift of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues Veterans Corps through the courtesy of Roger M. Marks, Commander, in 1990. Accessioned 6 February 1997.
Restrictions:None.
Related Collections:Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad Company records, 1839-1983 (Mss3R4152bFA2 Section 15)
Richmond Light Infantry Blues Association papers, 1877-1884 (Mss3R4157a)
Richmond Light Infantry Blues Association papers, 1882-1886 (Mss3R4157b)

Guide

Series 1: First Virginia Regiment Records, 1871-1975

Series 2: Richmond Light Infantry Blues Veterans Corps Records, 1931-1968

Series 3: Blues Monument Memorial Corp. Records, 1899-1986

Series 1: First Virginia Regiment Records, 1871-1975 (ca. 1,200 items)

Series 1.1 consists of correspondence, chiefly of Edwin Cox, who was onetime colonel-in-chief of the regiment. Other major correspondents are Arnold Ellis, Edwin Conquest, John Beazley, Henry Snyder and Herbert Harris. Series 1.2 is mostly bank statements and ledgers. Series 1.3 contains agendas for meetings, photographs, speeches and news clippings.

Series 1.1 Correspondence, 1948-1975 (ca. 400 items)
 Folder 11948-1965
 21966 Jan-Apr
 31966 May-Aug
 41966 Sep-Dec
 51967-1968
 61969-1970
 71971-1975
 
Series 1.2 Financial Materials, 1962-1970 (ca. 500 items)
 Folder 8Checks/deposit slips of Col. Holt, 1966-1977
 9Contributors list (Paul Booth gift fund, no date)
 10Dividends, Virginia Power Company, 1967 Dec-1972 Sept
 11Expenses list, 1966 Jun-1969 Jun
 12Financial letters, 1963 Apr-1972 Jun
 13Financial lists, 1966 Mar-1970 Nov
 14Headquarters, Bills, 1962 Sept-1972 May
 15Ledger, First Virginia Regiment Permanent Fund, 1967 Dec- 1972
 16Ledger, First Virginia Regiment Permanent Fund 1966-1968
 17Ledger, Virginia Trust Company, 1962 Feb-1964 Jun
 18Ledger, Virginia Trust Company, 1964-1966
 19Ledger, Virginia Trust Company, 1966-1967
 20Ledger/checkbook, Virginia Trust Company, 1962-1967
 21Receipts/expenditures, 1970
 22Statements/deposits, Virginia Trust Company, 1964
 23Statements/deposits, Virginia Trust Company, 1965
 24Statements/deposits, Virginia Trust Company, 1965-1966
 25Statements/deposits, Virginia Trust Company, 1967
 26Statements/deposits, Virginia Trust Company, 1968
 27Statements/deposits, Virginia Trust Company, 1969-1970
 
Series 1.3: Administrative Materials, 1871-1972 (ca. 300 items)
 Folder 28Agendas, 1963-1968
 29Addresses and speeches, 1962 Sep-1970 May
 30Applications for scholarships, 1965 Dec-1972 Mar
 31Award certificates, 1871 Sep (Photocopy), 1943 Dec
 32Invitations and replies, 1966 Nov-1972 Jun
 33News clippings about the First Virginia Regiment, 1962 Apr-1966 Jul
 34Newsletter, Centennial Legion, 1972 Jan 29
 35Newsletter, 29th Div. National Headquarters, 1966 Apr-Jul
 36Necrology, 1944-1972
 37Policy for the appointment for the commander in Chief of the Regiment
 38Reservations list for May 22, 1970
 39Rosters, 1963 Apr-1971 Feb
 40Streamers (Argonne, Alsace)
 41Photographs of First Virginia Regiment, 1871-1963 Oct
 42Special and General Orders, 1961 Jul-1971 Jul

Series 2: Richmond Light Infantry Blues Veterans Corps Records, 1931-1968 (ca. 2,000 items)

These materials concern the Richmond Light Infantry Blues Veterans Corps, established in 1925. Membership is restricted to those who served in the Blues prior to the company’s reorganization in 1968. Series 2.1 contains correspondence, primarily concerning the three annual meetings. Series 2.2 contains financial materials, including receipts for the meetings. Series 2.3 contains a complete address list of members, and the years in which they paid their dues.

Series 2.1 Correspondence, 1935-1967 (ca. 300 items)
 Folder 431935-1942
 441943-1950
 451951-1959
 461969-1967
 
Series 2.2 Financial Materials, 1931-1968 (ca. 1,000 items)
 Folder 47Dues receipts, 1934-1938
 48Dues receipts, 1939-1940
 49Dues receipts, 1944-1956
 50Dues-receipts, 1967-1968
 51Expenditure notes, 1953-1960
 52Expenditure notes, 1961-1967
 53Financial statements, 1948-1951
 54Financial statements, 1953-1967
 55Ledgers/statements, First and Merchants National Bank, 1931 Oct-1941 Jan.
 56Ledgers, First and Merchants National Bank, 1952-1959
 57Receipts and Disbursements records, 1958-1967
 58Receipts, Alcohol transportation permits, 1950-1967
 59Receipts, Beverages, 1936 May-1962
 60Receipts, Catering, 1934 Nov-1951 Oct
 61Receipts, Cleaning, 1949 Mar-1965 May
 62Receipts, Clock repair, 1947 Dec-1949
 63Receipts, Craige and Company, 1945-1950
 64Receipts, Electric bills, 1946-1949
 65Receipts, Electric contracting, 1949-1956
 66Receipts, Florist, 1935 Dec-1951 Jul
 67Receipts, Hardware 1949 May-1950 Jun
 68Receipts, Hotels, 1941 May-1951 May
 69Receipts, Insurance premiums, 1948-1967
 70Receipts, Mailing advertisements, 1936 May-1967
 71Receipts, Miller and Rhodes, May 12, n.y.
 72Receipts, Miscellaneous, 1938-1967
 73Receipts, Printing, 1935 Jan-1951 Mar
 74Receipts, Office supplies, 1952-1965
 75Receipts, National Seal Works, stamps, 1949-1964
 76Receipts, Paint, 1956 Jan-1959 Apr
 77Receipts, Paintings (portraits), 1956-1965
 78Receipts, Photography, 1937-1951
 79Receipts, Storage and transfer, 1956 Oct-1958
 80First and Merchants National Bank, deposits, 1934
 81First and Merchants National Bank, deposits, 1959
 82State and Planters Bank, statements, 1935-1939
 83State and Planters Bank, statements, 1939-1940
 84Savings Bank and Trust, statements, 1941-1948 (yearly)
 85Savings Bank and Trust, statements, 1946 May-1950 Oct. (monthly)
 86Savings Bank and Trust, statements, 1951-1959
 87Virginia Trust Company, statements, 1959-1966
 
Series 2.3: Administrative Materials, 1940-1968 (ca. 700 items)
 Folder 88Address list of members
 89Address list of non-members
 90Applications for membership
 91Dues paid, 1948
 92Dues paid, 1951
 93Dues paid, 1951(cont)
 94Dues paid, 1952-1961
 95Dues paid, 1962-1966
 96Dues paid, 1967
 97Davenport Insurance, policies, 1953-1963
 98Davenport Insurance, policies, 1963-1968
 99Invitations, 1966-1967
 100RLIB programs for anniversaries. 1949-1965
 101Rosters, 1940-1952
 102Rosters, 1953-1967

Series 3: Blues Monument Memorial Corp. Records, 1899-1986 (ca. 900 items)

The Blues Monument Memorial Corporation was founded by A. Simpson Williams, a former commander of the Veterans Corps. Williams formed the monument corporation with an intent to honor the Blues with a statue. The unveiling occurred on October 20, 1978, with the statue located just outside the Richmond Coliseum. Most of the materials in this part of the collection are concerned with raising funds to pay for the statue. The correspondence is primarily letters of solicitation, invitation, and acknowledgment. Series 3.2 concerns financial matters. Series 3.3, consists of administrative materials, with some historical materials, including a copy of the address given by the Marquis de la Lafayette on his visit to Virginia in 1824 and photographs of the Blues on their 1926 trip to Paris and attending various parties and balls and marches, including the inaugural parade of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Series 3.1 Correspondence, 1972-1986 (ca. 200 items)
 Folder 1031972-1977
 1041978 Jan-1978 Jul
 1051978 Aug-1978 Sep
 1061978 Oct-1978 Dec
 1071979-1986
 
Series 3.2 Financial Materials, 1974-1980 (ca. 200 items)
 Folder 108Financial Statements/Annual Reports, 1974-1979
 109Heritage Bank, statements, 1974-1979
 110F&M Bank, statements, 1974-1980
 111Dominion National Bank, ledger, 1977-1980
 112Dominion National Bank, notes, 1977
 113Dominion National Bank, statements, 1977 Nov-Dec
 114Dominion National Bank, statements, 1978 Jan-Jun
 115Dominion National Bank, checks/deposit slips, 1978 Jan-1979 Jan
 116Heritage Savings and Loan checks (copies) 1979
 117Receipts, Downtown Club, 1978-1979
 118Receipts, Davenport and Co., 1979
 
Series 3.3 Administrative Materials, 1899-1979 (ca. 500 items)
 Folder 119Addresses of the Marquis de Lafayette to Virginia, (Photocopy)
 120Articles of Incorporation, 1973 May 29
 121By-Laws of Corporation, 1973 May 30
 122City of Richmond zoning approval for monument, 1972
 123A commentary (a History of Blues Service)
 124Commissions, Army, A. Simpson Williams
 125Contributors list, 1977-1979
 126Insurance policy, 1978
 127General Lafayette-account of 1824 visit
 128R.E. Lee monument corp. letter 1899
 129Newsletters: The Commonwealth-May 1939
Drill Bits 1978
The Visitor Jul 1978
 130Obituary of Col. Robert Rose, n.d.
 131Photos of Blues Monument
 132Photos of Paris trip, 1926
 133Photos of Anniversary balls
 134Photos of Parades
 135Photos, Miscellaneous
 136Program, Dedication of the Monument, Oct. 20, 1978
 137The Richmond Light Infantry Blues: A Sketch
 138Solicitation ad, 1978 Dec 1
 139Taxes, 1973-1979
 140Taxes, 1099 forms, 1968-1971

Container List

Box 1
   Series 1:First Virginia Regiment (folders 1-29)
    Series 1.1: Correspondence
    Series 1.2: Financial materials
Box 2
   Series 1:First Virginia Regiment, cont. (folders 30-69)
    Series 1.2: Financial materials, cont.
   Series 2:Richmond Light Infantry Blues Veterans Corps
    Series 2.1: Correspondence
    Series 2.2: Financial materials
Box 3
   Series 2:Richmond Light Infantry Blues Veterans Corps, cont. (folders 70-99)
    Series 2.2: Financial materials, cont.
    Series 2.3: Administrative materials
Box 4
   Series 2:Richmond Light Infantry Blues Veterans Corps, cont. (folders 100-140)
    Series 2.3: Administrative materials, cont.
   Series 3:Blues Monument Memorial Corporation
    Series 3.1: Correspondence
    Series 3.2: Financial materials
    Series 3.3: Administrative materials

Last updated: January 14, 2004