Information about the Collection
Longwood House is a historic home in Farmville, Virginia. It was originally owned by Scottish immigrant Peter Johnston who purchased it in 1765. The property was sold to Abraham B. Venable in 1811; following his death shortly thereafter in the Richmond Theatre fire, it was inherited by a relative, Samuel. The current house was built about 1815, and enlarged and remodeled about 1839. The site was the birthplace of two well-known Confederate officers: Johnston's grandson Joseph E. Johnston in 1807, and Samuel Venable's grandson, Charles S. Venable, in 1827.
Longwood House was purchased by what was then the State Teachers College at Farmville in 1929. Twenty years later, the school renamed itself Longwood College after the house. It has been used as the home of the university president since 1969.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Provenance
These material have been collected on an ongoing basis by staff at the Greenwood Library and other offices and departments at the university.
Scope and Content
The materials in this collection pertain to the history and contents of the Longwood House as well as information related to the upkeep of the house by Longwood University. Additionally, there is information related to events that took place at the Longwood House after it was acquired by the university.
Size
This collection consists of 1 linear foot contained in (2) letter-sized Hollinger boxes.
Notes
There are no restrictions to access or use for research purposes.
Contents of the Collection
Guest book, Christmas Open House, December 13, 1987
Curtain Tassels
Appliance Warranties
Thomas Sully (painter), booklets
Longwood House inventory, (2) volumes with pictures and descriptions
Folder 1 – “Today and Yesterday in the Heart of Virginia,” articles
Folder 2 – articles and published information
Folder 3 – booklets
Folder 4 – Appraisal Reports
Folder 5 – Easter Egg Hunt
Folder 6 – Christmas Cards used by President
Folder 7 – Open house at Christmas
Folder 8 – Letters and Memos
Folder 9 – Energy Audit, 1984
Folder 10 – Facilities Audit, 1964
Folder 11 – Evelyn Coleman’s handwritten list of gifts to Longwood Presidents, 1914-1973
Folder 12 – Inventory of Longwood House furniture, 1996 (sent to Mike Malloy, 3/14/1996) Inventory notes by Nancy Shelton
Folder 13 – Furnishings and related documents
Folder 14 – Preparations for new Presidents
Folder 15 – General Inventory
Folder 16 – Inventory of Furniture (undated)
Folder 17 – Inventories; miscellaneous
Folder 18 – Purchases, Receipts, etc.
Folder 19 – Photographs, Longwood House Furniture, September 1981
Color, 3.5”x5”, (10 photographs)
B&W, 5”x7”, (1 photograph), Sully sideboard, silver candlesticks, silver service
Color Post Card, 3.5”x5”, Longwood House
Folder 20 – Photographs, Longwood House Furniture and Paintings
Color, 3.5”x5”, (28 photographs)
Folder 21 – Photo negatives, color, (48 photographs)
Folder 22 – Photographs, furniture movers
B&W, 5”x7”, (9 photographs)
Photograph, reproduction, Charles S. Venable
B&W, 4”x5”, original in University of Va. Archives
Folder 23 – Copies of photographs of Longwood House
Photocopies of information about Longwood House
