Mathews County has a treasure trove of historical documents, photos and artifacts, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the late J. Martin Diggs.

A teacher, principal, civic leader, lay minister, historian and executive, Diggs had a lifelong passion for history. That passion led him not only to gather and retain a wide variety of items for his personal collection, but also to help found the Mathews County Historical Society, which holds many of his treasures today.

"If it was old, he was interested in it," said his daughter, Carole Anne Hindman of Mathews, recently. "A lot of people gave him their things."

Recently, Hindman decided to donate many of her father’s remaining papers, photos and other items that she had kept since his death in 2000 to the MCHS. Reed Lawson, archivist for the organization, is thrilled with the decision.

Among the documents, many of which were Diggs’s personal papers, Lawson found a folder containing letters writ...