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Isaac Long Terrell and Ann Terrell Baker Research on Historic Rockingham County Houses is now open for research

Posted June 6, 2022 in Giving to JMU Libraries News, JMU Libraries News, Special Collections News

James Madison University Special Collections is pleased to announce that the Isaac Long Terrell and Ann Terrell Baker Research on Historic Rockingham County Houses is now fully processed and available for research.

A larger version of this image showing photos and files used while researching historic Rocking County houses
Photographs and research files included in the collection formed the basis for Terrell and Baker’s respective books on historic Rockingham County houses.

The collection was donated by Ann Terrell Baker, daughter of Isaac Long Terrell (1918-1993), and includes the research files and photographs that served as the foundation for Terrell’s authoritative book on local architecture, Old Houses in Rockingham County: 1750-1850 (1970) as well as Baker’s follow-up book Old Houses in Rockingham County Revisited: 1750-1850 (2000).

A larger version of this image showing images from the Lincoln Homestead research
Lincoln Homestead research file.

Terrell’s research into historic Rockingham County houses began with his Madison College master’s thesis titled “A Century of Creative Domestic Architectural Expression in Rockingham County from 1750 to 1850” (1968). Baker continued her father’s research after his death in 1993.

Through detailed photographs and comprehensive research files, the collection documents the architectural elements and history of nearly 70 historic Rockingham County houses. Properties documented in the collection include the Lincoln Homestead, Smithland, the Joseph Funk House, the Barbee House, and many more.

A larger version of this image showing images and files from Peale House/Crossroads Farm research
Peale House/Crossroads Farm research file.

Review the collection’s finding aid for a more complete description of the collection and its contents.

Information about visiting Special Collections and making appointments for in-person research is available on our Plan A Visit page.

Contact us at library-special@jmu.edu or (540) 568-3612 with any questions about this collection or about visiting Special Collections.