(SNP020) Edna Burrill interviewed by Darwin Lambert, transcribed by Chelsea Gutshall

Authors

Edna Burrill

Files

Interviewee

Burrill, Edna E.

Identifier

SNP020

Format

1 audio file (running time: 0:30:06)

Interview Number

SNP-20

Location of Interview

Mrs. Burrill's home in Luray, Page County, Virginia

Date of Interview

6-16-1986

Description

Records an interview with Edna Elizabeth Burrill, (née Browning), regarding her uncle, James Burrill, who sold a large parcel of land to the state of Virginia in the 1930s to be used for Shenandoah National Park. Mrs. Burrill is joined by her two daughters, Mary Ellen Jennings and Gladys Peaches Burrill, both of Luray, Va. James Burrill was born in Leeds, England, around 1850 and emigrated to the United States as a young man. Burrill soon established himself in America and sent for his wife Ellen, also of Leeds, to join him. Over the next thirty years, James Burrill would achieve great success in a number of business opportunities which enabled him to act as benefactor for numerous civic and commercial ventures in Page County. Mrs. Burrill recalls her uncle's sale of land, estimated at 4,200 acres, to the state at prices ranging from $2.50 to $10.00 dollars per acre. Also mentioned is James Burrill's contribution to the establishment of the Deford Tannery, (later known as Virginia Oak Tannery), and the founding of Christ Episcopal Church of Luray.

Rights

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Personal Names

Burrill, Edna E., (Edna Elizabeth), 1896-1988, Interviews; Burrill, Gladys C., (Gladys Catherine), 1926-2005, Interviews; Burrill, Mary Ellen, Interviews; Burrill, James, 1850?-1928; Burrill, Ellen

Family Names

Burrill family

Subjects

Christ Episcopal Church of Luray (Va.); Deford Tannery (Luray, Va.); Immigrants -- Virginia – History; Land use -- Government policy -- Virginia

Place Names

Page County (Va.) – History; Shenandoah National Park (Va.) -- History, Local

Interviewer

Lambert, Darwin, 1916-2007

Transcriber

Gutschall, Chelsea

Collection Title

Shenandoah National Park oral history collection

Collection Number

SdArch SNP

Recommended Citation

Edna E. Burrill interviewed by Darwin Lambert, June 16, 1986, SdArch SNP-20, Shenandoah National Park Oral History Collection, 1964-1999, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University

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