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Size | 16.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 12600 items) |
Abstract | William Worrell Vass was treasurer, 1845-1893, of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad Company and an official of the Chatham Railroad Company, the Raleigh & Augusta Air Line Railroad Company, and the Seaboard Airline Railroads (later merged into the CSX Corporation). Railroad business records, family and personal business correspondence, and other materials of W. W. Vass. Railroad materials are most plentiful for the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, but are present for the numerous roads with which Vass was in some way associated over his long career. These materials include extensive incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence as well as financial records of many kinds, reports, minutes of stockholders meetings, and other items. The bulk of the railroad records date from the 1870s to the 1890s, with some earlier material included. Also included are letterpress copy and sales invoice books of the Carolina Paper Company, 1895-1896. Family and personal business correspondence of Vass consists mainly of correspondence and other items concerning the numerous loans Vass made to individuals in Granville and Wake counties and other areas and to the properties he rented, particularly in Granville County. There are also letters from relatives and friends, papers relating to Vass's activities as a Baptist layman, especially material relating to the North Carolina Baptist Publications and Sunday School Society in the 1840s, and detailed records of the course and treatment of the typhoid fever suffered by Vass's son Will in 1898. |
Creator | Vass, William Worrell, 1821-1896. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: Ginny Briggs, Angela Dickerson, Tim West, November 1993 with subsequent additions
Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
William Worrell Vass was born on 19 February 1829 near Oxford in Granville County, N.C., to Thomas Vass Junior (1777-1857), a farmer, and Lucy Hester. The family of Thomas Vass Senior (1738-1818), a Baptist minister and descendent of French Huguenots, had moved to North Carolina from Virginia in 1790.
Vass was educated in common schools. In his early adolescence, he clerked in the mercantile store of Major John S. Eaton at Henderson, and became a full partner in 1843. Eaton retired from his mercantile business in 1845. As the director of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad Company, chartered in 1835, Eaton secured Vass an appointment as treasurer of the railroad on 1 January 1845.
The state bought the bankrupt Raleigh and Gaston Railroad in 1848 and Vass secured the position of president. Vass's administration proved a success and in 1851, as the line was again profitable, Vass returned to his duties as treasurer.
Vass was elected to serve as treasurer of the Chatham Railroad Company, later the Raleigh & Augusta Airline Railway Company, in 1862. He remained as treasurer of the Raleigh and Gaston, which consolidated with Seaboard Airline in 1893. Owing to his advanced age and health, Vass resigned as treasurer and was appointed honorary secretary of the new consolidated railroad. By 1896, Vass had achieved the distinction of being perhaps the longest continuously serving railroad official in the United States.
In addition to his career in the railroad industry, Vass also served as a Confederate major, a director of the Raleigh Institute for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind, and as a trustee of Wake Forest College. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Raleigh for 49 years.
Vass's first wife, Amanda Freeman of Granville County, died without children. Vass married Lillias (Lillie) Margaret McDaniel, daughter of Reverend James McDaniel of Fayetteville, on 11 October 1866. This marriage resulted in three children; Eleanor, Lilla May, and William W. Junior, who became a prominent banker.
Vass died in Raleigh in 1896 and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
[From a draft of the sketch by Ronnie W. Faulkner for the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography.]
Back to TopRailroad business records, family and personal business correspondence, and other materials of W. W. Vass. Railroad materials are most plentiful for the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, but are present for the numerous roads with which Vass was in some way associated over his long career. These materials include extensive incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence as well as financial records of many kinds, reports, minutes of stockholders meetings, and other items. The bulk of the railroad records date from the 1870s to the 1890s, with some earlier material included. Also included are letterpress copy and sales invoice books of the Carolina Paper Company, 1895-1896. Family and personal business correspondence of Vass consists mainly of correspondence and other items concerning the numerous loans Vass made to individuals in Granville and Wake counties and other areas and to the properties he rented, particularly in Granville County. There are also letters from relatives and friends, papers relating to Vass's activities as a Baptist layman, especially material relating to the North Carolina Baptist Publications and Sunday School Society in the 1840s, and detailed records of the course and treatment of the typhoid fever suffered by Vass's son Will in 1898.
Back to TopArrangement: chronological.
Chiefly letters from stockholders and railroad officials. Most letters concern the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, although the other lines with which Vass was associated are also represented. Letters from stockholders mostly concern the transfer, purchase, or cancellation of stock, or dividends from it. Letters from railroad officials regard amounts owed by the Raleigh and Gaston and other matters.
Arrangement: chronological.
Outgoing letters from W. W. Vass about railroad business. Most letters are to stockholders, banks, or railroad officials. They deal with overdue bills and various other financial matters, stockholders meetings, stock transfers, and related concerns, and other matters. Most letters concern the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, although the other lines with which Vass was associated are also represented.
Arrangement: by railroad, then by type.
Varied financial records of numerous railroads with which Vass was associated, as noted below.
Arrangement: chronological.
Bills and receipts and related items regarding such matters as road repairs, supplies, such as cross-ties, reimbursements for over-charges, and dividends. Railroads involved are chiefly Raleigh and Gaston, Chatham, Petersburg, and Seaboard Airline.
Folder 177 |
11 Aug 1851-22 Dec 1859 |
Folder 178 |
1 Jan 1860-19 Oct 1865 |
Folder 179 |
13 Mar 1866-12 Dec 1869 |
Folder 180 |
1 Jan 1870-23 Dec 1871 |
Folder 181 |
1 Feb 1872-8 Dec 1873 |
Folder 182 |
24 Jan 1874-6 Dec 1875 |
Folder 183 |
18 Jan 1876-29 Oct 1879 |
Folder 184 |
Jan 1880-31 Oct 1881 |
Folder 185 |
25 July 1882-21 Dec 1882 |
Folder 186 |
20 Mar 1883-19 Nov 1883 |
Folder 187 |
4 Jan 1884-24 Sept 1888 |
Folder 188 |
22 Mar 1889-27 Dec 1890 |
Folder 189 |
3 Jan 1891-21 Dec 1891 |
Folder 190 |
1 Jan 1892-30 Apr 1892 |
Folder 191 |
2 May 1892-30 Dec 1892 |
Folder 192 |
3 Jan 1893-1896 |
Folder 193 |
Undated |
Arrangement: chronological.
Various items concerning railroads other than correspondence, accounts/ledgers, and bills and receipts. Included are such items as coupons and passes, meat and meal tickets for employees, resolutions, by-laws, lists of stockholders and minutes of stockholders meetings, miscellaneous statistics, and an album containing newspaper clippings about railroads and other matters. Most items relate to the Raleigh and Gaston and the Raleigh and Augusta Railroads.
Folder 194 |
1 May 1853-20 Jan 1870 |
Folder 195 |
July 1872-Apr 1883 |
Folder 196 |
13 Nov 1883-June 1888 |
Folder 197 |
27 July 1888-6 Dec 1889 |
Folder 198 |
1890-21 Jan 1891 |
Folder 199 |
2 Oct 1891-8 Mar 1893 |
Folder 200 |
18 May 1893-20 Dec 1893 |
Folder 201 |
9 Feb 1894-28 Apr 1896 |
Folder 202 |
12 Nov 1896-Undated |
Folder 203 |
Undated |
Folder 204 |
Undated |
Folder 205 |
Undated |
Folder 206 |
Undated |
Folder 207 |
Undated |
Folder 208 |
Undated |
Folder 209 |
Undated |
Folder 210 |
Newspaper Clippings for Raleigh and Gaston RR 1863-1883 |
Two letterpress copybooks with letters concerning the Carolina Paper Company.
Folder 211 |
1 Oct 1895-4 Mar 1896, 50 pages (Volume 20) |
Folder 212 |
1 Oct 1895-28 Mar 1896, 30 pages (Volume 21) |
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly letters either concerning payments on loans Vass had made (confirmation of receipt, negotiating delayed payments, etc.) or requesting loans. Most letters are from individual debtors, and many of these are notable for phonetic spelling. Many other letters are from lawyers representing the interests of debtors. Scattered throughout are letters from insurance companies concerning dividends from policies and letters from renters of property that Vass apparently owned in Granville County and other locations.
A few letters in the early years concern the North Carolina Baptist Publications and Sunday School Society, of which Vass was corresponding secretary, and a number concern the livelihood of Baptist ministers. There are letters in the 1890s concerning Wake Forest College, attended during that decade by Vass's son, Will, and from Dwight L. Moody, requesting donations. There are also scattered letters from relatives and friends concerning family and personal matters, including letters from friends to Will Vass in the 1890s.
Folder 213 |
1844-1851 |
Folder 214 |
1852-1854 |
Folder 215 |
1856-1859 |
Folder 216 |
1860-1861 |
Folder 217 |
1862-1866 |
Folder 218 |
1867 |
Folder 219 |
1868 |
Folder 220 |
Jan-July 1869 |
Folder 221 |
Aug-Dec 1869 |
Folder 222 |
Jan-June 1870 |
Folder 223 |
July-Dec 1870 |
Folder 224 |
Jan-June 1871 |
Folder 225 |
July-Dec 1871 |
Folder 226 |
Jan-June 1872 |
Folder 227 |
July-Dec 1872 |
Folder 228 |
Jan-Apr 1873 |
Folder 229 |
May-July 1873 |
Folder 230 |
Aug-Dec 1873 |
Folder 231 |
Jan-May 1874 |
Folder 232 |
June-Dec 1874 |
Folder 233 |
Jan-June 1875 |
Folder 234 |
July-Dec 1875 |
Folder 235 |
Jan-Dec 1876 |
Folder 236 |
Jan-June 1877 |
Folder 237 |
July-Dec 1877 |
Folder 238 |
Jan-July 1878 |
Folder 239 |
Aug-Dec 1878 |
Folder 240 |
Jan-June 1879 |
Folder 241 |
July-Dec 1879 |
Folder 242 |
Jan-June 1880 |
Folder 243 |
July-Dec 1880 |
Folder 244 |
Jan-Dec 1881 |
Folder 245 |
Jan-May 1882 |
Folder 246 |
June-Sept 1882 |
Folder 247 |
Oct-Dec 1882 |
Folder 248 |
Jan-May 1883 |
Folder 249 |
June-Sept 1883 |
Folder 250 |
Oct-Dec 1883 |
Folder 251 |
Jan-May 1884 |
Folder 252 |
June-Dec 1884 |
Folder 253 |
Jan-June 1885 |
Folder 254 |
July-Dec 1885 |
Folder 255 |
Jan-Apr 1886 |
Folder 256 |
May-Dec 1886 |
Folder 257 |
Jan-May 1887 |
Folder 258 |
June-Aug 1887 |
Folder 259 |
Sept-Dec 1887 |
Folder 260 |
Jan-Apr 1888 |
Folder 261 |
May-Sept 1888 |
Folder 262 |
Oct-Dec 1888 |
Folder 263 |
Jan-Feb 1889 |
Folder 264 |
Mar-May 1889 |
Folder 265 |
June-July 1889 |
Folder 266 |
Aug-Sept 1889 |
Folder 267 |
Oct-18 Nov 1889 |
Folder 268 |
20 Nov-Dec 1889 |
Folder 269 |
Jan-Feb 1890 |
Folder 270 |
Mar-Apr 1890 |
Folder 271 |
May-June 1890 |
Folder 272 |
July-Aug 1890 |
Folder 273 |
Sept-Oct 1890 |
Folder 274 |
Nov 1890 |
Folder 275 |
Dec 1890 |
Folder 276 |
Jan-Feb 1891 |
Folder 277 |
Mar 1891 |
Folder 278 |
Apr-15 May 1891 |
Folder 279 |
18 May-June 1891 |
Folder 280 |
July-Aug 1891 |
Folder 281 |
Sept-14 Nov 1891 |
Folder 282 |
16 Nov-Dec 1891 |
Folder 283 |
Jan 1892 |
Folder 284 |
Feb-Mar 1892 |
Folder 285 |
Apr-May 1892 |
Folder 286 |
June-July 1892 |
Folder 287 |
Aug-Oct 1892 |
Folder 288 |
Nov 1892 |
Folder 289 |
Dec 1892 |
Folder 290 |
Jan 1893 |
Folder 291 |
Feb 1893 |
Folder 292 |
Mar 1893 |
Folder 293 |
Apr-May 1893 |
Folder 294 |
June 1893 |
Folder 295 |
July-Aug 1893 |
Folder 296 |
Sept-Oct 1893 |
Folder 297 |
Nov 1893 |
Folder 298 |
Dec 1893 |
Folder 299 |
Jan 1894 |
Folder 300 |
Feb 1894 |
Folder 301 |
Mar 1894 |
Folder 302 |
May-June 1894 |
Folder 303 |
July-Sept 1894 |
Folder 304 |
Oct-Dec 1894 |
Folder 305 |
Jan-Feb 1895 |
Folder 306 |
Mar-Apr 1895 |
Folder 307 |
May-June 1895 |
Folder 308 |
July-Sept 1895 |
Folder 309 |
Oct-15 Nov 1895 |
Folder 310 |
16 Nov-Dec 1895 |
Folder 311 |
Jan-Feb 1896 |
Folder 312 |
Mar-May 1896 |
Folder 313 |
June-Aug 1896 |
Folder 314 |
Sept-Oct 1896 |
Folder 315 |
Nov-Dec 1896 |
Folder 316 |
July 1899 |
Folder 317-321
Folder 317Folder 318Folder 319Folder 320Folder 321 |
Undated |
Arrangement: chronological.
Largely copies of letters from Vass to individuals who owed him money concerning payments and related matters. Some letters concern rental property Vass owned. Included is an inventory of Vass's rental property and copies of letters he wrote resigning from jobs.
Folder 322 |
Loose Letters: 15 Apr 1886-22 Dec 1890 |
Folder 323 |
Loose Letters: 11 Feb 1891-Oct 1892 |
Folder 324 |
Loose Letters: 10 Nov 1892-Dec 1893 |
Folder 325 |
Loose Letters: 31 Mar 1894-undated |
Folder 326 |
Letterpress Copybooks: Sept 1873-July 1878, 20 pages (Volume 22) |
Folder 327 |
Letterpress Copybooks: 7 Apr 1893-22 Oct 1894, 100 pages (Volume 23) |
Arrangement: chronological.
Receipts for loan and rent payments, and a ledger with records of these accounts; bills from cabinet makers, hardware stores, clothing stores, etc.; poll tax bills; and other bills and receipts.
Folder 328 |
20 June 1836-31 Oct 1849 |
Folder 329 |
14 Jan 1850-10 Dec 1853 |
Folder 330 |
4 Sept 1854-6 Dec 1855 |
Folder 331 |
30 Jan 1856-28 Dec 1859 |
Folder 332 |
1 Jan 1860-27 Nov 1860 |
Folder 333 |
1 Jan 1861-21 Dec 1861 |
Folder 334 |
1 Jan 1862-30 Apr 1862 |
Folder 335 |
3 May 1862-30 Sept 1862 |
Folder 336 |
1 Oct 1862-31 Dec 1862 |
Folder 337 |
1 Jan 1863-28 Apr 1863 |
Folder 338 |
1 May 1863-3 Dec 1863 |
Folder 339 |
23 Feb 1865-3 Sept 1869 |
Folder 340 |
20 Jan 1870-9 Dec 1873 |
Folder 341 |
15 Jan 1874-30 Nov 1876 |
Folder 342 |
1 Feb 1877-15 Nov 1879 |
Folder 343 |
6 Mar 1880-21 Nov 1891 |
Folder 344 |
4 July 1892-21 Jan 1930 |
Folder 345A |
Undated |
Oversize Volume SV-739/24 |
Undated ledger of loan accounts |
Folder 345B |
See SV-739/24 |
Arrangement: chronological.
Estate inventories; assorted legal documents, some with no clear connection to Vass; handwritten commentaries on books of the Bible; and miscellaneous other items.
Folder 346 |
30 Jan 1845-Nov 1868 |
Folder 347 |
3 Mar 1870-5 Sept 1873 |
Folder 348 |
Sept 1883-1887 |
Folder 349 |
15 Feb 1889-20 Dec 1893 |
Folder 350 |
Undated |
Folder 351 |
Undated |
Arrangement: chronological.
Personal letters addressed to others and not written by W. W. Vass, some concerning the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad, and some other papers. Included are detailed records, 1898, of the treatment of Vass's son, Will, for typhoid.
Folder 352 |
Dec 1866-Dec 1872 |
Folder 353 |
Jan 1873-July 1873 |
Folder 354 |
Aug 1873-Sept 1875 |
Folder 355 |
Feb-Aug 1879 |
Folder 356 |
Aug 1883-30 December 1889 |
Folder 357 |
11 Feb 1890-27 June 1891 |
Folder 358 |
3 July 1891-1 Mar 1893 |
Folder 359 |
6 May 1893- Undated |
Folder 360 |
3 Sept-9 Dec 1898 |