J. H. Miles and Company Records, 1900-2015 | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Will Hopkins

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Collection Overview

Title: J. H. Miles and Company Records, 1900-2015

ID: 001/01/MSS 2015-055

Primary Creator: J. H. Miles and Company (1900-2015)

Extent: 32.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged in original order, primarily.

Date Acquired: 12/23/2015

Subjects: Buildings, Businesses, Business records--Virginia, Hampton Roads (Va. : Region), Norfolk (Va.)

Forms of Material: Atlases, Correspondence, Maps (documents), Nautical charts, Photographs, Technical drawings

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Company records and correspondence, documents relating to licensing of oyster harvesting grounds, vessel records, seafood industry awards and publications, federal and state permits and regulation-related documents and publications, photographs and drawings, architectural and engineering drawings, nautical charts and shellfish grounds maps, and company artifacts including samples of oyster cans.

Biographical Note

J.H. Miles and Company was a seafood company based in the Atlantic City area of Norfolk, Virginia. The company began in 1900 harvesting, processing and packing oysters from Virginia waters, and shifted its operations to include clams in the 1960s. The company operated several commercial shellfish harvesting vessels. J.H. Miles and Company closed in 2015.

Subject/Index Terms

Buildings
Businesses
Business records--Virginia
Hampton Roads (Va. : Region)
Norfolk (Va.)

Administrative Information

Repository: Sargeant Memorial Collection

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to all researchers.

Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Source: J. H. Miles and Company by donation

Preferred Citation: J. H. Miles and Company Records, MSS 2015-055, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: Processed May 2019.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Box 9],
[Box 10],
[Box 11],
[Box 12],
[Box 13],
[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
[Box 17],
[Box 18],
[Box 19],
[Box 20],
[Box 21],
[Box 22],
[Box 23],
[Box 24],
[Box 25],
[Box 26],
[Box 27],
[Box 28],
[Box 29],
[Box 30],
[Box 31],
[Box 32],
[Drawer 16],
[Drawer 17],
[Drawer 18],
[Drawer 19],
[All]

Box 1

Folder 1: Vessel records, Tina Marie, 2000-2006: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 2: Vessel records, Christy, 1999-2013: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 3: Vessel records, Christy, 1993-1998: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 4: Vessel records, Christy, 1973-1994: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 5: Vessel records, Christy, 1985-2009: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 6: Vessel records, Christy, 1993: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.

Box 2

Folder 1: Vessel records, Christy, 1995-1997: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 2: Vessel records, Christy, 1999: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 3: Vessel records, Christy, 2000-2003: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 4: Vessel records, Christy, 2007-2009: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 5: Vessel records, Christy, 2007-2011: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 6: Vessel records, John N., 2001-2002: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 7: Vessel records, John N., 2006-2014: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.

Box 3

Folder 1: Vessel records, John N., 2000-2001: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 2: Vessel records, John N., 2010-2013: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 3: Vessel records, John N., 2002-2012: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 4: Vessel records, John N., 2001-2012: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 5: Vessel records, Mobjack, circa 1982: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.

Box 4

Folder 1: Vessel records, John N., 2008-2011: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 2: Vessel records, Susan K., 1997-2012: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 3: Vessel records, Dana and Sherri Ann, 1991-2006: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 4: Vessel records, Betty C., 2006-2011: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 5: Vessel records, Betty C., 2007-2012: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.

Box 5

Folder 1: Vessel records, Betty C., 1985-2012: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 2: Vessel records, Capt. Frank, 2000-2004
Folder 3: Vessel records, Capt. Frank, 2002-2009: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 4: Vessel records, Capt. Frank, 2008-2012: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 5: Vessel records, Kathleen Riggin, 1991-1996: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.

Box 6

Folder 1: Vessel records, Kathleen Riggin, 1991-1992: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 2: Vessel records, Miss Valerie, 1982-2001: Includes vessel surveys, sales-related documents, repair records, vessel permits, and operating records.
Folder 3: Vessel records, plans to scrap Susan K., 1991-2009
Folder 4: Company records, 1906-2012: Includes trademark certificate, company history (1944), cancelled checks, promissory notes, brochure and news clippings, and miscellaneous correspondence.
Folder 5: Company records, 1934-1975: Includes land lease documents, loan contracts, miscellaneous invoices, and vessel bills of sale.

Box 7

Folder 1: Company records, Campbell's Soup, 1963-1967: Includes correspondence and sales records.
Folder 2: Company records, 1948-1949: Includes documents relating to vessel Ocean View.
Folder 3: Company records, Oyster Bowl, 1948-1954: Includes game programs and correspondence.
Folder 4: Oyster guard house, 1938-1943: Correspondence and clippings relating to oyster guard house and associated activities.
Folder 5: Company records on oyster disease and decline, 1960-1962: Includes correspondence relating to oyster disease and declines in harvests.
Folder 6: Company records, canning-related documents, 1946-1960
Folder 7: Company records, construction of Christy, 1974-1975
Folder 8: Company records, Steel and Tin Company correspondence, 1949-1962: Includes canning-related subjects.
Folder 9: Company records, correspondence with Blue Channel Corporation, 1966
Folder 10: Company records, customer claims and complaints, 1947-1960
Folder 11: Company records, correspondence with Elberta Company, 1956-1960
Folder 12: Company records, amendment to articles of incorporation, 1970: Involves Atlantic Vessels, Incorporated.

Box 8

Folder 1: Company records, miscellaneous correspondence, 1936-1975: Includes correspondence with commercial suppliers and customers.
Folder 2: Company records, miscellaneous bills and records, 1936-1966
Folder 3: Company records, World War II era, 1942-1957: Includes correspondence relating to the military draft, applications for supplies and materials, special wartime permits for oyster grounds, and a gas rationing card.
Folder 4: Company records, Christmas mailing list and shucking contests, 1955-1957
Folder 5: Company records, new logo, undated
Folder 6: Company records, legislation-related documents, 1948-1960
Folder 7: Company records, City of Norfolk documents, 1939-1961
Folder 8: Company records, miscellaneous documents, 1946-1947: Includes correspondence with commercial and government organizations, Virginian Department of Health regulations, barge specifications, and information related to military exclusion areas near oyster grounds.
Folder 9: Company records, vessel food purchases, 1939-1942
Folder 10: Company records, certificates of oyster inspection and analysis, 1949
Folder 11: Company records, correspondence with Kroger Company, 1957-1960
Folder 12: Company records, documents on Craney Island oyster grounds, 1971-1974

Box 9

Folder 1: Company records, the Norfolk Corporation documents, 1961-1963
Folder 2: Company records, mattresses for vessels, 1936-1944
Folder 3: Company records, burlap purchases, 1948-1949
Folder 4: Company records, Weights and Measures Committee, 1955-1956
Folder 5: Company records, miscellaneous documents, 1941-1960: Includes correspondence about a Smithsonian Museum display.
Folder 6: Company records, sample orders, 1947-1962
Folder 7: Company records, miscellaneous proposals, 1957-1967: Includes correspondence on an experimental airlift harvesting system, oyster processing techniques and a process for freeze drying oysters.
Folder 8: Company records, correspondence with Jeffries and Company, 1936-1960
Folder 9: Company records, union-related documents, 1960-1973
Folder 10: Company records, monthly gasoline use reports, 1940-1942
Folder 11: Company records, miscellaneous dredging and construction projects, 1949-1973
Folder 12: Company records, miscellaneous donations and requests, 1947-1998
Folder 13: Company records, miscellaneous documents on clams and oysters, 1936-2013: Includes U. S. government brochures, trade publications, commercial documents, and health and safety articles.
Folder 14: Company records, Norfolk tax documents, 1936-1962
Folder 15: Company records, Fishing Vessel Casualty Task Force Report, 1999

Box 10

Folder 1: Historical documents, 7001-7024, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.
Folder 2: Historical documents, 7025-7038, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.
Folder 3: Historical documents, 7039-7053, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.
Folder 4: Historical documents, 7054-7071, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.

Box 11

Folder 1: Historical documents, 7072-7090, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.
Folder 2: Historical documents, 7091-7097, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.
Folder 3: Historical documents, 7098-7106, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.
Folder 4: Historical documents, 7107-7121, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.

Box 12

Folder 1: Historical records, 7122-7128, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.
Folder 2: Historical documents, 7129-7133, 7136, 7137, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.
Folder 3: Historical documents, 7134, various dates: Includes lease, assignment and permit-related documents and plats for shellfish grounds. The documents are arranged in numbered packets keyed to an index found in folder 4, box 12.
Folder 4: Historical documents index, undated: Includes document dates and descriptions.

Box 13

Folder 1: Oyster grounds-related documents, circa 2013-2015
Folder 2: Oyster grounds-related documents, circa 2014-2017
Folder 3: Oyster grounds-related documents, circa 1944-1966: Includes maps.
Folder 4: Oyster grounds-related documents, circa 1938-1994
Folder 5: Oyster grounds-related documents, circa 1939-1988: Includes maps.

Box 14

Folder 1: Oyster grounds-related documents, circa 1935-1973
Folder 2: Oyster grounds-related documents, circa 2013-2017
Folder 3: Miscellaneous correspondence, circa 1945-1990
Folder 4: Union-related correspondence, 1947-1957
Folder 5: Miscellaneous correspondence scrapbook, 1935-1946

Box 15

Folder 1: Miscellaneous documents, 1948-2000: Includes oyster grounds and environmental studies, boat plans, and clippings.
Folder 2: Book of correspondence, 1920-1933
Folder 3: Book of correspondence, 1933-1948

Box 16

Folder 1: Personal diary of Mr. E. S. Shepherd, 1948-1967
Folder 2: Railway Express Agency routing schedule, 1954-1955
Folder 3: Ledger, cash accounts, 1988 January-1894 March
Folder 4: Ledger, expenses, 1936
Folder 5: Ledger, expenses, 1943-1944
Folder 6: Ledger, dredging, planting and boat expenses, 1947-1948

Box 17

Folder 1: Ledger, expenses/payables, payroll and receivables, 1953-1961
Folder 2: Ropp's Commercial Calculator, 1887
Folder 3: Ledger, pricing, 1948 August- 1960 October
Folder 4: J. H. Miles and Company bank account book, 1935-1938
Folder 5: W. L. Chase and Company checkbook, 1960-1962
Folder 6: Ledger, expenses at Norfolk plant, 1949-1967
Folder 7: Miscellaneous photos of Norfolk plant and vessels, 1970-2000

Box 18

Folder 1: Miscellaneous photos of Norfolk plant and vessels, circa 1990-2000: Includes plant interiors and shellfish processing.
Folder 2: Miscellaneous photographs in and around Norfolk plant, circa 2008
Folder 3: Photos of vessel Christy, 1974
Folder 4: Miscellaneous photos, circa 1970-1980: Includes photos of vessel and harvesting operations.
Folder 5: Price lists, undated
Folder 6: Miscellaneous documents, circa 1944 to undated: Includes Miles Company brochures and organizational charts, photos of oyster cans.
Folder 7: Miscellaneous documents, 1940-2014: Includes certificates, legal action documents, bulkhead permit documents, correspondence, and photos.
Folder 8: Miscellaneous documents and news articles, circa 1969: Includes clam processing guidelines.

Box 19

Folder 1: Miscellaneous documents, shell sales, circa 1993-1994
Folder 2: Miscellaneous documents, clam and oyster business, circa 1947-1990: Includes news clippings.
Folder 3: Miscellaneous documents, Campbell's Soups sales, 1969-1998
Folder 4: Miscellaneous documents, Seafood Handbook trade publication, undated
Folder 5: Miscellaneous documents, seafood suppliers and transporters, circa 1960
Folder 6: Miscellaneous documents, Commercial Fisherman's Drill Conductor's Course book, 2008
Folder 7: Miscellaneous documents, insurance policies, 1959-1975
Folder 8: Miscellaneous documents and drawings, circa 1959-1994: Includes diagrams of plant and equipment, certificates, federal regulations guide.
Folder 9: AVD fishing trip records, 2012 July 14-2013 July 2013
Folder 10: AVD fishing trip records, circa 2012 April-2013 April
Folder 11: AVD fishing trip records, circa 2012-2013
Folder 12: Fishing trip records, 2012 June-December

Box 20

Folder 1: AVM fishing trip records, 2012 April-October
Folder 2: AVI fishing trip records, 2012 January-June
Folder 3: VTR fishing trip records
Folder 4: NOAA and state fishing permits, 2012-2013
Folder 5: NOAA clam permits and reports, 2012-2013
Folder 6: Clam specifications, 2006-2007
Folder 7: Food safety plan documents, circa 2012
Folder 8: National Fisheries Institute documents, circa 1993-1994
Folder 9: NOAA shellfish processor/dealer's reports, 1993

Box 21

Folder 1: Binder, outdated clam specifications, 1967-2000
Folder 2: Ledger, sales, circa 1955-1962

Box 22

Item 1: Contacts index cards, undated: Include company addresses and notes.

Box 23

Item 1: Three-pint oyster cans (empty), undated

Box 24

Item 1: Two half-pint oyster cans (empty) and an opener, undated

Box 25

Item 1: Plaque from the Oyster Growers and Dealers Association to Rufas L. Miles, 1908
Item 2: Small trophy from the BOC Gases Company, 1994
Item 3: Small trophy from the United Negro College Fund of Hampton Roads, 1990-1991
Item 4: J. H. Miles and Company writing pen, undated

Box 26

Item 1: J. H. Miles and Company logo (on wall signage)
Item 2: Small trophy from the United Way Keel Club, undated
Item 3: Plaque from the Campbell's Soup Company, circa 1980-1990

Box 27

Item 1: Plaque from the National Fisheries Institute, 1983-1984
Item 2: Plaque from the Elizabeth River Project, undated
Item 3: Miles and Company patches, undated: Includes two patches.
Item 4: Campbell's Soup Company flag, undated

Box 28

Item 1: Account ledger (oversize), 1937-1953
Item 2: Account ledger (oversize), circa 1940-1950s

Box 29

Item 1: Accounting ledger (oversize), circa 1960-1980s

Box 30

Item 1: Account ledger, 1934 September to 1949 July

Box 31

Item 1: Account ledger, 1941-1943
Item 2: Account ledger, 1943-1947

Box 32

Folder 1: U. S. Department of Commerce certificates, 1994-1995
Folder 2: Photos of plant and vessels, circa 1988
Folder 3: Scrapbook of advertisements, circa 1936-1940

Drawer 16

Folder 1: Advertising flyers, undated
Folder 2: Ocean City, Maryland site survey, 2002 December 5
Folder 3: Norfolk plant and pier drawings, circa 1949
Folder 4: Burlap oyster sack, undated
Folder 5: Norfolk plant demolition drawings, 1991 December 13

Drawer 17

Folder 6: Oyster grounds charts, 1910-1980: Includes Elizabeth River, Mobjack Bay, and Delaware Bay.
Folder 7: Oyster grounds charts, 1910-1946: Includes Elizabeth River, Ocean View, Mobjack Bay, and Delaware Bay.
Folder 8: Oyster and clam grounds charts, 1937-1971: Includes James River, Hampton Roads and Cape May to Hatteras.
Folder 9: Oyster and clam grounds charts, 1946-1970: Includes Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore, James River, Cape May, area near Norfolk and Western coal piers.
Folder 10: Oyster grounds charts, 1924-1967: Includes Willoughby Bay (with new interstate impacts), Campostella (with new bridge construction impacts), West Norfolk, and Ocean View (with dredging impacts).

Drawer 18

Folder 11: Engineering drawings, 1995: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant.
Folder 12: Engineering drawings, 1987-2006: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant.
Folder 13: Engineering drawings, 1988-1999: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant.
Folder 14: Engineering and architectural drawings, 1986-1999: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant. Includes drawings of facility in Ocean City, Maryland.
Folder 15: Engineering drawings, 1969-2008: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant.
Folder 16: Engineering drawings, 1959-1995: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant.

Drawer 19

Folder 17: Engineering drawings, 1970-1995: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant.
Folder 18: Engineering drawings, 1969-2000: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant.
Folder 19: Engineering drawings, 1970-1971: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant.
Folder 20: Engineering drawings, 1970-2008: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant.
Folder 21: Engineering drawings, 1970-2003: Shows processing equipment details and placement in Miles Plant.
Folder 22: Plywood sign for "American Clams", undated