University of Virginia Library

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About this Facsimile of

The Daily Progress Historical and Industrial Magazine, 1906

This facsimile was produced in 1992 by the Albemarle
County Historical Society, with the addition of a new appendix
containing updated information on the
photographs. Though most of the information in the
original publication is accurate, as with nearly all works
of local history, a number of mistakes can be found. Readers
should keep this in mind when using this source for
research purposes, and verify information using additional
sources whenever possible. The Society welcomes any additional
information.

About the
Editor of this Special Edition

As proclaimed on its opening page, this Daily Progress
Historical and Industrial Magazine was compiled and edited
by Albert Edward Walker. Prior to arriving in Charlottesville
in 1906, Walker had worked as a reporter and special
writer for several New York papers, including the World,
the Daily News and the Times. He eventually turned his
talents to producing promotional special editions in collaboration
with newspapers around the mid-Atlantic
region. He traveled from city to city, combining profiles
of community leaders and businesses with local history and
legend to create illustrated editions which are fascinating
records for local historians today.

Walker was born January 10, 1868 to British parents,
his father hailing from Scotland and his mother from
England. According to his obituary, at the time of his birth
his parents lived in Brooklyn, New York, where his father
operated a line of merchant ships trading with the West
Indies. He was one of seven children. Relatives remember
Walker as an Englishman, however, and he maintained ties
with his family across the Atlantic, making several trips to
England.

While in Charlottesville working on this project,
Walker met and married Bessie Carroll Valentine, daughter
of prominent local businessman Robert Poore Valentine.
Bessie accompanied her husband on his extended visits to
other communities where they lived in hotels as he pursued
his unusual career. Their only child, Virginia Valentine
Walker, was born in 1909. The Walkers must have considered
Charlottesville their permanent home, however, for
A. E. Walker invested in real estate locally and was a
member of the Presbyterian Church and the Redland Club.
And it was in Charlottesville, on October 8, 1918, at the
home of his father-in-law on High Street, that Walker died
a premature death due to Bright's disease. Mrs. Walker went
on to make her own place in our local history, serving for
many years as the official hostess at the University of
Virginia.

About the
Albemarle County Historical Society

Proceeds from the sale of this publication benefit projects
of the Albemarle County Historical Society, a nonprofit
membership organization dedicated to preserving
the history of Charlottesville and Albemarle County,
Virginia. Membership is open to anyone interested in these
purposes. For more information about membership, the
Society's activities and other publications, please write to
ACHS, 220 Court Square, Charlottesville, VA 22902 or call
(804) 296-1492.

Acknowledgements

The Albemarle County Historical Society would like
to thank Eugenia Bibb, Sandra DeKay, Elizabeth Howard
and Steven Meeks for their assistance in locating the information
contained in the appendix to this reprint. While
many sources were used in preparing the appendix, landmark
surveys of historic structures conducted under the
auspices of the Charlottesville Department of Community
Development were especially helpful.

Papercraft Printing & Design Company, Inc.

Charlottesville, Virginia

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