Reynolds Business History Center - Collections

Collections

Collecting Business Records

The Virginia Historical Society traditionally has pursued an active program for the acquisition of the records of Virginia's business and commercial enterprises as they have become available. Some of those record groups are components of larger collections of personal or family papers; some are donated by companies or their agents and represent the selected remnants of historic and operational records of those firms. Learn more

Major Business Record Collections at the RBHC

This list of collections is provided to aid researchers in their quest for business records. Included are finding aids to select collections.
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Virginians at Work

This long-term exhibition tells the story of how Virginians have made a living and why jobs have changed over time. Focusing on people rather than on abstract principles, the exhibition follows four broad categories: "A Colonial Economy (1600–1780)"; "A Commercial Economy (1780–1865)"; "An Industrial Economy (1865–1945)"; and "A Service Economy (1945–2006)." These titles refer to the most dynamic elements of the economy for each period. Learn more

Coming Soon: "Unwrapping History: Reynolds Metals Co. Memory Project"

Founded in 1919, Reynolds Metals Company was one of the first American companies to see the promise of a material hailed in the early twentieth century as a wonder: aluminum. The VHS will soon unveil a new interactive digital history project that collects stories from our visitors. We welcome contributions from anyone with reflections on Reynolds aluminum products, its recycling program, or experiences while working for the company.

Child Labor in Virginia: Photographs by Lewis Hine

When Lewis Hine began to make photographs for the National Child Labor Committee, the employment of small children in mines, factories, and fields was common. Although some states had passed child labor laws, generally they were weak, and enforcement was haphazard. In 1911 some two million children under sixteen years of age were a regular part of the American workforce. Many of them worked twelve hours a day or more. View exhibition

The Story of Virginia, an American Experience

This long-term exhibition covers 16,000 years of Virginia history, from prehistoric times to the present. Business and economic history topics are well covered in The Story of Virginia. It features a Conestoga wagon, a Virginia-made automobile, and the largest collection of Virginia artifacts on display anywhere. View online exhibition