John Parker Collection, circa 1850-2008 | Sargeant Memorial Collection

By Sarah Osorio

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Collection Overview

Title: John Parker Collection, circa 1850-2008

ID: 001/01/MSS 2014-002

Primary Creator: Parker, John A. (1944-2014)

Extent: 24.0 Boxes

Arrangement: Arranged by subject matter in rough chronological order.

Date Acquired: 11/12/2014

Subjects: Burlesque (Theater), Families--Virginia, Ghent (Norfolk, Va.), Norfolk (Va.), Norfolk (Va.)--History

Forms of Material: Advertisements, Birth announcements, Booklets, Books, Certificates, Clippings (information artifacts), Deeds, Diplomas, Dog tags (military tags), Lists (document genres), Manuscripts, Maps (documents), Mirrors, Negatives (photographs), Novels, Photocopies, Photographs, Portraits, Posters, Report cards, Thermometers, Yearbooks

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Personal papers, photographs, and manuscripts of John Albert Parker, Jr. of 539 Warren Crescent in Ghent, Norfolk, Virginia. Items include birth and marriage announcements, school diplomas, and miscellaneous mementos. Photographs include family members, especially his wife Rose Marie Norwood Parker and his parents. The photographs also include the Parkers' wedding, John Parker's service in Vietnam from 1967-1968, circa 1990s holiday parties at Kirn Memorial Library, houses and scenes of Ghent, and John and Rose Marie's cats. Manuscripts include at least 10 unpublished novels written by John Parker as well as four manuscript copies of his published nonfiction volume Thirteen Blocks: A Social History of Early Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia.

The collection also includes materials collected by Parker relating to the neighborhood of Ghent and the city of Norfolk. Materials include 1900 and 1910 census transcriptions from Ghent, The Ghent Homeowner's Manual, and a heavily notated copy of Ghent: John Graham's Dream, Norfolk, Virginia's Treasure. Materials relating to Norfolk, Virginia include volumes 3-5 of Shank's Raw Materials, pin-up advertisements for local businesses, a circa 1900 property assessment ledger organized by street name, and two circa 1940-1942 posters advertising Rose La Rose at Gaiety Theatre on Main Street.

Finally, the collection contains papers relating to Fergus Reid, his wife Mary Wilson Chamberlain Reid, and their daughter Helen de Lustrac. Materials include family photographs, receipts and correspondence.

Subject/Index Terms

Burlesque (Theater)
Families--Virginia
Ghent (Norfolk, Va.)
Norfolk (Va.)
Norfolk (Va.)--History

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: Estate of John Parker by donation

Preferred Citation: John Parker Collection, MSS 2014-002, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: John and Rose Marie Parker Personal Papers],
[Box 2: John Parker's Novels],
[Box 3: John Parker's Novels],
[Box 4: John Parker's Novels],
[Box 5: John Parker's Novels],
[Box 6: John Parker's Novels],
[Box 7: John Parker's Novels / Novels],
[Box 8: Ghent],
[Box 9: Ghent],
[Box 10: Ghent / Norfolk],
[Box 11: Norfolk],
[Box 12: Norfolk],
[Box 13: Fergus Reid / de Lustrac Papers],
[Box 14: Photographs],
[Box 15: Photographs],
[Box 16: Negatives],
[Box 17: Norfolk Property Assessments],
[Box 18: Oversized],
[Box 19: Oversized],
[Box 20: Oversized],
[Box 21: Oversized],
[Box 22: Oversized],
[Box 23: Oversized],
[Box 24: Oversized],
[All]

Box 1: John and Rose Marie Parker Personal Papers

Folder 1: Photographs, John Parker Family, circa 1920s-1990s
Folder 2: Stamp Album, For the Purchase of United States War Savings Bonds, circa 1942
Folder 3: Baby Book, Rose Marie Norwood, 1942
Folder 4: Birth Announcement, John Parker, 1944 January 25
Folder 5: Book, Your Birthday January 25, 1990
Folder 6: Test, Kuder Preference Record, Personal, Form AH, circa 1948
Folder 7: Magazine, The Alumni Review, 1950 May
Folder 8: Clipping, Charm School student Evelyn Dale, 1954 August 8
Folder 9: Report Card, Rose Norwood, 1954-1955
Folder 10: Yearbook, The Pilot, Norview High School, 1958
Folder 11: Diploma, Old Dominion College, John Albert Parker, Jr., 1965 June 6
Folder 12: Dog Tag and Nameplate, John Parker, circa 1967
Folder 13: Announcement, Marriage of Rose Marie Norwood to John Albert Parker, Jr., 1970 May 29
Folder 14: Deed of Trust and Buyers Closing Statement for 539 Warren Crescent, 1975 November
Folder 15: Correspondence, A Gift of Love: Letters from John Albert Parker 1967-1968, for Aunt Vera & Uncle Sam, 1979
Folder 16: Notebook, John Parker's personal memoir notes, circa 2005
Folder 17: Proclamation, Commendation to John Parker, Jr. by Mayor Paul D. Fraim, 2008 August 24
Folder 18: Sketch, Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck at General Reference Desk, undated
Folder 19: Correspondence, Howl of the Wolf Agency to Rose Marie Parker, undated

Box 2: John Parker's Novels

Folder 1: Index, Novel Episodes
Folder 2: Manuscript, Little Voices of Reason, Chapters 1-9: Copy 1.
Folder 3: Manuscript, Little Voices of Reason, Chapters 10-17: Copy 1.
Folder 4: Manuscript, Little Voices of Reason, by John A. Parker, Chapters 1-8, 2008: Copy 2.
Folder 5: Manuscript, Little Voices of Reason, by John A. Parker, Chapters 9-17, 2008: Copy 2.

Box 3: John Parker's Novels

Folder 1: Manuscript, "Come On In Kids and Have Fun"
Folder 2: Manuscript, Your Standard Three-Way Light Bulb, Chapters 1-10
Folder 3: Manuscript, Your Standard Three-Way Light Bulb, Chapters 11-20
Folder 4: Manuscript, On Boundary Street, Chapters 1-6

Box 4: John Parker's Novels

Folder 1: Manuscript, On Boundary Street, Chapters 7-14
Folder 2: Manuscript, Ketchikan
Folder 3: Manuscript, Under Pears, Grapes, Oranges, and Leaves, Chapters 1-7
Folder 4: Manuscript, Under Pears, Grapes, Oranges, and Leaves, Chapters 8-13

Box 5: John Parker's Novels

Folder 1: Manuscript, One Plus One, Chapters 1-7
Folder 2: Manuscript, One Plus One, Chapters 8-13
Folder 3: Manuscript, One Plus One, Chapters 14-19
Folder 4: Manuscript, A Dinosaur Names Baryshnikov, Chapters 1-9

Box 6: John Parker's Novels

Folder 1: Manuscript, A Dinosaur Named Baryshnikov, Chapters 10-19
Folder 2: Manuscript, Two Views of Tessie Blansky, Chapters 1-9
Folder 3: Manuscript, Two Views of Tessie Blansky, Chapters 10-16
Folder 4: Manuscript, Five Months, Chapters 1-9

Box 7: John Parker's Novels / Novels

Folder 1: Manuscript, Five Months, Chapters 10-17
Folder 2: Manuscript, Five Months, Chapters 18-25
Folder 3: Manuscript, Five Months, Chapters 26-31
Folder 4: Manuscript, Episode August 8, 1987, Chapel Hill
Folder 5: Manuscript, My Sister, The Witch by Matthew Dillon, 2008
Folder 6: Manuscript, No Snowman For the Little Dutch Girl by Tim Cratchit, undated

Box 8: Ghent

Folder 1: Manuscript, Thirteen Blocks: A Social History of Early Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia by John A. Parker: Copy 1. No appendices.
Folder 2: Manuscript, Thirteen Blocks: A Social History of Early Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia by John A. Parker, Chapters 1-6: Copy 2.
Folder 3: Manuscript, Thirteen Blocks: A Social History of Early Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia by John A. Parker, Chapters 7-13: Copy 2.
Folder 4: Manuscript, Thirteen Blocks: A Social History of Early Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia by John A. Parker, Chapters 1-7: Copy 3.
Folder 5: Manuscript, Thirteen Blocks: A Social History of Early Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia by John A. Parker, Chapters 8-13: Copy 3.

Box 9: Ghent

Folder 1: Manuscript, Thirteen Blocks: A Social History of Early Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia by John A. Parker, Appendices: Copy 3.
Folder 2: Manuscript, Thirteen Blocks: A Social History of Early Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia by John A. Parker, Chapters 1-7: Copy 4.
Folder 3: Manuscript, Thirteen Blocks: A Social History of Early Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia by John A. Parker, Chapters 8-13: Copy 4.
Folder 4: Manuscript, Thirteen Blocks: A Social History of Early Ghent in Norfolk, Virginia by John A. Parker, Appendices: Copy 4.
Folder 5: Ghent 1900 Census
Folder 6: Ghent 1910 Census (Folder 1 of 2)

Box 10: Ghent / Norfolk

Folder 1: Ghent 1910 Census (Folder 2 of 2)
Folder 2: Ghent XI, Sandoz-Turner
Folder 3: Booklet, The Ghent Homeowner's Manual, circa 1970s
Folder 4: Booklet, Ghent, Proposed Zoning For Historic and Cultural Conservation, 1976 May
Folder 5: Photographs, circa 1914 streetcar in Ghent, circa 1990s
Folder 6: Book, Ghent: John Graham's Dream, Norfolk, Virginia's Treasure by Amy Waters Yarsinske: Includes extensive notations.
Folder 7: Price List, Construction Costs for Homes in Ghent, circa 1890
Folder 8: Photocopy, Map of Ghent from 1900 Atlas of Norfolk, undated
Folder 9: Shank's Raw Materials, Volume 3, 1890-1899, Pages 729-954, circa 1965

Box 11: Norfolk

Folder 1: Shank's Raw Materials, Volume 3, 1890-1899, Pages 955-1104, circa 1965
Folder 2: Shank's Raw Materials, Volume 4, 1899-1906, Pages 1105-1299, circa 1965
Folder 3: Shank's Raw Materials, Volume 4, 1899-1906, Pages 1300-1513, circa 1965
Folder 4: Shank's Raw Materials, Volume 5, 1906-1919, Pages 1514-1669, circa 1965
Folder 5: Shank's Raw Materials, Volume 5, 1906-1919, Pages 1670-1799, circa 1965

Box 12: Norfolk

Folder 1: Shank's Raw Materials, Volume 5, 1906-1919, Pages 1800-1892, circa 1965
Folder 2: Book, Jamestown Exposition Edition of The Norfolk Dispatch, 1904
Folder 3: Photocopy, Original Location of Waterways in Norfolk, Virginia, circa 1736-1956, undated
Folder 4: Advertisement, A. J. Legum, circa 1940s
Folder 5: Advertisement, A. J. Legum, Framed Thermometer, circa 1940
Folder 6: Advertisement, Arrow Cleaners, Framed Mirror, circa 1940
Folder 7: Advertisements, Chas. Syer & Co., 1947 March-October
Folder 8: Advertisement, Growers Exchange, circa 1950s-1960s
Folder 9: Advertisements, Navy Gift Shop, circa 1950s-1960s
Folder 10: Advertisement, Norfolk, Baltimore & Carolina Line, 1952 January
Folder 11: Advertisement, Richmond Auto Parts, Inc., Norfolk Branch, 1959 August
Folder 12: Memo Books, Priddy's Fertilizers advertisements, circa 1949-1960
Folder 13: Memo Books, Smith-Douglass Co. Fertilizers, AGRICO, circa 1952-1955

Box 13: Fergus Reid / de Lustrac Papers

Folder 1: Chromolithographs, circa 1850-1900
Folder 2: Portrait, Antoine Marquis de La Corbiere, 1743-1831, undated
Folder 3: Photographs, Reid Family, circa 1890-1930
Folder 4: Photographs, Mary Chamberlaine Reid, circa 1910-1920
Folder 5: Portrait, Two Young Boys, circa 1900: Reverse side of photograph: "R. J. Butler" and "[E.] Butler."
Folder 6: Photographs, Woman and Dog, circa 1910
Folder 7: Print, William S. Sims, Vice-Admiral, U. S. Navy, circa 1918
Folder 8: Excerpts, Chataigne's Norfolk Directory, 1892
Folder 9: Postcards, circa 1900-1960
Folder 10: Correspondence, Fergus Reid to Mary Reid, 1900 September 4-5
Folder 11: Menu, New York Club, 1904 March 23
Folder 12: Resolution, Fergus Reid resignation as Treasurer of Norfolk Protestant Hospital, 1904 December 3
Folder 13: Cards, by Fergus and Helen Reid, circa 1906
Folder 14: Essays by Helen Reid, circa 1910
Folder 15: Memoir, Armistead Borland, circa 1936
Folder 16: Map, Virginia State Highway, 1936 May
Folder 17: Receipts, Fergus and Mary Reid, 1906-1941
Folder 18: Diploma, Sacred Heart School, Francoise C. de Lustrac, 1945 June 8
Folder 19: Booklet, Trois Reconnaissances de Cavalerie en Septembre 1914 by Baron de Lustrac, 1949
Folder 20: Address Book, circa 1910
Folder 21: Clippings, circa 1910-1990
Folder 22: Needlework, undated
Folder 23: Miscellaneous Materials, circa 1920s-1940s

Box 14: Photographs

Folder 1: John and Rose Marie Norwood Parker, circa 1945-2000
Folder 2: John and Rose Marie Norwood Parker Wedding, 1970 May 30
Folder 3: John Parker in Vietnam, circa 1968
Folder 4: Family Photographs, circa 1940s-2000s

Box 15: Photographs

Folder 1: Kirn Library, John and Rose Marie Parker and library staff, circa 1990s
Folder 2: Ghent Houses and Scenes, circa 1970s-1990s
Folder 3: Elmwood Cemetery Monuments, circa 1980 March
Folder 4: Demolition of Maritime Tower and Adjacent Buildings, circa 1996 November 24
Folder 5: Chapel Hill, North Carolina, circa 1990s
Folder 6: Tucson, Arizona, circa 1996
Folder 7: Cats, 1970s-1990s: John and Rose Marie's cats.

Box 16: Negatives

Folder 1: 539 Warren Crescent I
Folder 2: 539 Warren Crescent II
Folder 3: 539 Warren Crescent III
Folder 4: 539 Warren Crescent IV
Folder 5: 539 Warren Crescent V
Folder 6: 539 Warren Crescent VI
Folder 7: 539 Warren Crescent, C. Walker
Folder 8: 539 Warren Crescent, Picnic
Folder 9: 539 Warren Crescent, Removing stairs
Folder 10: "Unknown"
Folder 11: Norfolk's Traffic Accident Record, 1937-1938
Folder 12: Aerial negative, Ghent
Folder 13: Slides, 539 Warren Crescent: Three slides.

Box 17: Norfolk Property Assessments

Item 1: Ledger, Property Assessments in Norfolk, Virginia, circa 1900: Index includes street name and page number. Property assessments by street name include house number, owner name, land value, building value, and total value.

Box 18: Oversized

Folder 1: Print, Captain William Wilson Chamberlain, 806 17th Street NW, circa 1863
Folder 2: Photograph, Beechwood Place, M. W. C., circa 1895
Folder 3: Book, The City of Norfolk: A Sketch of Its Growth and a Record of its Progress, circa 1897
Folder 4: Calendar, Greenbrier Farms, Inc., 1935
Folder 5: Portrait, John Albert Parker, circa 1960
Folder 6: Diplomas, John Albert Parker, 1961, 1966: Granby High School (June 12, 1961) and University of North Carolina (August 27, 1966).
Folder 7: Diploma, Rose Marie Norwood, University of North Carolina, 1967 January 28
Folder 8: Certificates, Army Commendation Medal and Honorable Discharge, 1968, 1972: Army Commendation Medal (July 2, 1968) and Honorable Discharge (October 10, 1972).
Folder 9: Architectural Drawing, Elevation of main stair and front door, circa 1890

Box 19: Oversized

Folder 1: Cartes-de-visite, "Folk", circa 1880-1910
Folder 2: Portrait, Unidentified Man in Confederate Uniform, circa 1900
Folder 3: Hand Painting on Velvet, John Parker in Vietnam 1967-1968, circa 1970
Folder 4: Photograph, Warren Crescent, circa 1990
Folder 5: Photographs, Ghent and Downtown Norfolk, undated

Box 20: Oversized

Folder 1: Poster, Gaiety Theatre (Folder 1 of 2), circa 1940
Folder 2: Poster, Gaiety Theatre (Folder 2 of 2), 1942 November

Box 21: Oversized

Items in Box 21 are housed separately.

Folder 1: Map, Plan of The Norfolk Co., circa 1890: Color map shows 6th Ward of The City of Norfolk.
Folder 2: Map, The New World Order, circa 1990-2000: Handdrawn map shows John Parker's version of southside Hampton Roads, Virginia.

Box 22: Oversized

Item 1: Atlas of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Berkley, and Vicinity, 1900: Published by Sam W. Bowman.

Box 23: Oversized

Item 1: Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch, Progress Edition, 1952 May 21

Box 24: Oversized

Item 1: Norfolk Ledger-Dispatch, 1944 January-February