.
By Sarah Osorio
Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Three scrapbooks containing late-18th-century to early-20th-century clippings of Norfolk, Virginia history, along with handwritten notes by Thomas B. Rowland. The clippings primarily focus on ships, buildings, and local historical events, and many of the clippings include images. Volumes 1 and 3 were originally ship logs for the Virginia Pilot Association, featuring pilot boats Relief and William A. Graves; many pages in these volumes have been pasted over with clippings. Volume 2 includes minutes from the Veteran Volunteer Firemans Historical Society in Norfolk, Virginia. Additionally, there are indexes to the three volumes, typescripts of Rowland's newspaper column "Sidelights on Old Norfolk," and miscellaneous correspondence.
Biographical Note
Thomas B. Rowland was born on November 9, 1825 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was a produce merchant for Rowland Brothers and was known locally as the "father" of roasted peanuts. Rowland served as a member of the volunteer fire department and later as a fire commissioner for the Norfolk Fire Department. He married Mary Eliza Waller on December 20, 1855 in Virginia. During the Civil War, Rowland served as a purchasing agent in England for the Confederate States. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Norfolk. Rowland died on June 14, 1918 in Norfolk, Virginia and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Sargeant Memorial Collection
Accruals:
The indexes were compiled by Norfolk Public Library staff.
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.
Physical Access Note:
Scrapbooks are in poor condition; a majority of pages are taped on three sides.
Acquisition Source:
Thomas B. Rowland by donation
Preferred Citation:
Thomas B. Rowland Scrapbooks, MSS 0000-231, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.
Processing Information:
Processed August 20, 2020.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[
Box 3],
[Box 4],
[
All]
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Index, Volume 1, Thomas B. Rowland Scrapbooks
- Folder 2: Index, Volume 2, Thomas B. Rowland Scrapbooks
- Folder 3: Index, Volume 3, Thomas B. Rowland Scrapbooks
- Folder 4: Typescript, Sidelights on Old Norfolk by Thomas B. Rowland
- Folder 5: Correspondence and Historical Sketch, Thomas B. Rowland, 1873-1906
