Earl Gregg Swem Library records, 1920/2024

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:

Acc. 1985.084 is restricted. Portions of Acc. 2008.147 are restricted. Material protected by privacy laws is also restricted. Consult a staff member for assistance. All other portions of the collection are available to 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:

Portions of this collection may be restricted for privacy reasons. Consult a staff member for assistance. 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.

Preferred citation:

Earl Gregg Swem Library records, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
255.00 Linear Feet
Creator:
Swem Library, Cook, Margaret C., Currie, Clifford W., and Haskell, John D.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Earl Gregg Swem Library records, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection includes both processed series and unprocessed accessions of records created by the Earl Gregg Swem Library at the College of William and Mary including those from component offices and individual staff members. A majority of the collection contains correspondence from the dean of the libraries and library administration. Inventories for some series and accessions are available in the Special Collections Research Center and links to PDFs of those inventories can be provided when available.

Biographical / historical:

Earl Gregg Swem Library is located on Landrum Drive (formerly Old Campus Drive), across new campus from Andrews Hall. The library is named for Earl Gregg Swem, College Librarian from 1920-1944.

Detailed discussions of plans for the library were held in 1963 and the groundbreaking ceremonies were held later that year on October 11, 1963 at Phi Beta Kappa Hall. The actual groundbreaking occurred a few weeks after the ceremonies. The cornerstone of the library was laid on October 22, 1964 and the building was scheduled for completion around December 1965. The building officially opened on January 4, 1966 although it was not fully complete. The official dedication ceremony for the library was held on Charter Day, February 12, 1966. The Tucker-Coleman Room of the library was dedicated on November 11, 1966.

At the time of its completion, the ground floor of Swem Library contained the Botetourt Gallery, an auditorium, the Institute of Early American History and Culture offices, a rare book room, an honors room, a museum, an audio/visual department, a film preview room, and a faculty lounge. The first floor contained a reserve room, an after-hours reading room, a reference department, and typing and meeting rooms. The second floor contained administration rooms, conference rooms, and stacks.

There was a fire in the Botetourt Theater in 1972 that destroyed a projection booth. A Micro Computer Lab opened in the library on February 13, 1984.

Construction officially began on an addition to the front of the library on March 3, 1986 to provide extra stack space, reading areas, administrative offices, and a 24-hour study room and snack area. The addition was dedicated on February 5, 1988. A seven-year renovation was officially completed on February 5, 2005, with rededication ceremonies occuring during Charter Day weekend.

Acquisition information:
Acc. 1980.010 Public Services Assembly Records, acquired 02/04/1980; Acc. 1980.133 Library Records on Planning, Construction, and Dedication of Swem Library, acquired 12/08/1980; Acc. 1981.015 Librarian's General Correspondence, acquired 02/12/1981; Acc. 1982.035 Swem Library Self-Study, acquired 06/10/1982; Acc. 1983.071 Library Administration Records, acquired 11/01/1983; Acc. 1987.039 Library Faculty Association Records, acquired 04/23/1987; Acc. 1988.006 Swem Library Re-dedication Records, acquired 02/08/1988; Acc. 1989.126 Library Stacks Reorganization Records, acquired 09/05/1989; Acc. 1998.055 transferred during 1995; Acc. 2007.006 Audiovisuals, acquired 2007; Acc. 2007.008, construction records, transferred 5/25/07 from Kay Domine; Acc. 2007.042, 2004 scrapbook transferred 6/13/2007 from Cynthia Sadler; Acc. 2007.92 transferred 12/21/2007 from Carol McAllister; Acc. 2008.14 transferred 2/5/2008 from Kay Domine; Acc. 2008.147 accessioned from the backlog on 12/11/2008; Acc. 2008.216 accessioned from the backlog on 5/26/2010; Acc. 2009.081 was received on 11/8/1988; Acc. 2009.082-.083, Acc. 2009.085-.087 were received prior to 2007; Acc. 2009.110 was received on 10/16/1987; Acc. 2009.220 was received on 6/1/2009 via Connie McCarthy. Information about acquisitions received after 7/13/2009 is available by consulting a Special Collections Research Center staff member.
Custodial history:

Acc. 1999.20 Library Personnel Files destroyed 9/2007; two cubic feet of non-permanent correspondence was destroyed on 3/12/2008; T1990.11 was destroyed on 2/12/2008; Acc. 1990.3, Acc. 1989.130, and Acc. 1992.25 Library Personnel files are scheduled for destruction on 4/8/2009; Acc. 1988.114, 1988.88, and Acc. 1980.132 are scheduled for destruction on 4/8/2009. Acc. 1984.014 was deaccessioned on 7/11/2012 and is set for destruction on 8/8/2012 according to GS 111 101080.

Processing information:

Acc. 2008.147 was accessioned from the backlog on 12/11/2008 by Amy C. Schindler, University Archivist. All 2009 accessions were described by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specliast,. Acc. 2010.519 was accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specliast, in 9/2010. Acc. 2010.695 was accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 11/11/2010. Acc. 2010.708 was accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 11/17/2010. Acc. 2011.069 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 2/14/2011. Acc. 2011.598 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 9/22/2011. Acc. 2012.152 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 4/23/2012. Acc. 2012.423 accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, on 12/20/2012.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into 20 series: Series 1: Librarians' General Correspondence; Series 2: Library Administration; Series 3: Library Accounting; Series 4: Acquisitions Department; Series 5: Bibliographic Services; Series 6: Circulation Department; Series 7: Development; Series 8: Reference Department; Series 9: Special Collections; Series 10: Library Construction; Series 11: Exhibits and Special Events; Series 12: Library Materials; Series 13: Self-Study Records; Series 14: Classified Staff Association; Series 15: Library Faculty Association; Series 16: Library Committees and Projects; Series 17: Serials; Series 18: Publications; Series 19: Science Libraries; and Series 20: Accession 2023.111 Memoriam to Carol S. Linton.

Accruals:

Future accruals expected.

Physical / technical requirements:

A portion of this collection is stored offsite. Consult a staff member for details.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard