Theodor R. and Helen V. Swem Papers

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 reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Theodor R. and Helen V. Swem Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Summary

Extent:
1.00 Linear Feet
Creator:
Swem, Helen V., Swem Cottage Gallery (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Swem family, Swem, E. L., and Swem, Theodor R.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Theodor R. and Helen V. Swem Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary

Background

Scope and content:

This collection is composed of personal papers, genealogy material and family photographs, gathered by Theodor R. and Helen V. Swem. Included are original documents, notes on the Swem, Gregg and Wright families, correspondence among family members regarding genealogy, articles, books, publications and diaries by or about the families, photographs of family members, including one of Dr. Earl Gregg Swem, Sr., Earl Gregg Swem, Jr., and Earl Gregg Swem, III, and material on Earl Gregg Swem's connection to the College of William and Mary. The collection also contains photographs, circa 1870s-1988, taken of and by members of the Swem family. Some of the 19th century photographs were taken by E.L. (Edward Lawrence) Swem, the father of Earl Gregg Swem, who was the owner of Swem & Newton Gallery in Belle Plaine, Iowa and later of Swem Cottage Gallery (or also Swems Studio) in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Most photographs are described and often dated on the reverse side.

1886 original, 1986 facsimile

Leota Swem, sister of A. Raymond Swem and Earl G. Swem

Brother of E. L. Swem , Ted Swem, Sr.'s grandfather

Brother of E. L. Swem; one son, William Swem.

Cousin of Leota Swem

Brother of Earl Gregg Swem; died 1878; 2 years old.

Possibly Sarah Ann Mills Luse, mother of Emeline Luse Swem

Reddyn Luse, 1816-1903. Father of Emeline Luse Swem

Married to Eliz Luse, sister of Emelies Luse and Swem

Brother to Ray Swem

Born 1884; died 1890

Dora Doud Swem holding her son, Ted.

Standing in front of their home, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, prior to his death in 1918. World War I era.

Grandma Swem, seated in rockingchair. 222 14th Street, N.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Grandma Swem, wife of E. L. Swem, standing in front of her home, 222 14th Street, N.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Standing in front of her home, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Excerpt from news clipping: "Crandic's General Superintendent Ray Swem is shown coming out of the Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park, Kiva, Colorado during his recent vacation."

Aunt Leota's first car, an Oldsmobile, in which we drove to Chicago one time on which was a real trip.

Daughter of Asa Swem and niece of E. L. Swem

Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Cousin of A. Raymond Swem; also cousin of Earl Gregg Swem

At their home, 222 14th Street, N.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Shoshone Canyon, Wyoming

FEI 1970. Conservationist and worked for the National Park Service.

Parents of Earl, Leota, and A. Raymond Swem. Grandparents of E. R. and T. R. Swem. Photo taken in their home, probably on 14th Street, N.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Edward Lawrence Swem

In family home, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Son of A. Raymond Swem and Dora Doud Swem and nephew of Earl Gregg Swem.

About age 60. Grandfather of T. R. Swem, Sr. on paternal side. Father of Earl Gregg Swem.

Perhaps friends, classmates, or sorority sisters of Leota Swem of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The woman in the front appears to be older, a teacher, advisor, or sponsor perhaps.

Sister of Earl Gregg Swem

Earl Swem, his wife Lilia Swem, and an unknown friend in the living room of the Swem's home, 119 Chandler Court, Williamsburg, Virginia. Earl was the son of E. L. Swem.

Uncle Earl and Aunt Leota taught school here. A. R. Swem, Edward, and Ted went to school here.

Wife of E. L. Swem and mother of Earl, Leota, and A. Raymond Swem. Grandmother of Theodore R. Swem, Sr. This picture probably appeared in Cedar Rapids Gazette newspaper.

Fred McDonald, left, and E. L. Swem, right. Fred McDonald married Lily Gregg, daughter of Asa Gregg of West Liberty, Iowa. Robert McDonald, their son, was a musician. E.L. Swem and Lily Gregg McDonald were cousins. The name Swem is marked out above the monogram ELS (Edward Lawrence Swem) who owned the photography studio.

Son of Amanda Swem Stuart. James Stuart was born in 1865, became a doctor, and was a first cousin of Earl Gregg Swem.

Francis Leigh Swem, 1884-1890. Brother of Earl Gregg Swem.

Four generations: Reuben Luse, his son Reddyn Luse, Reddyn's daughter Emeline Luse Swem, and her daughter, Leota Swem. Reuben Luse was the son of Mathias Luse; born circa 1790. He married Mary Lacock of the Virginia Family.

Leota Swem (left), Earl Gregg Swem (center), and Amanda Hunter Niles (right). Earl and Leota were the children of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Swem, grandparents of Theodor R. Swem, Sr. Amanda Hunter Niles was possibly cousin to Earl and Leota.

Brother of E. L. Swem.

Cousins

Reddyn Luse, son of Reuben Luse. Reddyn, father of Emeline Luse Swem, who was mother of A R. Swem, Leota Swem, and Earl Gregg Swem. Reuben Luse was the son of Mathias Luse.

Brother of Earl Gregg Swem

Wife of E. L. Swem, and mother of Earl, Leota, and A. Raymond Swem

Scope and Contents Asa Gregg, 1806-1896, and his wife, Catherine Drake Gregg, 1812-1891. He was uncle to E. L. Swem. Asa Gregg settled in Iowa in 1837 near West Liberty. He married Catherine Drake, both from Quaker families. He was the author of "History of Wapsinonoc Township".

E. L. Swem, 1838-1918. Volunteer firefighter uniform, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Sons of Edward L. and Emeline Luse Swem.

Children of Edward L. and Emeline Swem.

Phebe Holloway Gregg Swem, seated; her daughter Martha Swem Hunter Moore. Woman seated with baby is probably a granddaughter with a great-grandchild. Possibly showing four generations.

Martha Swem Hunter, later Martha Swem Moore from around West Liberty, Iowa. Sister of E. L. Swem.

Leigh Francis Swem, age seven years and Herbert MacDonald, age six years; cousins. Both died of diptheria in March 1890.

Son of Edward L. and Emeline Swem; brother of Earl, Leota, and A. Raymond Swem. Leigh died of Diptheria as a young boy in 1890.

Father of E. R. Swem and T. R. Swem

Born 1875. Daughter of Uncle Eli Swem, brother of E. L. Swem.

Uncle Asa Swem, father of Merton E. and Marguarita (Margaret?) Swem. Brother of E. L. Swem. Possibly a resident of Denver, Colorado.

Brother of E. L. Swem.Eli Swem gave up banking to enter the Methodist Ministry. He ended up in a hardware business in Belle Plaine, Iowa.

Mrs. Emeline Luse Swem, 1843-1943. Wife of E.L. Swem and mother of Earl, Leota, and A. Raymond Swem; grandmother of Ted Swem. This photography appeared in the Cedar Rapids Gazette newspaper.

Maude, age 15, (right), Phoebe, age 19, (center), and Blanche, age 13, (left). Daughters of Amanda Swem Stuart, sister of E. L. Swem.

E. L. Swem with his wife Emeline Luse Swem, their daughter, Leota Swem, and daughter-in-law, Dora Doud Swem.

Emeline Luse Swem, (left) and E. L. Swem, (center) with unknown person, perhaps Elizabeth Luse, sister of Emeline Luse Swem.

Ted Swem, nephew of Earl Gregg Swem, with his grandmother, Emeline Luse Swem, mother of Earl Gregg Swem.

Amanda Swem Stuart and her son, North Stuart. Amanda Stuart was a sister of E. L. Swm, father of Earl Gregg Swem. Formerly of Iowa, she lived in Montana.

Top row: Lily Gregg McDonald and Miss Hetherington, sister to Ed Hetherington. Middle Row: Leota Swem, A. Raymond Swem, and Emeline Luse Swem. Bottom row: Miss Sylvia Gregg, who married Harry McDonald, brother of Fred.

Phoebe Gregg Swem, 1819-1887. Wife of E. R. Swem, mother of E. L. Swem, grandmother of Earl Gregg, A. Raymond, and Leota Swem.

Ezra B. Swem, born 1815, died 1870. Tombstone reads 1871. Father of E. L. Swem and grandfather of Earl Gregg Swem.

Ezra B Swem, born 1815, died 1870. Tombstone reads 1871. Father of E. L. Swem and grandfather of Earl Gregg Swem.

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Left: gravestone of Ezra B. Swem and wife, Phebe H. Gregg Swem. Right: gravestone of E. B. Swem, probably original for Ezra. Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty, Iowa

Gravestone of E. B. Swem, probably originally for Ezra Swem. Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty, Iowa

Front: gravestone of Phebe H. and Ezra B. Swem. Behind: gravestone of E. B. Swem (probably original of Ezra B. Swem.) Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty, Iowa

Grave of Ezra B. Swem. Wife, Phebe H. Swem's name is inscribed on the opposite side. Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty, Iowa.

Grave of Ezra B. Swem. Wife, Phebe H. Swem's name is inscribed on the opposite side. Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty, Iowa.

Biographical / historical:

Helen V. Swem is the wife of Theodor Swem and the niece-in-law of Earl Gregg Swem.

Acquisition information:
Acc. 2008.165 is a gift, received December 2008. Acc. 2009.392 is a gift, received 09/15/2009.
Processing information:

Arranged and described by Daniel Vivas in March 2009; finding aid revised by Amy White in September 2009, folder titles updated and finding aid revised by Kim Sims, September 2014.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into the following series: Correspondence, Genealogical Documents and Notes, Published Materials about the Family, Earl Gregg Swem Materials, Materials Related to the College of William and Mary, and Photographs.