John S. Spencer Letter, 1857

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

John S. Spencer Letter, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries

Summary

Extent:
0.01 Linear Foot
Creator:
Spencer, Jonathan S. and College of William and Mary--Alumni and alumnae
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

John S. Spencer Letter, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains a letter, dated November 24, 1857, written by Spencer to someone whose name may be "Buck." In it, Spencer states that there are 80 students at the College and expects there to be more by February 22, 1858. He mentions he is rooming with William Davis, a "very quiet and studious boy," and that Thomas Mason "sends his respects to you and we visit the colored Girls together." He also mentions an incident in which Tom was "in the garden the other night after one" [colored girl] and was chased by a dog. Spencer also states that it is "very often the case that young men get shot at here in the night," that he's only been hunting once in the College yard and killed four chickens. He goes on to discuss a future hunting trip, possible going home for Christmas, and going to Petersburg where "we will fly around extensively with Petersburg fancy Ladies. We have not any in Williamsburg but the colored ones which is better than none as you may know." He ends the letter talking about his cousin Mary.

Biographical / historical:

Jonathan S. Spencer graduated from William & Mary in 1858.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard