Key to the Past
From the Archivist
For several months now, the Stewart Bell Jr Archives, along with several other local history and heritage groups, has been part of the WinchesterFrederick County Virginia 250th Committee. The committee is part of a larger effort to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with events and programs designed to educate and engage the public.
Our 250th programming continues this summer with a talk by author Andrew Lawler, author of A Perfect Frenzy: A Royal Governor, His Black Allies, and the Crisis That Spurred the American Revolution We’re excited to host Andrew, whose book is nominated for the Library of Virginia’s People’s Choice Award A book sale and signing will follow the event which begins on Saturday, July 11th at 2pm in the Handley Library’s Auditorium.
STEWART BELL JR. ARCHIVES
Summer 2026
Behind the scenes, our collections have been used to support a variety of programs Letters from our Daniel Morgan collection are part of an exhibit at the Hollingsworth Mill Museum. You can also learn about Winchester’s Revolutionary history through a trolley or walking tour organized by the Visitors’ Center. More information about these and other programs is available here.
Lorna Loring Archives Manager
Photograph of a group of unidentified women, potentially students, in the woods. Date uncertain. Julia Abbott Culler Photograph Album, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Library
Events and Programs
Daughters of the American Revolution: Application Assistance
Thursday, July 9
10:00am - 1:00pm
Benham Gallery, Handley Library
Family History Hunters
Thursday, July 9
10:30am - 12:30pm Bowman Library
A Perfect Frenzy: Author Talk with Andrew Lawler
Saturday, July 11
2:00pm - 4:30pm
Robinson Auditorium, Handley Library
Books sales and signing following talk
Zine Workshop
Saturday, August 1
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Benham Gallery, Handley Library
Topic: Favorites
Daughters of the American Revolution: Application Assistance
Thursday, August 13
10:00am - 1:00pm
Benham Gallery, Handley Library
For the most up to date event information, visit www.handleyregional.org/events
Collection Highlights: Julia Abbott Culler Photograph Album
The Julia Abbott Culler Photograph Album contains photographs of family members, holidays, vacations, buildings, and the activities of young women, likely students. Some photographs in the collection are identified, while others remain unidentified. This collection also contains a 1921 Thanksgiving Day program for Wilson College and a recipe.
Julia Louise Abbott Culler (1868-1947), the presumed owner of the photograph album, was born in Strasburg, Virginia She received her Bachelor of Arts from Roanoke College and her Master of Arts from Columbia University
Contact
Tel:(540)662-9041,ext 17
Email:archives@handleyregionalorg
Website:wwwhandleyregionalorg/archives
Julia went on to teach at many schools: Elizabeth College in Charlotte, North Carolina; Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; Virginia College in Roanoke, Virginia; and likely more schools throughout the United States
Julia appears to have primarily taught English, but she also taught history and philosophy In addition, she wrote numerous historical articles that were published in various newspapers in the 1930s.
Julia and her family seemingly traveled often. Many locations are represented in the photograph album: Port Huron, Michigan; Colorado; Isle of Pines, Cuba; Atlantic City, New Jersey; New York; Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; and Jacksonville, Florida
We hope to identify more photographs in the collection and acquire more information about the life and work of Julia Abbott Culler.
Above: Unidentified group of young women, likely students, pretending to sail on a bench Date uncertain Below: Wilson College Thanksgiving Day Program, 1921
HandleyRegionalLibrary&Winchester-FrederickCountyHistoricalSociety
QuarterlyReportofNewlyAvailableArchival&ManuscriptAccessions
ApriltoJune2026
BenjaminF.HawkinsPapers,16THL.0.21linearfeet.
CivilWarrecollectionsofBenjaminF.Hawkins,photographs,genealogychart,anddedication ceremonyprogram.GiftofMalindaWeisner
(AccessionNumber:2025.068THL)
BunkerHillPresbyterianChurch,40THL.1.79linearfeet.
Twelverecordbookscoveringchurchregistryandmeetingminutesfrom1880-2025.GiftofBunker HillPresbyterianChurch.
(AccessionNumber:2026.021THL)
Women’sAuxiliary,VirginiaStateHorticulturalSociety,33WFCHS.1.88linearfeet.
RecordsoftheWomen’sAuxiliary,VirginiaStateHorticulturalSociety,includingmeetingminutes, correspondence,financialreports,andephemera.
(AccessionNumber:2026.002WFCHS)
IsaacH.FaulknerSr.FamilyPapers,290THL.1volume.
LedgerfromFaulkner’sshoebusinessdated1855.PurchasedwiththeDavidW.Powers-Stewart BellJr ArchivesAcquisitionFund.
(AccessionNumber:2026.025THL)
ShenandoahValleyAcademyRecords,121THLWFCHS.1volume.
TheSentry,yearbookfor1919.GiftofEmilyPotts.
(AccessionNumber:2026.027THL)
ShenandoahAreaCouncil,BoyScoutsofAmericaCollection,372THLWFCHS.1volume.
TheTrail,1914-1917.GiftofEmilyPotts.
(AccessionNumber:2026.027THL)
JuliaAbbottCullerPhotographAlbum,79THL.1volume. Photographs,1914-1925.WilsonCollegeprogramandrecipe. ReceivedfromHandleyLibraryCollections.
(AccessionNumber:2026.018THL)
DouglasAlumniAssociationCollection,555THL.4items. RealiafromMt.CarmelBaptistChurchandIBPOEbelongingtoKennethE.Williams. GiftofJudyHumbert.
(AccessionNumber:2023.052THL)
ChurchofJesusChristofLatter-DaySaints,Winchester,VirginiaStakeCollection,2047THL. 2items.Materialconcerninggroundbreakingfornewtemple.GiftofDianeRust.
(AccessionNumber:2026.029THL)
FamilyRecordsCollection,1307THL.0.21linearfeet. Funeralprograms.GiftofJudyHumbert.
(AccessionNumbers:2026.026THL;2023.051THL;2023.049THL)
