Alan M. Bruns Papers

Dates: 1937-2001

Collection Number: MS 516

Physical Location: Archive Room File Cabinet

Extent: 10 folders.

Creators/Collectors: Bruns, Alan M. (1927-2009)

Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.

User Restrictions: No restrictions.

Preferred Citation: Alan M. Bruns Papers, MS 516, Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information: Gift of Alan M. Bruns, 2009.

Biographical/Historical Information: Alan M. Bruns (1927-2009) was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Mary Bryan Bruns and John D. Bruns. Alan grew up at his grandparents' summer home, Dungannon, in Buckingham County, Virginia, on the James River near Howardsville. While in high school he worked as a C&O railroad telegrapher during World War II. He graduated from Scottsville High School and attended the University of Virginia. He began his newspaper career with the Charlottesville Daily Progress, followed by the Richmond Times Dispatch and the Washington Star. His last job was with the Congressional Record Index Office. He lived near Fredericksburg, Virginia after retirement. He devoted the last years of his life compiling local and family histories.

Scope and Content: This is a collection of Bruns' compilations of various local topics and his memories around the Howardsville region. The folders contain photographs of people and buildings that were in the area.

Arrangement:

Folder 1: A Child’s-Eye View of Howardsville
includes original photographs

Folder 2: Hurricane Camille (1969) and Howardsville
includes original photographs

Folder 3: Homes along the James River
Documents the Glenmore area in Buckingham County and includes sales brochures for Weyanoke and Dungannon.

Folder 4: Nelson & Albemarle Soapstone Railway
includes original photographs of the last passenger run of the train.

Folder 5: A Rail Tale for Howardsville
includes various articles and anecdotes of rail travel.

Folder 6: Dewey Goolsby’s list of grocery shoppers

Folder 7: Howardsville School
includes photographs of the school and students, including student body of 1937.

Folder 8: Mt. Alto – Giannini & Fenwick Families

Folder 9: Buckingham County, Virginia

Folder 10: Ephemera
1. Birthday wishes from Cy Odell.
2. Tulane vs. Virginia football ticket stub, 19 November 1949.
3. Exchange Club Air Show ticket stub, 29 May 1949.
4. Temporary Driver’s Permit, Alan Martin Bruns, 8 May 1959.
5. Central Electric Co., Inc. stub.
6. Ruritan National membership card, Alan Bruns.
7. Sons of the Revolution in the State of Louisiana, 1955 Membership Card, Alan Martin Bruns.
8. Identification card, American Health Insurance Corporation, Alan M. Bruns, 11 July 1952.
9. City Bus Schedule [Charlottesville], 3 July 1960.
10. Ruritan Square Dance ticket stub, 23 February [no year].
11. Instruction Permit Motor Vehicle Operator, Alan Martin Bruns, 15 August 1957.
12. University of Virginia Extension Division receipt, 3 November 1952.
13. Square Dance, McIntire Gym, ticket stub, 20 March 1953.
14. Charlottesville-Albemarle Public Library card, Alan M. Bruns, 1961.
15. United States Air Force Air Defense Command, Alan Martin Bruns.

Family Names:

• Bruns family.
• Fenwick family.
• Giannini family.

Subjects:

• Howardsville (Va.)--Photographs
• Albemarle County (Va.)--History
• Nelson & Albemarle Railway Company

Geographical Names:

• Howardsville (Va.)
• Buckingham County (Va.)

Record Types:

• Photographs.
• Scrapbooks.
• Memoirs.